Core Insights - The article discusses the population changes across various provinces in China for the year 2024, highlighting significant trends in population growth and decline among different regions [1][5]. Group 1: Population Growth and Decline - 28 provinces have reported their permanent resident population data for the end of 2024, with 8 provinces experiencing population growth, 2 remaining stable, and 18 witnessing declines [1]. - Guangdong has reclaimed its position as the province with the highest population increase, adding 740,000 residents, surpassing Zhejiang [6][7]. - Shandong has seen the largest population decline, losing 428,000 residents in 2023, marking it as the province with the most significant drop [1][6]. Group 2: Regional Analysis - In the central region, only Anhui has reported a population increase, while the other five provinces collectively lost 960,000 residents [5][13]. - Sichuan and Henan, both major economic provinces, have also experienced population declines, with Sichuan losing 40,000 and Henan losing 300,000 residents [10][13]. - The northeastern provinces, particularly Liaoning and Jilin, which had seen a brief population inflow in 2023, are now again facing outflows, with Liaoning losing 49,000 and Jilin losing 108,000 residents in 2024 [17][21]. Group 3: Factors Influencing Population Changes - Population changes are influenced by both natural growth (births minus deaths) and migration patterns [5][6]. - Guangdong's population growth is attributed to a high birth rate, with 1.13 million births in the previous year, making it the only province with over a million births [6][7]. - In contrast, Shandong's population decline is exacerbated by a net outflow of over 430,000 residents in two years, raising concerns about its population potentially falling below 100 million [9][17]. Group 4: Policy Responses - Jiangsu has introduced 15 measures to promote childbirth, including direct financial support for families [8]. - Both Hunan and Hubei are implementing strategies to attract and retain young talent, focusing on improving living conditions and reducing the cost of raising children [15].