Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Pakistani army: 6 soldiers and 7 militants killed in clash near the Afghan border
Israeli media: Sirens sound in the settlement of Kerem Shalom in the Gaza envelope area
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: We still believe in dialogue and prioritize diplomatic solutions with Pakistan; though we are ready for all possibilities.
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: Pakistan purposely obstructed negotiations in Turkey by making unrealistic demands.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: More than 70 martyrs in Israeli attacks on Gaza since dawn.
Death toll from latest Israeli strikes on Gaza rises to 30
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five killed in the Israeli bombing of a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Hamas confirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two civilians were killed and four others, including a child and an infant, were injured in an Israeli bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Banna family in the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli airstrike targets the vicinity of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, west of Gaza City

China unveils national childcare subsidy to address demographic crisis

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 28 Jul 2025 21:44
3 Min Read

China has launched its first nationwide childcare subsidy, offering 3,600 yuan annually per child under three, in a bid to reverse declining birthrates and support a fertility-friendly society.

Listen
  • x
  • China unveils national childcare subsidy to address demographic crisis
    Women walks with their pet dogs on a street in Beijing, China, Saturday, July 26, 2025 (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

In a landmark effort to counter its steeply declining birthrate and rapidly aging population, China's State Council has announced a nationwide childcare subsidy offering annual payments of 3,600 yuan (approximately $500) for every child under the age of three. The measure, which will take effect starting January 1, 2025, marks the country's first centrally coordinated fertility support program, a significant shift from previous localized pilot initiatives.

"This plan was developed to implement the strategy of the Communist Party's Central Committee to improve the birth support system and incentive mechanisms, as well as promote the creation of a fertility-friendly society," the State Council said in a statement.

The subsidy will be available to children born before January 1, 2025, and will be prorated based on the number of eligible months remaining before a child turns three. Importantly, the benefit is exempt from personal income tax, and is expected to reach over 20 million families across the country.

Fertility Fallout

China's demographic crisis has worsened in recent years, with the national birthrate falling to 9.5 million in 2024, less than half the figure recorded in 2016. Even after the formal abandonment of the one-child policy in 2016 and the introduction of a three-child policy in 2021, fertility rates remain far below the replacement level of 2.1 births per woman.

Experts attribute this stagnation not only to the legacy of decades-long population control but also to rising child-rearing costs, a shrinking workforce, and limited social welfare provisions. A skewed gender ratio and mounting eldercare demands have compounded these challenges.

Read more: Falling birth rates threaten living standards in rich nations: FT

Natalist Shift

While the 3,600 yuan subsidy sets a national benchmark, some analysts warn that it may be too modest to significantly influence fertility decisions on its own. Pilot programs in cities like Tianmen and Hohhot, offering far larger lump-sum benefits and housing incentives, have produced modest upticks in births, suggesting that more comprehensive, high-value support packages may be necessary to produce meaningful change.

Nevertheless, this new subsidy program signals a structural policy pivot: away from population control and toward state-supported natalism. It also reflects Beijing's recognition that demographic health is tightly interlinked with economic resilience, long-term labor productivity, and social stability.

In that context, the plan is not just a fertility measure; it is a strategic recalibration of China's development model.

  • demographic crisis
  • birth rates
  • childcare subsidy
  • fertility politics
  • China

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025
Hi-tech holocaust: Microsoft’s role in Gaza genocide

Microsoft's role in world’s first AI-driven genocide, in Gaza, exposed

  • Technology
  • 28 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Displaced Sudanese who fled El-Fasher after the city fell to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), rest near the town of Tawila in war-torn Sudan's western Darfur region (AP)
Politics

UAE directly funded RSF, leading to fall of El-Fasher: Sudan

'You’re not welcome in Greece': Israelis face port protests
Politics

'You’re not welcome in Greece': Israelis face port protests

This photo released by the Israeli military on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, shows ground operations inside the Gaza Strip (AP)
Politics

IOF soldier who fought in Gaza, Lebanon denied entry to Czech Republic

UN inquiry exposes 'Israel’s' four genocidal crimes against Gaza
Politics

'Israel' committed four genocidal acts in Gaza, UN inquiry finds

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS