China’s $1,500 Birth Incentive: Too Little, Too Late?
Facing a demographic crisis, China is implementing measures to boost its declining birth rate. The government is offering parents across the country an annual subsidy of 3,600 yuan ($500) per child under three, totaling up to 10,800 yuan per child. This initiative follows local government efforts, such as payouts in Hohhot and Shenyang, and addresses the high cost of raising children in China, where expenses can reach $75,700 up to age 17. These efforts come in response to a falling population and an aging demographic, with the country recording just 9.54 million births in 2024.
John Q. Hosedrinker