BEIJING: Despite China’s efforts to reverse its declining birth rate, an increasing number of young couples are opting to remain child-free, highlighting the limits of government incentives.
Twenty-five-year-old Grace and her husband, for example, have decided not to have children, resisting societal and familial pressure. Their choice reflects a broader trend among young Chinese couples who prioritize careers, financial stability, and personal freedom over traditional expectations of family life.
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China has been facing a demographic crisis since scrapping its one-child policy in 2016 and introducing a two-child policy. The country’s population has shrunk for three consecutive years, with just 9.54 million births recorded in 2024—roughly half the number seen in 2016. The United Nations projects that China’s population could fall from 1.4 billion today to 633 million by 2100.
Authorities have rolled out pronatalist measures, including childcare subsidies of $500 per child under three and tax incentives. However, these measures have had limited success. Experts note that the one-child policy reshaped societal norms, with many now preferring smaller families or delaying marriage and parenthood.
“The number of people choosing not to marry or have children is increasing, and fertility intentions among the younger generation are weak,” said independent demographer He Yafu.
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The “DINK” (dual income, no kids) trend, widely discussed on social media platforms like Xiaohongshu, illustrates the growing acceptance of child-free lifestyles in urban China, further complicating efforts to boost birth rates and address long-term population decline.