China’s National Health Commission (NHC) is presently surveying 30,000 people to determine the factors influencing their attitudes towards childbearing and the “fear surrounding having children.” This is coming as Chinese authorities battle to improve an alarmingly declining birthrate.
For this study, the survey will include people from 150 counties in China and 1,500 different communities, according to the state-backed Global Times on Thursday, citing the China Population and Development Research Center, all of which falls under the NHC.
Beijing is trying to incentivise young couples to have children after China announced a second consecutive year of population decline in 2023.
Local media have reported that the survey aims to analyse “reluctance and fear surrounding having children” and afterwards provide fertility support and incentive measures.
The last time a nationwide family and fertility survey was carried out was in 2021. The 2024 edition is coming after China’s National Bureau of Statistics said it will conduct a nationwide sample survey from October 10-November 30 to monitor population changes.
Population development has often been linked to a strong and rejuvenated China in state media.
In September, Chinese health officials said they would channel more efforts on advocating marriage and childbirth at “appropriate ages”. The health officers had also called for shared parenting responsibilities to sway the youths towards “positive perspectives on marriage, childbirth and family”.
