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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Christopher Bodeen

China's population falls for a third straight year, posing challenges for its government and economy

China Population Global Trends - (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

China's population fell last year for the third straight year, its government said Friday, pointing to further demographic challenges for the world's second most populous nation, which is now facing both an aging population and an emerging shortage of working age people.

China's population stood at 1.408 billion at the end of 2004, a decline of 1.39 million from the previous year.

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