China’s population has fallen for the third straight year, pointing to further demographic challenges for the world’s second most populous nation that is now facing both an aging population and an emerging shortage of working age people able to support their elders.

China’s population shrank for a third straight year in 2024, standing at 1.408 billion—a decline of 1.39 million compared to the previous year, China’s National Bureau of Statistics reported on Friday.

China’s population dynamics remain a critical challenge for its economic and social stability. Despite a modest rise in births in 2024, the nation’s population shrank for the third consecutive year, highlighting systemic issues that years of government interventions have yet to resolve.