By Keerthi Ramesh
China’s record-low birth rate has renewed global concern about demographic decline, prompting renewed warnings from tech billionaire Elon Musk, who says restoring population growth should be a top priority for governments worldwide.
China reported its lowest number of births since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949, with deaths again outpacing births in 2025. The country’s population declined for the fourth consecutive year, underscoring the scale of a demographic shift that experts say will reshape China’s economy, labour force and social systems for decades.
The drop reflects years of declining fertility following the now-ended one-child policy, rising living costs, delayed marriages and changing attitudes toward parenthood. Despite government incentives, including tax breaks, extended parental leave and housing subsidies, fewer couples are choosing to have children.
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Musk, reacting to the data in a post on X, wrote “restoring birth rates to replacement level should be top priority for all countries,” reinforcing his long-held belief that population decline poses a serious threat to civilization. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has repeatedly argued that shrinking populations could weaken economies, strain social welfare systems and erode long-term innovation.
China’s fertility rate now sits well below the replacement level of about 2.1 births per woman, placing it among the fastest-aging societies in the world. The country faces a shrinking workforce and a rapidly expanding elderly population, creating challenges for pension systems and healthcare infrastructure.
While China’s decline is among the most dramatic, it is not alone. Birth rates have fallen across much of East Asia and Europe, and the trend is increasingly visible in developed economies globally.
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The United States, by contrast, remains in a comparatively stronger position. Though U.S. fertility rates are also below replacement level, population growth continues due to higher birth totals than deaths and sustained immigration. The U.S. ranks above countries like China, Japan and South Korea in demographic stability, though analysts warn it is not immune to long-term decline if current trends persist.
Musk’s comments reflect both his public advocacy and personal life. The billionaire, who has fathered multiple children with different partners, has spoken openly about encouraging larger families and has framed parenthood as a societal responsibility. He has often criticized narratives warning about overpopulation, calling them misguided in an era of falling birth rates.
Demographers caution that reversing fertility decline is complex. Economic pressure, urbanization, career priorities and cultural change all influence family planning decisions, and policy incentives alone rarely deliver quick results.
Still, China’s latest population figures, and Musk’s blunt response, highlight a growing global anxiety: whether modern societies can sustain themselves as fewer people are born to replace the generations before them.
The post Elon Musk warns of declining birthrates in China and worldwide appeared first on The American Bazaar.
