In this region, there is great interest in developments witnessed by China in the fields of trade, industry and innovation, in addition to the issue of population growth. Relations between the GCC and China are prolific, with the Asian powerhouse importing big quantities of oil that, in turn, support our region’s financial annual budgets. Chinese economic development and its appetite for Gulf oil help stabilize the price of oil in the interest of both sides.
Whenever Chinese economic and commercial activities decline, oil prices tend to decline as well. This was evident recently when the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the Chinese economy, resulting in oil prices falling to less than $40 a barrel during some periods.
Therefore, we see that the vitality of the Chinese economy and the increase in their annual population growth relative to the past six decades is now the subject of discussion in this region. Any decline in their numbers has the potential to affect global economic growth. According to the latest new trends, the Chinese population declined for the first time in the last sixty years, reaching a figure of 1.4118 billion out of a global population of around 8 billion, which was lower by 850K people from 2021.
Policies to slow the birth rate in China have resulted in this negative growth.
The number of births decreased according to the statistics of Chinese National Bureau to 7.52 births per thousand people in 2022, compared to more than 11 births in 2021, while India recorded 16.4 births per thousand during the past year.
This resulted due to the Chinese decision of opting a one-child policy since 1979 to influence population growth, which led to the imposition of fines on families found in breach, and forced abortions by some women as well. This policy was withdrawn in 2016 with China allowing women to have two children. Later in 2021, the government allowed couples to have three children.
The government provided tax exemptions, health care for families, stimulus, and cash aid to counter the decline in their number, but these measures have not succeeded in stopping the demographic decline in a country known for relying on the workforce for the growth of its economic movement.
China is not the only country that has taken an interest in reducing its population. Many countries in the world, including some Arab countries, follow this demographic policy. However, it has been unable until today to find a solution to the rising population growth that requires governments to provide the necessary support and services to the people.
In China, some experts expect that the population will continue to shrink during the year and beyond, bringing its number to 750 million in 2100.
Everyone is aware that large population growth means an increase in the cost of living for families, especially in poor countries, most of whose governments suffer from failure in financial and economic policies, lack of job opportunities and problems in providing necessary services in the field of education, health and others. Are policies driving birth rate reductions the best solution?
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