Population
Society
China got richer. Why did its older people get lonelier?
China’s economic miracle has brought prosperity and mobility to millions — but also left many older people lonely. As families shrink, children migrate and communities change, loneliness reveals the hidden social costs of a transformation built on success. Academic Keming Yang explains.
Keming Yang
23 Oct 2026
Society
[Big read] Hong Kong wants more babies, but couples need more than cash grants
Standalone cash grants are failing to revive Hong Kong’s birth rate. As officials look to Singapore for inspiration, young couples say deeper structural relief is needed. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Tai Hing Shing looks at why the city’s birth rate is so hard to lift.
Tai Hing Shing
15 Oct 2026
Economy
[Big read] Can new industries lure talent back to China’s rust belt?
The affordable and idyllic life in Liaoning, Shenyang and Heilongjiang are drawing young professionals back home, but some are torn by the low wages, scarce job opportunities and an economy struggling to transform. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei speaks with these returnees.
Sim Tze Wei
15 Sep 2026
Society
Are Singaporeans disappearing? The identity challenge behind the baby crisis
To confront a historically low total fertility rate, Singapore is re-engineering social frameworks for parenthood. As the nation turns to global immigrants, it needs to ensure that new arrivals successfully forge a rooted national identity. Han Yong May, deputy editor-in-chief of SPH’s Chinese Media Group, considers the issues at stake.
Han Yong May
08 Sep 2026
Society
[Big read] Taiwan is running out of babies — and obstetricians
Taiwan’s fertility rate has fallen to the world’s lowest, as young people delay marriage and parenthood amid soaring costs and uncertainty. Now, a shrinking pool of births is also threatening the country’s healthcare system and its next generation of doctors. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Chuang Hui Liang finds out more.
Chuang Hui Liang
08 Sep 2026
Society
China’s population turn: The start of long-term decline?
China’s latest population statistics show a fourth consecutive year in decline, with births falling to 7.92 million in 2025. A shrinking, ageing workforce is likely to constrain economic growth, but on the flipside, could a smaller population have its benefits? Researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May looks at both sides of the coin.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
24 Feb 2026
Society
The hidden crisis of China’s boom in premature births
Amid China’s decline in birth rate, there has been a rise in premature births. This has proven difficult for many new parents, who sometimes do not have the necessary funds or experience to deal with the associated challenges. Thankfully, there are avenues to get help.
Caixin Global
23 Jan 2026
Society
[Photos] ‘I’m not pitiful’: A migrant woman’s voice from Beijing
Photographer Zhou Na offers a glimpse into the life of Chen Enhua, or Sister Chen, a 57-year-old migrant worker from Sichuan province living and working in Beijing. Despite being widowed, earning little, and facing occupational health issues, the last thing Chen wants is pity from others.
Zhou Na
28 Feb 2025
Society
China’s youths fall out of love with marriage
Younger generations in China are increasingly shunning marriage, put off by the high costs of starting a family. To tackle the issue, the Chinese government may be better off focusing on boosting the sluggish economy, says Lianhe Zaobao China news editor Yang Danxu.
Yang Danxu
19 Feb 2025
Society
From ancient kings to modern incentives: China’s struggle to boost births
Faced with a declining population, China has implemented a series of measures to boost its birthrate. Academic Zhang Tiankan evaluates the effectiveness of these policies and discusses the factors that motivate and discourage marriage and childbirth.
Zhang Tiankan
19 Dec 2024