GOOD MORNING FROM LONDON #216
China’s population grew at its slowest rate in the 10 years to 2020. The census was completed in December 2020 and showed the population was 1.41bn compared with 1.40bn in 2019.
A slowing rate of population growth raises concerns about a possible demographic crisis + has led to the relaxation of the one-child policy. The over 65s now make up 13.5% compared with 8.9% in 2010. Will the ageing of the population put pressure on the long-term balanced development of the population? Going forward with technological advance, and even greater mechanisation, the question arises; what is the optimum population level+ what is the optimum population distribution?
The assumption that a stabilising population is an automatically bad news needs to be reviewed. A large population puts huge ecological pressure on China. How many people does China need? How many does the World need? Important questions for all countries as climate change and the environment become key issues for the future.
Coming up – Part 4 of Covid and Democracy
