Abstract:

Data from the "Seventh National Population Census" indicates that China has entered a period of extremely low fertility, presenting severe challenges stemming from a low birth rate. While the implementation of the "three-child" policy has granted unprecedented reproductive freedom, it has not effectively stemmed the continuous decline in birth rates. Facing declining reproductive intentions and birth rates, along with population aging, various levels of government and relevant departments are actively researching and implementing supportive policies. This article explores the impact of factors such as the shrinking number of women of childbearing age, reduced willingness to marry and have children, and declining fertility on the declining birth rate under the current policy framework. Based on this analysis, we propose practical countermeasures aimed at protecting female fertility, improving the reproductive intention and scale among women of childbearing age, and ultimately increasing the overall fertility rate. These proposals aim to provide a basis for further optimization of fertility policies to address China′s current demographic challenges.

Key words: Birth rate, Fertility, Reproductive intention, Women, Family planning policy