The number of births fell again last year, how should our country deal with it?

　　Xinhua News Agency, Beijing (Reporter Tian Xiaohang) In 2021, the number of births in my country will continue to decline, which has become a hot topic in recent times.

Why has the birth population continued to decline in recent years?

What progress has been made in the implementation of the three-child birth policy and supporting measures?

How can active fertility support measures be put into practice?

The National Health Commission and relevant experts responded.

　　Multiple factors contribute to the decline in births

　　The National Bureau of Statistics recently announced that, after preliminary calculations, the number of births in my country in 2021 will be 10.62 million.

That figure is down from 12 million in 2020 and 14.65 million in 2019.

Why does the number of births continue to decline?

　　Yang Jinrui, deputy director of the Population and Family Department of the National Health Commission, said that the decline in births is the result of a combination of factors, including the decline in the number of women of childbearing age, the significant change in young people's concept of marriage and childbirth, and the high cost of childbearing and parenting education, which aggravates childbearing concerns, etc. In addition, the new crown pneumonia epidemic has also had a certain impact on the marriage and childbirth arrangements of some people.

　　Will the number of births in my country continue to decline in the future?

Song Jian, deputy director of the Population and Development Research Center of Renmin University of China, believes that this requires a comprehensive view of the total number of women of childbearing age, the age structure of women of childbearing age, and the fertility rate.

　　"The number of women of childbearing age depends on the size of the birth cohort in the past." Song Jian said that from 1962 to 1975 and from 1981 to 1997, the number of births in my country exceeded 20 million. The entry of the cohort population into reproductive age will affect the total number of women of reproductive age.

For a period of time in the future, the high birth cohort between 1981 and 1997 will still be the main body of women of childbearing age in my country, but the number of women entering the childbearing age will be shrinking, resulting in a continuous decline in the total number of women of childbearing age and an aging internal age structure, which will give The birth population brings greater downward pressure.

　　Song Jian believes that whether the downward trend of births can be smoothed in the future depends on whether the fertility rate can be improved.

This requires speeding up the construction of a birth support policy system, alleviating the pressure faced by the masses, promoting age-appropriate marriage and childbirth, and boosting the fertility level.

　All localities and departments actively promote the implementation of optimized fertility policies

　　"The implementation of the three-child birth policy and supporting measures is to prevent a further decline in the number of births, promote the realization of a moderate fertility level, and promote the long-term balanced development of the population." Yang Jinrui said.

　　Repeal 3 administrative regulations including the "Administrative Measures for the Collection of Social Support Fees"; issue the "Mother and Child Safety Action Improvement Plan (2021-2025)"; implement the maternal and child health protection project, and support 427 county-level maternal and child health care hospitals in 2021 ; Promote the special action of inclusive nursery services, and support the construction of 61,000 inclusive nursery places in 2021; carry out family planning family assistance work... The relevant state departments have taken active actions, taking multiple measures to promote the implementation of the optimized birth policy.

　　Some places have launched fertility support measures that are in line with local actual conditions.

For example, the revised "Regulations on Population and Family Planning of Zhejiang Province" stipulates that on the basis of enjoying the maternity leave stipulated by the state, the woman can extend maternity leave for 60 days for the first child, and 90 days for the second and third child. The socially-run inclusive nursery institutions that have been put on record are given a construction subsidy of 10,000 yuan per place and a subsidy of 300-800 yuan/person/month for the operation of the place. ...

　　When will the policy take effect?

Yang Jinrui said that the population reproduction cycle is long and there are many influencing factors, and the factors of reproductive decision-making are very complicated.

At present, the three-child birth policy has not been implemented for a long time, and supporting active birth support measures are also being introduced one after another. It is difficult to show obvious effects in the short term.

However, in the next step, all localities and departments will launch a series of supporting measures to focus on the most anticipated work of the people, such as childbirth, parenting, and education, and make practical and tough measures to further promote the implementation of various policies and measures.

　　The implementation of policies needs to be well connected to protect the rights and interests of women of childbearing age

　　According to Song Jian, birth support measures in various countries can be roughly divided into three categories: time support, including maternity leave, parental leave, paternity leave and other holiday systems; economic support, including allowances for children, allowances for families and various care for parents Allowances, as well as tax relief policies; service support, including community childcare, public childcare institutions, home help, after-school care, etc.

　　"Policies that promote gender equality, balance work-family conflicts, and promote family development are all helpful for the improvement of fertility." Song Jian believes that my country's current measures to develop inclusive childcare, extend maternity leave, and set up childcare Measures such as fake leave belong to such policies. At the same time, the state should continue to encourage the exploration of local experiences that are in line with local conditions.

　　Song Jian believes that in order to implement fertility support measures and enhance the willingness of women of childbearing age to bear children, it is necessary to do a good job in policy coordination.

For example, to implement the maternity leave system, the cost of maternity should be shared by the state, enterprises and families. Government subsidies, tax relief and other measures should be used to appropriately share the cost of employers, so as to alleviate the worries of families, especially women of childbearing age.

　　In response to the dilemma of women in career development and choice of marriage and childbirth, He Dan, director of the China Population and Development Research Center, believes that active reproductive support measures should not only encourage intergenerational support and male participation from within the family, but also provide more social support from outside the family. support.

　　"To encourage women's economic participation and social participation, we should promote the family virtues of the Chinese nation, integrate modern civilization concepts, and advocate a new family culture of age-appropriate marriage and childbirth, intergenerational harmony, gender equality, and shared responsibility." He Dan said.