The Tension in China's Demographic Conundrum

3min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

China's working-age population has been shrinking for a decade because women have been having so many fewer babies. America, by contrast, is 15%. Germany, 19%. Australia, 30%. North Korea even has 0.2%. There are only 1 million immigrants in China; that's about 0.1% of the population. The amazing thing I think about China is it's got no interest in becoming a melting pot.

Our Russia and defence editors travelled to the capital, finding a city largely back to normal. They ask both civilians and the country’s top brass about Ukraine's position—and its future. China’s population-control measures worked perhaps too well, yet even an incipient labour-market crisis is not changing resistance to immigration. And the issues with America’s springtime rattlesnake round-ups.

For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, try a free 30-day digital subscription by going to www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer