China
Animated Chart: China’s Aging Population (1950-2100)
China’s Aging Population Problem
The one-child policy defined China’s demographic transition for over three decades.
But to combat an aging population and declining birthrates, the government scrapped the policy for a new two-child policy in 2016. Despite this massive change, China still faces a growing demographic crisis.
The above animated population pyramid from James Eagle looks at the distribution of China’s population by age group since 1950, with projections up to the year 2100.
How the One-Child Policy Created a Gender Imbalance
Until 2016, the Chinese government strictly enforced the one-child policy since 1979 with hefty fines for any breach of rules. According to the government, the policy reduced 400 million births over the years.
However, it also led to sex-selective abortions due to a deep-rooted cultural preference for boys. As a result, China’s gender balance tilted, with a sex ratio of 111 males to 100 females in the population aging from 0 to 4 years old in 2020.
Often termed “the missing women of China”, this shortage of women is expected to worsen over time. According to the U.N.’s World Population Prospects, China is projected to have around 244 million fewer women than men in 2050.
Additionally, the country faces another impending consequence of the one-child policy—a rapidly aging population.
Why China’s Population is Aging
In 2020, China’s fertility rate—the number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime—stood at 1.3.
Generally, fertility rates drop as economies develop. However, China’s fertility rate is now lower than that of the U.S. (1.64 in 2020) and on par with countries like Japan and Italy, both of which are facing aging populations. Consequently, fewer newborns are entering the population, while many in the workforce approach retirement.
Most Chinese workers retire by age 60. Here’s how China’s retirement-age population is expected to shape up by the year 2100:
Year | 60+ Population | % of Total Population |
---|---|---|
1980 | 74,899,385 | 7.5% |
2000 | 129,460,648 | 10.0% |
2021 | 258,371,810 | 17.9% |
2050 | 485,489,066 | 34.6% |
2070 | 454,270,458 | 36.1% |
2100 | 402,780,972 | 37.8% |
In 2021, people aged 60 and over made up nearly one-fifth of the Chinese population. As the country’s population begins declining around 2030, over 30% of all Chinese people are expected to be in this age group.
China’s aging population threatens long-term economic growth as its workforce shrinks and low fertility rates result in fewer newborns that would later enter the working-age population. Fewer working people means lower overall consumption, a higher burden on elderly care, and slowing economic growth.
So, how will China respond to the oncoming crisis?
The Three-child Policy
According to the 2020 national census, Chinese mothers gave birth to 12 million children in 2020—the lowest number of births since 1949.
In response to these results, the government passed a new law allowing each couple to have up to three children. Despite the change, the high cost of raising a child may deter couples from having a third child.
It remains to be seen how the three-child policy helps combat China’s demographic crisis and which other policies the government chooses to deploy.

This article was published as a part of Visual Capitalist's Creator Program, which features data-driven visuals from some of our favorite Creators around the world.
Travel
Ranked: The World’s Biggest Tourism Economies
Explore the world’s biggest tourism economies in 2024, with the U.S. and China standing out as the only trillion-dollar tourism powerhouses.

Ranked: The World’s Biggest Tourism Economies
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Key Takeaways
- This graphic breaks down the world’s 10 biggest tourism economies in 2024
- The WTTC predicts China will overtake the U.S. in the next decade, while India could rise to fourth
Tourism is a major economic driver for many nations, powering jobs, infrastructure, and global connections.
This chart highlights the top 10 countries by the size of their tourism economies, encompassing everything from hotel stays and flights, to attractions and services.
Data & Discussion
The data for this visualization comes from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). It shows the total economic contribution of each country’s tourism sector in 2024, measured in U.S. dollars.
Country | Economic Contribution (US$ billion) |
---|---|
🇺🇸 U.S. | $2,360.0 |
🇨🇳 China | $1,300.0 |
🇩🇪 Germany | $487.6 |
🇯🇵 Japan | $297.0 |
🇬🇧 UK | $295.2 |
🇫🇷 France | $264.7 |
🇲🇽 Mexico | $261.6 |
🇮🇳 India | $231.6 |
🇮🇹 Italy | $231.3 |
🇪🇸 Spain | $227.9 |
America Leads the Pack
The United States has retained its title as the world’s most dominant tourism economy, generating $2.36 trillion of economic contribution in 2024.
The U.S. benefits from strong domestic travel, mature infrastructure, and iconic global destinations such as New York (the eighth most-visited city in the world), Las Vegas, and its vast national parks.
China’s Rapid Climb
China’s tourism sector contributed $1.3 trillion, underscoring its role as a major hub for both international and domestic travel.
While currently second, the WTTC projects China will take the top spot within the next decade. Rising middle-class income and a focus on tourism development continue to propel its growth.
This includes several policies, including easing visa restrictions and introducing new tax-refund shopping policies.
Europe’s Tourism Staples
Europe remains a major player, with Germany, the UK, France, Italy, and Spain all ranking in the top 10.
All of these countries benefit from rich cultural heritage, as well as strong rail and air links.
Learn More on the Voronoi App 
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The Top Countries Sending Tourists to the U.S. on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.
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