Shanghai’s Lowest Global Birthrate; Youth Skip Marriage, Kids, Lament as China’s Final Generation

The proportion of young people in China who oppose marriage is increasing. As China's economy continues to decline, the pressure to survive grows. High housing prices, the cost of children's education, and the rising cost of living have made many people hesitant about marriage. In a video interview, a top female student expressed her view that "poor people shouldn't have children," which resonated with many. They agreed that the girl sees life clearly, questioning why one should bring the next generation into the world if their own life is already difficult, considering it an irresponsible act.
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[Wabu]

The guy with 1/4 ton of bricks on his back inspired me to never complain about carrying heavy bags again

[leje]

Manual labour is not bad! It's important. But people working in those jobs do not get enough money or health support.

[PoohSeaFresh]

Chinese wumao will hate this real facts😂😂😂

[rozenkurosei]

Why have children in a country with melamine milk?

[yujia]

Poor people have children BECAUSE they’re poor. Those kids are their retirement lottery.

[douglassun]

What we're seeing here is, in part, the transition from a rural to an urban population. As one of the commenters below put it, children are free labor when you're a society of peasants and small farmers. But in cities, which rely on trained and specialized labor, children are a burden and an expense that you take on for almost two decades. That's why birth rates are down all over the developed world. It's a terrible challenge for traditional Chinese culture in particular, which is based on continuity between generations and reverence for elders. The CCP's gross mismanagement and inherent cruelty has just made things worse.

[EduardQualls]

The CCP's published population data are wrong. City and provincial officials have been overstating the population count (and underreporting the viral death count) for their areas in order to maintain (or increase) the amount of money they receive from the central government. The fact is that the PRC's population had peaked by 2014, and its population now is near or below 1 billion. One should not forget that the pandemic has not stopped within the PRC. This means that the CCP's population will fall below 800 million within the next few years, further cratering both real estate and productivity, and "the world's second largest economy" will fall back to third place.

[HCBierBaron]

Living off grid in Romania in the woods sounds more and more compelling by the day.

[cj-valentine]

That kid is right. It's worse to bring up a child in a world where they will suffer than not have any at all.

[kennethvenezia]

Don't have children. The world is over.

[GM-meth]

If you cant afford to have a child, don't have a child. Children of all races are beautiful, innocent and vulnerable. It's distressing to see a child suffering and experiencing a sad life because their parents don't have the resources to look after them. This is a tough cruel world don't let children suffer.

[rovert]

Happily married. Finances/status never entered into the equation. Similar life values and humour and having fun together was what formed the bond. Having children was a separate issue. I can fully understand not opting for children. We now have great grandchildren but don't see the kids very often. We brought them up to be independent and build a life around their friends. We didn't want them being obligated to look after us. This arose from observing people who immigrated from other countries - seemed they created a better life away from their parents.

[DanafoxyVixen]

Sadly I wonder when forced pregnancy become a thing

[hungo]

The cost of bringing up a kid relative to income in China is amongst the highest in the world. This results in measly birth rates which is kryptonite for the economy as the workforce diminishes. Unfortunately, things are deteriorating really quickly.

[Charvo]

Median US income cannot support 4.8 people. That detail is false.

[cgibbs]

That story about the man, who as a child, thought his parents were poisoning him with pancakes is so incredibly sad. I don't know what experiences you have to have with your family to think that way, but it broke my heart a little.

[ssesf]

I'm sure the birthrate is lower in the Vatican.

[stizzo]

1:30 The nihilism is strong in China, I see. As bad as things have gotten in the States, people generally don't think that life is futile and it would be better to not have been born.

[Bundalaba]

Thus forcing their people to go overseas and trying to 'expand' but mostly causing PROBLEMS .

[Blackfox.]

poor people have children to hope to live better in the future, and that wrong in so many senses but whatever