Chinese population growth is sluggish, but one province is an exception.

Guangdong: Ranking First in Birth Population Nationwide for 7 Consecutive Years, Attracting Talents and Encouraging Childbearing Simultaneously

 

In an era when population issues are receiving significant attention, Guangdong Province stands out with its unique population phenomenon. For seven consecutive years, the number of births in Guangdong has exceeded one million, firmly ranking it as the "most fertile" province in the country. In 2024, it once again topped the list with 1.133 million births, and the population increment has continued to rise, demonstrating strong fertility vitality.

 

On a national scale, the population situation is not optimistic. Since 2017, the total number of births in the country has been declining for eight consecutive years. In 2024, the national birth population was only 9.54 million, and the birth rate dropped to 6.77‰. For the once major childbearing provinces such as Guizhou, Henan, and Shandong, the birth population data in 2024 was not very satisfactory. Henan has a permanent population of 98.72 million with 732,900 births; Shandong has a permanent population of 101 million with 648,300 births, still far from the one - million mark. In contrast, Guangdong Province has a large permanent population. In 2024 alone, the number of births was 483,000 more than that in Shandong, and the number of births has been increasing continuously for 40 years.

 

Regarding the relationship between the economy and childbearing, generally, the more developed the economy, the lower people's willingness to have children. In economically developed regions such as Beijing and Shanghai, in 2024, the number of births in Beijing was 133,000, and in Shanghai, it was only 118,000. The birth rate in Guangdong Province forms a sharp contrast. The birth rate in Guangdong Province reached 8.89‰, much higher than the national average.

 

There are multiple reasons behind the bold and high - fertility nature of people in Guangdong. In terms of regional culture, the clan concept in the Chaoshan area is strong, and traditional concepts such as "more children, more blessings" and a preference for boys are deeply rooted. The younger generation regards having more children to expand the clan as their mission, with a strong willingness to have children. As major populated cities, Guangzhou and Dongguan have a large permanent population, with 18.97 million and 10.48 million respectively. The large population base, combined with the influence of traditional concepts, has kept the birth rate at a relatively high level, at 11.03‰ and 10.71‰ respectively.

 

In addition, Guangdong has a developed economy and industrial agglomeration, and the Pearl River Delta region has become a typical "immigrant city." Taking Dongguan as an example, apart from the registered population, 7.2125 million permanent residents are from all over the country. Shenzhen and Guangzhou also have 11.1144 million and 8.385 million migrant populations respectively. A large number of young migrant people pour in, eager to take root and raise the next generation here, injecting new vitality into the population growth of Guangdong.

 

Realizing the importance of population for regional development, Guangdong launched the "Strongest Spring Recruitment Fair" in the spring recruitment season of 2025. Over a thousand employers provided more than 50,000 positions, attracting nearly 2,000 universities and nearly 120,000 job seekers to register. Despite its large population base, Guangdong is still actively "attracting talents," aiming to continuously replenish its talent "reservoir" and accumulate strength for future development. These young talents can not only contribute to economic construction but also multiply on this land, promoting the sustainable and stable development of Guangdong.

 

"More people, more strength." The driving effect of the demographic dividend on economic development is obvious. As the province with the boldest attitude towards childbearing in the country, Guangdong has a strong development momentum and is expected to become a leader in the national economic construction. It is also hoped that all regions across the country can find a path that coordinates population and economic development suitable for themselves and achieve the grand goal of sustainable development.