News analysis

Census ignites debate over whether China has fallen into 'low fertility trap'

In the past few days, the figure that has captivated Chinese social media is 1.3 - the total fertility rate. PHOTO: AFP
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BEIJING - China released the results of its seventh national population census on Tuesday (May 11), and the message contained within the 33-page report was that the country could soon be headed into a demographic crisis.

In the past few days, the figure that has captivated Chinese social media is 1.3 - the total fertility rate.

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