In an effort to increase the birth rate, China’s Inner Mongolia capital, Hohhot, has announced childcare allowances and pledged to provide new mothers with a free cup of milk daily. Several provinces in China are implementing similar measures to encourage young couples to marry and have children.
According to China’s state news agency Xinhua, over 20 provincial administrations have introduced childcare subsidies. The declining birth rate has become a significant concern, with China’s population decreasing for the third consecutive year in 2024. The number of marriages has also dropped by one-fifth, marking the steepest decline in the country’s history.
China faces an unprecedented demographic crisis due to factors such as the one-child policy (enforced from 1980 to 2015), rapid urbanization, and high living costs. Although the government now allows couples to have up to three children, birth rates have not increased.
Earlier this month, Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced additional childcare subsidies and free preschool education at the country’s annual parliamentary session.
The Hohhot city administration has introduced a one-time payment of 10,000 yuan (approximately $1,383) for the first child. For the second child, parents will receive 10,000 yuan annually for five years. For the third child, they will receive the same amount annually until the child turns 10. These subsidies are nearly double the average annual income of local residents.
Additionally, under the “One Cup of Milk Maternity Care Program,” mothers who give birth after March 1 will receive a free cup of milk daily. Dairy companies Yili and China Mengniu Dairy will also provide an electronic voucher worth 3,000 yuan to support new mothers.