SHANGHAI -- China's population growth rate sank to another record low in 2021, underscoring the ticking demographic time bomb that could reverse its growth in purchasing power and production in the near future, and eroding the source of strength that has made it the world's second-largest economy after the U.S.
The world's most populous country recorded a birthrate of 0.752% last year and a death rate of 0.718%, resulting in a natural growth rate of 0.034%, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Monday.
