In-Depth: Can Childcare Subsidies Boost Birth Rates? (AI Translation)
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This article was translated from Chinese using AI. The translation may contain inaccuracies. Click the button on the right to hide or reveal the original version.
2025年2月17日，兰州，甘肃省妇幼保健院（甘肃省中心医院）医护人员照顾蛇年新生儿。
文｜财新周刊 许雯 周信达 马世雯（实习）
By Caixin Weekly’s Xu Wen, Zhou Xinda, and Ma Shiwen (Intern)
中国政府一项备受瞩目的“投资于人”财政转移支付项目终于揭晓。养育0—3岁婴幼儿的家庭可领取育儿补贴金，标准为每孩每年3600元。
A highly anticipated “investment in people” fiscal transfer project by the Chinese government has finally been unveiled. Families raising children aged 0–3 will be eligible to receive a childcare subsidy of 3,600 yuan per child per year.
7月28日，中共中央办公厅、国务院办公厅公布《育儿补贴制度实施方案》（下称《实施方案》），决定自2025年1月1日起，对符合法律法规规定生育的3周岁以下婴幼儿发放补贴。
On July 28, the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly released the "Implementation Plan for the Child-Rearing Subsidy System" (hereinafter referred to as the "Implementation Plan"). The plan stipulates that, starting January 1, 2025, subsidies will be provided for children under three years old who are born in accordance with laws and regulations.
补贴将按年发放，直至儿童年满3周岁。按当前标准计算，一孩、二孩、三孩家庭最多共计可领取10800元、21600元、32400元育儿补贴。官方预计8月底前各地全面开放育儿补贴的申领。
Subsidies will be disbursed annually until the child turns three years old. According to current standards, families with one, two, or three children are eligible for a maximum total of 10,800 yuan, 21,600 yuan, and 32,400 yuan, respectively, in childcare subsidies. Authorities expect that regions nationwide will fully open applications for childcare subsidies by the end of August.
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Caixin is acclaimed for its high-quality, investigative journalism. This section offers you a glimpse into Caixin’s flagship Chinese-language magazine, Caixin Weekly, via AI translation. The English translation may contain inaccuracies.
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In-Depth: Can Childcare Subsidies Boost Birth Rates? (AI Translation)
Explore the story in 30 seconds
- China will launch a national childcare subsidy from January 2025, providing 3,600 yuan per child per year for families with children aged 0–3; estimated annual budget is about 90 billion yuan, targeting over 20 million families.
- The subsidy is universal for first, second, and third children, aiming to ease the parenting burden and encourage births amid declining fertility and rapid aging; central government covers up to 95% of the cost.
- Scholars note the subsidy offers significant help for low-income families but is limited for urban middle-class, stressing the need for broader support—such as public services and social insurance—to address overall fertility challenges.
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Who’s Who
- Trip.com Group
携程集团 - Trip.com Group's co-founder and Executive Chairman, James Liang, has consistently advocated for the Chinese central government to implement childcare subsidies. He believes that while fertility subsidies increase fiscal expenditure, they can stimulate the economy by boosting domestic demand, consumption, and employment, ultimately enhancing China's economic confidence, innovation, and competitiveness.
- YK Securities
粤开证券 - I'm sorry, but this article does not contain information about YK Securities. Therefore, I cannot answer your question.
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What Happened When
- By June 2021：
- Panzhihua, Sichuan Province, proposed a monthly childcare subsidy of 500 yuan for each child beyond the first born, payable until the child’s third birthday.
- July 2021：
- The central government issued the 'Decision on Optimizing Fertility Policies to Promote Long-Term Balanced Population Development,' setting the tone for fertility support policies.
- 2021–2025：
- China shifted to a 'three-child' policy era, and various local governments experimented with flexible birth support measures and subsidy pilots.
- 2022：
- China’s total population declined for the first time since 1961, decreasing by 850,000.
- After January 1, 2022：
- All infants and toddlers born after this date are eligible for the national childcare subsidy, as stated in official policy in 2025.
- 2023：
- China’s population shrank by 2.08 million.
- 2024：
- China’s population shrank by 1.39 million and number of people aged 60 and over reached 310 million, accounting for 22.0% of the total population.
- October 28, 2024：
- The State Council General Office released 'Several Measures on Accelerating the Improvement of the Fertility Support Policy System and Promoting the Construction of a Fertility-Friendly Society,' which wrote birth subsidy system plans into an official document.
- End of 2024：
- Central Economic Work Conference listed 'vigorously boosting consumption and comprehensively expanding domestic demand' as top priority for 2025, including measures to support childrearing.
- Early 2025：
- Local governments set aside budget allocations for childcare subsidies in their 2025 fiscal budgets.
- Starting January 1, 2025：
- National subsidies for children under three years old born according to laws and regulations began.
- March 7, 2025：
- Lei Haichao, director of the National Health Commission, revealed at the open group meeting of the Jiangsu delegation at the third session of the 14th National People’s Congress that an operational plan for child-rearing subsidies was being drafted.
- March 12, 2025：
- The government work report included a commitment to 'formulate policies to promote childbirth and grant child-rearing subsidies.'
- March 16, 2025：
- The General Office of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council issued the 'Special Action Plan to Boost Consumption,' which proposed policies such as child-rearing subsidies.
- March 2025：
- Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, released childcare subsidy guidelines with significantly higher amounts than national standards, including RMB 100,000 for the third child distributed over ten years.
- June 1, 2025：
- Huangjintang Village, Longping Township, Jianshi County, Enshi, Hubei Province, began issuing childcare subsidies as a pilot area.
- June 10, 2025：
- Ge Zhihao, head of the Social Security Department at the Ministry of Finance, stated at a State Council Information Office press conference the need to quickly establish and implement a childcare subsidy system.
- Early July 2025：
- Provincial health commissions were drafting provincial-level subsidy plans for implementation.
- Mid-July 2025：
- Municipal health commissions were submitting childcare subsidy reports to municipal party committees.
- July 16, 2025：
- Chengdu Municipal Health Commission confirmed preparations for the issuance of child-rearing subsidies, pending official release of the national policy.
- July 28, 2025：
- The General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly released the 'Implementation Plan for the Child-Rearing Subsidy System.'
- July 30, 2025：
- State Council Information Office held a press conference introducing details of the childcare subsidy system and confirming RMB 90 billion initial budget allocation for 2025.
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