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What Ancient Rome Can Teach China About Demographic Collapse

Demographics Brought Down Rome

Yi Fuxian, Project Syndicate | August 8. 2025

China’s current demographic spiral bears a striking resemblance to that of ancient Rome, where changing social norms and drastic population-control measures led to falling birth rates and irreversible decline. Unless it rebuilds the social and economic foundations of child-rearing, China risks following the same path.

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