INSIGHTS | What China’s census tells us about the future of tech

Last week, China released its once-a-decade census figures. The results are largely in line with predictions: The nation saw its slowest population growth in decades, and the proportion of older people continues to grow. Some have estimated that China’s population will start to decline in 2027. What do these numbers mean to China tech? 

Bottom line: The demographic dividend that tech companies have enjoyed to fuel their growth in the past decades seems to be coming to an end. China’s population is growing older, which will pose challenges for both internet startups in Beijing and smartphone factories in Shenzhen. But there are also opportunities as the country moves to raise productivity and to upgrade its labor-intensive manufacturing sector into smart factories. Even as the overall population levels off, the urban and educated population is still growing fast.

Here are the key numbers:

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