Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

Live now on World Service

World Service

News & views from the BBC's international radio station.

LIVE,22:32 - 23:00

China’s collapsing population
  • UP NEXT: 23:00 - 23:06
    BBC News

    The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.

  • 23:06 - 23:30
    The Newsroom

    The world's Newsroom brings you global events as they happen

The Chinese government used to worry about uncontrollable population growth. Now it has the opposite problem - population decline. In an attempt to get people to have more children, it scrapped the draconian one-child policy 10 years ago. But the birth rate remains low. By the end of this century, China’s population could have halved. Micky Bristow talks to mothers and academics about what’s happening - and what it could mean for the future. Presenter: Michael Bristow Producer: John Murphy Sound engineer: Neil Churchill Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison Series editor: Penny Murphy (Image: A man holds a child's hand as they walk down a street in Beijing, China. Credit: Getty Images)

Programme Website