China's Birth Rate Hits Historic Low The number of babies born in China last year fell to a almost six-decade low, a four percent fall from the previous year. It was the lowest number of births in China since 1961, the last year of a widespread famine. Women in the work force who are educated don’t see marriage as necessary to achieving financial security for themselves. Many cannot afford to have children as living costs increase and their jobs demand more time and energy. Most Chinese older adults rely heavily on their families to pay for health care, retirement and other expenses. Many will have to shoulder the burden of taking care of their parents, in-laws and grandparents, without the support of siblings. Why add children? China’s main state pension fund, which relies on tax revenues from its work force, risks running out of money by 2035 because of a decline in the number of workers, While China has reversed it one child policy, now a...