China's birth rate tumbles to historic low
FT News Briefing
Forhecz Topher
4.4 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 20 January 2026
⏱️ 13 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
China has registered its lowest number of births since records began. European governments weigh up options to bring down the high cost of their state pensions? Saudi Arabian banks borrow at record pace. Plus, Chinese EV carmakers have their eyes on the UK.
Mentioned in this podcast:
China registers lowest number of births since records began
China’s GDP grows 5% in 2025 as exports offset weak domestic outlook
Can Europe still afford its generous state pensions?
Josh Gabert Doyon: https://www.ft.com/josh-gabert-doyon
Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts
Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Josh Gabert Doyon, and produced by Clare Williamson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s Global Head of Audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Good morning from the Financial Times. |
| 0:04.2 | Today is Tuesday, January 20th, and this is your FT News briefing. |
| 0:10.1 | China's birth rate has fallen again, adding to its demographic crisis. |
| 0:14.9 | Saudi Arabia's banks are borrowing in record amounts to fund megaprojects, |
| 0:20.4 | and Chinese electric vehicle makers are targeting the UK in their expansions overseas. |
| 0:26.7 | BID has been expanding rapidly in Europe. |
| 0:29.8 | Its growth in UK has been incredible. |
| 0:32.5 | We're seeing another rush of brands coming in this year. |
| 0:36.2 | Plus, how sustainable are Europe's generous pension schemes? |
| 0:40.4 | I'm Josh Gabbard Duoyant, and here's the news you need to start your day. |
| 0:52.2 | China has posted its lowest birth rate in years, and measures to boost the number of children |
| 0:58.3 | aren't having much effect. Demographers are warning that the decline is only going to get worse, |
| 1:03.8 | and that it could have knock-on effects on Chinese economic growth. With fewer young workers, |
| 1:09.0 | there's been a big push towards automation, especially in |
| 1:11.8 | manufacturing. But for now, the economy is doing pretty good. Population data was published alongside |
| 1:17.8 | GDP figures for 2025, showing a 5% growth for the year. The boost in GDP came from strong |
| 1:24.7 | export numbers in spite of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war. |
| 1:35.0 | Banks in Saudi Arabia are on a borrowing spree. The Kingdom's banks borrowed internationally |
| 1:41.5 | at their fastest ever rate in 2025, more than three times |
| 1:45.4 | what they'd borrowed the year before. That's according to Fitch, the credit rating agency, |
| 1:50.3 | all that borrowing is meant to support Crown Prince Mohammed Ben Salomon's Vision 2030, |
| 1:55.3 | the Kingdom's plan to reorient the economy away from oil revenues. Along with mega projects like Neum and the line, |
... |
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