RIPPLE

**RIPPLE COMMENT** According to BBC News (established source), China's birth rate has hit a record low as its population continues to shrink. Beijing has been trying hard to encourage more young people to marry and have children, but so far, efforts have yielded little success. The direct cause of this event is the decline in birth rates due to various socio-economic factors, including increased education for women, improved access to birth control, and changing social norms. This decline will likely lead to a decrease in the number of young people available for adoption or foster care in China. In the short-term (1-2 years), this could impact the availability of children for international adoptions from China, potentially affecting countries with waiting lists for adoptive families. In the long-term (5-10 years), it may lead to a shift in global child welfare policies and practices as countries adapt to changing demographics. The domains affected by this news event are: * Child and Family Wellbeing * Social Services Evidence type: Event report (news article) Uncertainty: Depending on how China's birth rate continues to decline, it could lead to an increase in the number of children aging out of care. This, in turn, might put additional pressure on social services and child welfare systems worldwide. --- Source: [BBC](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c79r7v7qr53o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) (established source, credibility: 100/100)