China has opened applications for its landmark nationwide childcare subsidy program, offering 3,600 yuan ($507) annually per child under three years old to eligible families. The initiative, announced by National Health Commission spokesperson Hu Qiangqiang, aims to address the country's dual demographic challenges of declining birth rates and rapid population aging.
Applications are accessible through digital platforms Alipay and WeChat, as well as local government offices, with subsidies set to take effect January 1, 2025. The Ministry of Finance has allocated 90 billion yuan this year to fund the program, which could benefit over 20 million families annually.
This policy comes as China reports its first birth rate increase in seven years following decades of strict family planning measures. The country's 60+ population now exceeds 310 million, creating urgent needs for workforce renewal and elderly care solutions.
Local governments in cities like Hohhot and Shenyang previously tested similar subsidies, with the national program formalized in March 2025's government work report. The move aligns with China's gradual policy shifts from the 2016 two-child allowance to 2021's three-child support framework.
Demographic analysts suggest the subsidy could ease financial pressures on young families while testing new approaches to sustainable population management in the world's second-largest economy.
