China's National Bureau of Statistics has announced plans to conduct a comprehensive nationwide sample survey in November, a surprising move aimed at enhancing the formulation of population-related policies in response to the country's declining birth rate.

With China experiencing its first population decline in six decades and a rapidly aging population, the government in Beijing is actively implementing various measures to boost birth rates, such as offering financial incentives and improving childcare facilities.

The forthcoming survey will encompass both urban and rural areas across the entire nation, as reported by state media on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

The National Bureau of Statistics states that this initiative will enable the accurate and timely monitoring of China's population changes, providing a crucial foundation for the Communist Party and the government to develop national economic, social, and population policies.

China's most recent census, conducted in November 2020, revealed the slowest population growth since the first modern population survey in the 1950s. Specific details about the number of individuals to be included in the survey were not disclosed.

The survey is scheduled to commence on November 1, with government surveying agencies visiting households to collect data or administering online questionnaires to respondents.

State media frequently associates population development with the country's strength and "rejuvenation," especially in the context of a declining birth rate and the challenges faced by citizens in raising children.