Why China Made Condoms More Expensive – Citizens Laugh, Experts Fear Disaster | World News

Beijing: China’s attempt to halt its falling birth rate after the government imposed a 13 percent sales tax on condoms and other birth control methods has triggered public debate, online ridicule and unease among health experts. The decision came into force on January 1, 2026, although child care-related services were excluded from the tax net.

The move is part of an overhaul of China’s tax system, under which some exemptions in place since 1994 have been withdrawn. The previous rules were designed during the country’s strict one-child policy. Today, the situation is reversed. China, the world’s second largest economy, is now having difficulty convincing people to marry and have children.

Under the revised system, services related to marriage and elderly care continue to benefit from value added tax (VAT) exemptions. These measures come alongside other incentives introduced in recent years, including longer parental leave and direct cash support to families.

Together, they show the increasing urgency of Beijing as it grapples with a rapidly aging population and slowing economy.

Declining Population, Growing Skepticism

Official data show that China’s population has decreased for three consecutive years. Fewer than 10 million babies will be born nationwide in 2024; that number was roughly half the number recorded a decade ago, when birth restrictions were first relaxed.

In this environment, taxes on condoms and birth control pills raised alarms. Public health advocates warn of risks ranging from unplanned pregnancies to a rise in HIV infections. Politics has also become a subject for satire rather than persuasion online.

While one retailer told customers to stock up before prices increase, one social media user joked, “I’ll buy condoms for life from now on.”

Another pointed out that people are well aware of the difference between the price of a condom and the lifetime cost of raising a child.

A 2024 report from the Beijing-based Youth Population Research Institute highlighted this fact, ranking China among the most expensive countries for raising children. The research highlights rising education costs, intense academic competition, and the challenges many women face balancing career and motherhood; All of this increases costs even more.

Economic Pressure, Personal Preferences

For many families, economic hardship is a bigger factor than the price of birth control. The prolonged slowdown, driven in part by the housing crisis, has hurt household savings and left young people uncertain about their future.

The 36-year-old Henan province resident has one child and has no plans for another child. “It’s like increasing subway fares. If fares increase by one or two yuan, people still use the subway. You have to use it,” he explained.

He added that the moderate increase in condom prices did not bother him. “Even if a box costs five, 10 or at most 20 yuan more, that’s only a few hundred yuan a year. That’s a manageable amount,” he says.

Others see more disturbing consequences. A native of the central city of Xi’an, he worries that high prices could push vulnerable groups into risky behavior. “Birth control is a basic need. Making it more expensive could mean that students or people who are already struggling financially would start to take risks,” he said.

He called this the “most dangerous possible outcome” of the policy.

Will the Decision Backfire?

Experts are divided on the real purpose behind the tax change. A demographer at the University of Wisconsin at Madison rejected the idea that higher condom prices would significantly increase birth rates. “It’s an exaggeration to think this will increase fertility,” he said.

He also noted fiscal pressures, saying China is eager to expand its tax base as the housing sector weakens and public debt rises. Last year, VAT revenue alone accounted for almost 40 percent of total tax revenue; This figure amounted to approximately one trillion dollars.

An expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies said the condom tax was largely “symbolic”. In his view, this reflects Beijing’s determination to signal action in the face of one of the lowest fertility rates in the world.

He also warned of practical obstacles. Many subsidies and family-friendly policies need to be implemented by heavily indebted state governments. It’s unclear whether they have the resources to do this.

He added that public support could wane if people felt the state was interfering too much in personal decisions.

Media reports have fueled such concerns, alleging that local officials in some provinces were calling women on the phone and asking questions about their menstrual cycles and plans for children. A health bureau in Yunnan province said such data was needed to identify pregnancies.

“This has not helped the government’s image. The Communist Party tries to stay out of people’s lives when it comes to important decisions. In this sense it often becomes its own worst enemy,” he says.

Stressed, Exhausted Generation

Observers and many women argue that China’s male-dominated leadership has overlooked the social changes behind falling birth rates. Similar struggles are being seen in Western countries, as well as in South Korea and Japan, where aging populations are difficult to reverse.

Research shows that childcare responsibilities still fall disproportionately on women. Beyond that, broader changes are affecting society, including declining marriage and even dating rates.

Official measures miss the point. The way young people interact today is increasingly moving away from genuine human connections. There is a boom in sex toy sales in the country. It is a sign that many people meet their needs alone because relationships feel like a burden.

It’s easier and more convenient to be online. There is a lot of pressure on young people now. They may be better off financially compared to 20 years ago, but expectations are much higher. Everyone is exhausted.

As China searches for ways to reverse its demographic decline, the condom tax has become a lightning rod, raising a question that goes beyond policy changes. Can economic incentives and symbolic gestures address the deeper social fatigue affecting a generation’s choices?