China has unveiled a nationwide childcare allowance that will grant families 3,600 yuan (about $503) a year for every child under the age of three, starting on 1 January 2025. Parents will be able to collect the payment for each of a child’s first three years, giving households access to as much as 10,800 yuan over the period. The initiative is Beijing’s most sweeping attempt yet to lift a shrinking birthrate. China’s fertility rate has fallen to roughly one child per woman, and the number of newborns has declined for several consecutive years, prompting officials to look for incentives that can lower the cost of raising children. The central programme builds on a patchwork of local measures—including Hohhot’s lump-sum offer of 100,000 yuan for a third child—aimed at easing childcare expenses and encouraging larger families. Authorities have signalled that additional steps may follow as demographic pressures mount.