Famine and disease were catastrophic consequences of the Chinese Civil War, particularly during its later phases, and were major contributors to the civilian death toll.

During the Second Phase (1945–1949): The Britannica summary estimates that 5 million civilians died as a result of combat, starvation, and disease.  The war severely disrupted agriculture and supply lines, leading to widespread hunger and outbreaks of disease.

 The Great Chinese Famine (1958–1962): Although occurring after the main phase of the civil war, the policies that caused this famine, known as the Great Leap Forward, were implemented by the newly established People's Republic of China. This period is considered one of the deadliest famines in human history. Estimates for the death toll vary widely, from 15 million to over 55 million, with many experts converging on a figure around 30 million.  The famine was primarily caused by disastrous agricultural and economic policies, not natural disaster, and was accompanied by widespread disease due to malnutrition and the collapse of rural infrastructure. Provinces like Sichuan, Anhui, and Henan were among the hardest hit.

The population loss due to the Great Leap Forward (1958–1962) was primarily caused by a catastrophic famine and is one of the deadliest in human history. Estimates vary widely:

Death Toll: Demographers and historians estimate the number of excess deaths (from starvation, disease, and related causes) to be between 15 million and 45 million.  Many scholarly sources converge on a figure of around 30 million.

Contributing Factors: The famine was largely man-made, resulting from disastrous policies such as the forced collectivization of agriculture, the diversion of labor to unproductive "backyard steel" furnaces, the expropriation of grain by the state, and the suppression of accurate reporting. These policies led to a massive drop in agricultural output and widespread food shortages.

Additional Loss: Beyond the death toll, the famine also caused a significant shortfall in births. Historian Yang Jisheng estimated that while 36 million died, an additional 40 million births did not occur, leading to a total population loss of 76 million.

 (These 2 events cover the same period.)

 The Cultural Revolution (officially the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution), which lasted from 1966 to 1976.

Initiated by: Chairman Mao Zedong to reassert his authority and purge "revisionist" elements from the Communist Party.

 Key Methods: Mao mobilized youth groups known as Red Guards to attack the "Four Olds" (old customs, culture, habits, and ideas) and enforce ideological purity.

 Role of the Book: Mao’s "Little Red Book" (Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung), compiled by Lin Biao and published in 1964, served as the primary ideological guide for this movement, with millions of copies distributed to unify thought.

The Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) had devastating and far-reaching consequences for China:

Human Cost: Estimates of the death toll range from hundreds of thousands to over a million, from executions, torture, public humiliation ("struggle sessions"), and suicides.  Millions more were persecuted, imprisoned, or sent to the countryside for "re-education."

 Economic Damage: The decade-long chaos crippled the economy, causing a significant decline in industrial and agricultural production and widespread poverty.

 Cultural Destruction: There was a massive destruction of cultural heritage, with ancient temples, libraries, historical artifacts, and traditional customs (the "Four Olds") targeted and obliterated.

 Educational Disruption: Schools and universities were closed for years, depriving an entire generation of students of formal education and causing a severe loss of academic expertise.

 Social Trauma: The campaign tore apart families, destroyed friendships, and created deep societal trauma. The pervasive atmosphere of fear and suspicion led to a legacy of distrust in authority and a complex mix of victimhood and guilt for many participants.

 Political Outcome: Officially, the Communist Party later described the period as a "catastrophe" that caused the "most severe setback and heaviest losses" since 1949.  It led to the arrest of the Gang of Four and paved the way for Deng Xiaoping to take power and initiate economic reforms.

The Cultural Revolution caused immense death and suffering, but primarily through political violence, persecution, and suicide, with estimates typically ranging from 1 to 2 million.

 Children Not Born: There are no reliable or widely accepted figures for the number of children not born due to the Cultural Revolution.  While the chaos, imprisonment, "re-education," and social disruption undoubtedly impacted family planning and fertility.

The One-Child Policy officially lasted from 1979/1980 to 2015, when it was formally ended.

Duration: It was introduced as a temporary measure in 1979 and formally implemented in 1980.  It was relaxed to allow two children for all couples in 2016, after the policy was officially ended in October 2015.

 Births Prevented: The Chinese government claimed the policy prevented 400 million births.  However, this figure is highly contested by many scholars, who argue that China's rapid economic development and earlier family planning efforts were the primary drivers of the fertility decline, and that the 400 million number is a significant exaggeration

  The consequences of the gender imbalance created by the One-Child Policy include:

"Missing Girls": An estimated 20 to 30 million female births were lost between 1980 and 2010 due to sex-selective abortions, infanticide, and abandonment, driven by a traditional preference for sons.

 Marriage Squeeze: There are now 30 to 35 million more men than women of marriageable age, making it extremely difficult for many men, especially in rural areas, to find partners.

 Social Instability: The surplus of unmarried men, sometimes called "bare branches," is a major concern for the government, with fears of increased social unrest, crime, and human trafficking, including bride buying.

 Rising Bride Prices: The scarcity of women has dramatically inflated the cost of marriage, with families in some regions needing to pay bride prices equivalent to many years of income.

 Demographic Challenges: This imbalance exacerbates China's broader demographic crisis, contributing to a shrinking workforce and an aging population, as fewer marriages lead to fewer children being born

 The birth rate peaked in 1982 at  22.28 per 1,000 people.

The crude birth rate was 12.7 per 1,000 people.

  China's annual birth rate in 2025 was 5.63 births per 1,000 people, marking the lowest recorded level since 1949.  This figure represents a 17% decline from the 9.54 million births recorded in 2024, resulting in a total of only 7.92 million new births for the year.

 Overview of China's Demographic CrisisChina is undergoing a profound demographic shift characterized by a rapidly aging population and a shrinking cohort of young people.  In 2022, China’s population declined for the first time since the 1960s, marking a turning point in its demographic trajectory. The core of the crisis lies in the imbalance between the working-age population and the elderly: by 2050, nearly 30–40% of China’s population will be aged 65 or older, while the share of those under 15 could fall to just 7–10%.

This shift is driven by a combination of low fertility rates—falling to a record low of 1.09 children per woman in 2022, far below the 2.1 replacement level—and rising life expectancy.  As a result, China is "getting old before it gets rich", unlike developed nations such as the U.S. or Japan, which aged after achieving high income levels.  This puts immense pressure on the younger generation, with many families now following a "4-2-1" structure—one working couple supporting four parents and one child.

 There are so few women in relation to men in China that Xi Jinping in an effore to restore stability to the PLA after his conflicts with the leadership that he organized a recruitment campaign to find thousands of brides for unmarried military officers. This happened in 2025 and was documented by Lei on her Real Talk channel in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAY2-D_ZksU

This arranged military marriage scheme had been tried before in the period from 1949 to 1952 in remote areas. They began by recruiting young teenage girls then moved on to widows and finally recruiting over 900 re-educated prostitutes from Shanghai.

So why are miltary offocers with careers not able to find wives?

Based on the 2025 demographic data for China, the population aged 30–34 (the standard five-year cohort including 30-year-olds) is composed of 50.65% males and 49.35% females. 

This is very much a fake statistic. I remember an article in Asia Times magazine which said there are 5 levels of government and they all collect statistics and forward them to their superiors. But they cannot report fsilures. And they cannot report too many successes as that would only increase their quotas for next year. The result is that they have 5 levels of massaged statistics to please the CCP leadership. Nothing can be believed.

I do remember accounts of people visiting classrooms in China during the One Child Policy era. In classrooms in Beijing at least 60% of the children were male. But in rural areas the children were about 80% male. I also have met Americans including single women who adopted children from China. All of those children were females.

I met a Chinese executive who had a very well paid position and was touring our SIlicon Valley facility in the company of our CEO. This man was around 30 years of age and at most 5' 6". He said he had not even had a date in 2 years. American women would marry a well paid man even if they knew they would be dating other men after the marriage. I have read articles of villages in China where men were desperately seeking women. I read once of a woman who had been kidnapped and forcibily impregnated by a local farmer who was desperate for a child. The local police did nothing to protect the woman. She did manage to write to a famous female radio broadcaster who had a program called Voices in the Night. The broad caster travelled all they way to the remote village to recue her. The local police did not prosecute the man. Due to the broadcaster's fame, she was allowed to take the woman and her young son with her so the latter could move away.

Why do young people in China not marry and have children?

The declining marriage and birth rates among young people in China stem from a combination of economic pressures, shifting cultural values, and demographic policies. Key factors include the high cost of living, intense workplace competition, and a legacy of the one-child policy that has left fewer peers to support aging parents.

Here are the primary drivers:

Economic Burden: Housing prices in major cities are often astronomical relative to income, making buying a home—a traditional prerequisite for marriage in China—unattainable for many. Additionally, the cost of raising and educating children is extremely high, creating a significant financial deterrent.

Work Culture and Gender Roles: The competitive "996" work culture (9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week) leaves little time or energy for dating and family life. For women specifically, there is often a "motherhood penalty" in the workplace, where marriage and childbirth can stall career progression or lead to discrimination, leading many to prioritize careers over traditional family roles.

Changing Social Values: Younger generations are increasingly prioritizing personal freedom, self-fulfillment, and individual happiness over traditional family obligations. The stigma around being single has diminished significantly, and there is a growing acceptance of living alone or cohabiting without marriage.

Demographic Imbalance: Decades of the one-child policy created a skewed gender ratio with significantly more men than women, making it mathematically difficult for many men to find partners, particularly in rural areas.

 (Please note the last answer. The large demographic imbalance particularly in rural areas. That is a not to subtle recognition of the many lies we are told about the Chinese population.)

There are lots of social videos made in China about the so called problem of leftover women. That is women in their 30s who are unmarried and childless. Apparently there is a social taboo in China that does not allow men to marry single women over 30. I did see one video in which someone tried to do matchmaking for women over 30. They had 800 women volunteer and no men.

This would indicate there are far fewer people in China that admitted. This brings me to Lei's videos on China's real population. There are those videos:

 China’s Real Population: A Question No One Is Allowed to Answer

 China Is Having Fewer Babies Than It Did 300 Years Ago

A lot of the above was taken from searches and results from Brave's browser and Ai.