POPULATION GROWTH SLIDES TO RECORD LOW

China's population is growing at the slowest rate on record, raising the prospect of a demographic crisis hitting the world's second-largest economy.

It grew at an annual rate of 0.53 per cent between 2010 and 2020, bringing the total population to 1.41 billion, according to the government's latest census results.

The annual rate was 0.57 per cent in the previous decade.

Beijing eased the strict one-child rule in 2016 with the ambition of driving the population up to 1.42 billion by 2020.

However, the rising cost of living, healthcare and education means couples are less willing to have children, with the latest figures falling short of the government's target.