VISUAL STORY| LUNAR NEW YEARHeavenly creature or destined for...

VISUAL STORY| LUNAR NEW YEARHeavenly creature or destined for slaughter: The luckiest – and least desired – Chinese zodiac signsThe Year of the Dragon is tipped to bring one bonus: a baby boom. But one animal was once blamed for a dip in birth rates. Check your Chinese zodiac sign here.by The Visual Stories Team and Eliza SumFEBRUARY 5, 2024The Lunar New Year is heralded with firecrackers, celebrations and family feasts, but 2024 is tipped to bring one bonus: a baby boom.For nearly five decades, the Year of the Dragon has coincided with a birth spike in east and south-east Asia. During 2012, the most recent Year of the Dragon, Singapore’s birth rate skyrocketed to a five-year high. That year, China’s birth rate increased to 14.57 births per 1000 inhabitants – up from 13.27 in 2011 – before dipping back down to 13.03 in 2013.The dragon is the only mythical creature among the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. While Western dragons are often portrayed as beasts of destruction, Chinese dragons are heavenly creatures that bring luck and are a symbol of abundance, power and prosperity. Those born in the Year of the Dragon are believed to be destined for success and wealth.So it’s little wonder China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia are bracing for more births in 2024. One expert says China is hoping for a Dragon baby boom after its birth rate hit a record low in 2023.Dr Peng Xiujian, a senior research fellow at Victoria University’s Centre of Policy Studies, says some Chinese couples may have held off until 2024 before trying for a baby.“In 2023, China had a low fertility rate due to many factors … expensive living costs, education costs … women who have undertaken higher education and are getting married later, a declining marriage rate, long working hours,” she says.“Another particular reason is the three-year pandemic ...people are choosing not to get married or have children during these years. Or some couples want children and pushed it back – now they might think: ‘This is the Year of the Dragon, so why not?’ ”