One-Child Policy Britannica Online

The One-Child Policy was a major rule introduced by China's government in the late 1970s and early 1980s to limit most families to just one child. The goal was to slow down the rapid increase in China's population. It was announced at the end of 2015 that this policy would come to an end in 2016.

The policy came about after China's leadership, led by Deng Xiaoping after Mao Zedong's death in 1976, noticed the population nearing one billion and decided to address the fast growth. Initially, a voluntary program suggested families should not have more than two children, with a preference for just one. By 1979, there was a push to make this a stricter rule. The official start of the one-child rule is often marked by a public letter from September 25, 1980, urging all to follow this policy.

Though meant to apply to everyone, there were exceptions. Ethnic minorities and parents of children with disabilities could sometimes have more than one child. The policy was more strictly enforced in cities compared to the countryside, where larger, extended families were more common. Enforcement varied, including incentives for compliance and penalties for those who didn't follow the rule, and in some instances, it involved forced abortions and sterilizations.

As a result, China saw a decrease in birth and fertility rates from 1980 onwards. However, with a drop in death rates and an increase in life expectancy, the population continued to grow, albeit at a slower pace.

The policy led to unintended effects, such as a gender imbalance with more males than females because of a preference for male children. This resulted in increased abortions of female fetuses, abandonment, and even the death of baby girls. As these children grew up, there were fewer women available for marriage. Another issue was an aging population with fewer children to support older generations. Children born as second or further additions to their families often went unregistered, facing difficulties in accessing education and jobs.

Despite modifications over the years, including allowances for certain families to have more children, the policy remained until it was officially ended in 2016, allowing all families to have two children. However, this change did not lead to a significant increase in birth rates due to financial concerns, childcare availability, and career impacts, particularly for women. In 2021, facing a demographic and economic crisis, the government announced that couples could have up to three children, promising support to encourage larger families.