One-Child Policy Britannica Online

The One-Child Policy, initiated by China's government in the late 1970s and early 1980s, aimed to limit most families in the nation to a single child. This policy's introduction was primarily driven by the need to slow the rate of population growth. By the end of 2015, it was announced that the policy would conclude in the early part of 2016.

**Foundation and Execution of China’s One-Child Policy:**

Post-1949, with the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, birth control and family planning were promoted but were not widespread or mandatory until after Mao Zedong’s death in 1976. By the late 1970s, as China neared a population of one billion, the leadership under Deng Xiaoping started to seriously contemplate measures to curb the rapidly increasing population. Initially, a voluntary policy recommended families to limit themselves to two children, with a preference for just one. By 1979, there was a push for a stricter one-child rule. This rule was unevenly applied across provinces until 1980, when efforts were made to enforce it nationally. On September 25, 1980, the policy was formally advocated in a public letter by the Chinese Communist Party, marking the policy's official start.

Though intended to be universal, exceptions existed, such as for ethnic minorities or families with a handicapped first child. Urban areas saw more effective implementation than rural regions, where extended families were more common and resistant to the policy. Enforcement varied, with methods including contraceptive access, incentives for compliance, penalties for noncompliance, and at times, forced abortions and sterilizations.

The immediate effect was a reduced fertility and birthrate from 1980 onwards. However, the decrease in death rates and increase in life expectancy also meant that the overall natural increase rate of China’s population declined.

**Impacts of the One-Child Policy:**

The policy led to unintended consequences, notably a gender imbalance favoring males due to a cultural preference for sons. This resulted in increased abortions of female fetuses, abandonment, and in some cases, infanticide of female infants. This gender imbalance created a surplus of males unable to find spouses in adulthood.

Another impact was an aging population, with fewer children available to support elderly parents. There were also cases of unreported births, leading to undocumented children facing difficulties in accessing education and employment.

Efforts to adjust the policy allowed for exceptions over time, allowing for second or third children under certain conditions.

**Conclusion of the One-Child Policy:**

Despite its enforcement into the 21st century, the policy ended in 2016, allowing all families to have two children. However, this did not significantly boost birth rates due to financial concerns, childcare availability, and career implications for parents. In 2021, the government permitted families to have up to three children, promising supportive measures in employment, finance, childcare, and education to encourage higher birth rates and address demographic and economic challenges.