China’s One Child Policy was established in 1979 to limit China's population growth, by restricting families to have only one child per family. Fines, pressures to abort a pregnancy, and even forced sterilization accompanied second or subsequent pregnancies. There were also 24 years+ marriage laws.
The policy reflects a neo-Malthusian philosophy of preventative measures being employed in order to prevent ‘positive’ checks of famine etc.
Since the policy started:
336 million abortions
222 million sterilizations
When the One Child Policy was adopted in 1979, China's population was about 972 million people. China is expected to peak in population around 2030 with 1.46 billion people and then begin falling to 1.3 billion by 2050.
China's sex ratio at birth is more imbalanced than the global average. There are about 116 boys born in China for every 100 girls. There has been sex-selective abortion, neglect, abandonment, and even infanticide of infant females. This only child was often spoilt, and referent to as ‘little emperors’ proving that the aim to reduce pressure on resources was not effective. The unbalanced gender ratios may cause longer term problems, such as men not finding partners, however improving the role of women in the Chinese society.
The recent peak total fertility rate for Chinese women was in the late 1960s, when it was 5.91 in 1966 and 1967. When the One Child Policy was first imposed, the total fertility rate of women was 2.91 in 1978. In 2012, the total fertility rate dropped to 1.55 children per woman.
NI was reduced.
Ageing population – by 2025 it is estimated that 25% of the population will be over 65 years, increasing the dependency ratio and adding strain to families and the state.
There were also moral issues with the One Child Policy.
Outcomes of policy:
Stable population
Easy family planning
Boosted economy
Increased fertility rates
Population has dropped
Less pressure on resources
Majority of people can still only have 1 child.
Huge impact on demographic profile
Fertility rates dropped to 1.6 from 2.4
Backbone of workforce due to fall by 7% by 2030.
Economic impacts
Skewed gender ratio (116:100) & ageing population
Standards of living- gender imbalance
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