China One Child Policy

Factfile

in 1950, rate of population change in china 1.9%
previous governments encouraged large families to increase workforce
by 1970, growth unsustainable and large areas of china suffered from famine as not enough food, water and energy
in 1979 the government decided to introduce One Child Policy
policy has since prevented approx. 300 million babies being born

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China’s ethnic minorities, such as Uighurs and Tibetans, are exempt
families in countryside only permitted to have second child if first is a girl
recently couples that were only children themselves allowed to apply to have more kids

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women regularly inspected to check if they are pregnant
- if pregnant, suffered forced abortions and sterilisations
families were successful in hiding new children
- 1990: 23 million births but 2000 26 million 10 year olds
- at least three million babies escaped notice of family planning officials
those caught can opt to pay a “social upbringing fee”
- usually multiple of the average income in the city where the child is born
- cost of education and healthcare

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those who had more than one child didn't receive benefits and were fined
policy keenly resisted in rural areas, where it was traditional to have large families
in urban areas, policy has been enforced strictly but remote rural areas have been harder to control.
many people claim some women, who became pregnant after they had already had a child, were forced to have an abortion and many women forcibly sterilised

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by 2020, estimated men will outnumber womeen by 30-60 million
- creates social tension as many men unable to get married
many women faced forced abortions and sterilisations
population made up of 'Little Emperors' who lack social skills gained with siblings
birth rate fallen since 1979, now population growth is 0.7%

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22% China's population is over 60, expected to rise by 24%
- puts financial strain on healthcare
increased dependancy rato
- percentage of people over 65 to working age will increase from 10% in 2009 to 40% in 2050
by 2025, China expected to have more elderly than children
population 20-24 will drop by half between 2010 and 2020

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