China ends one-child policy and allows families to have two children

China is to scrap its decades-long one child per family policy and allow couples to have two children. The ruling Communist Party says it plans to ease family planning restrictions for all couples. Until now, people who had more than one child could be fined locally. The policy was brought in in 1978 because of the high birth rate and has been heavily criticised globally, with critics suggesting it is an abuse of an individual’s human rights.

It’s an event that we have been waiting for a generation, but it is one we have had to wait much too long for.

Wang Feng, leading expert on demographic and social change in China

There have also been problems due to boys being seen are the preferred “one child”, meaning there are now too many men compared with women in the country. A growing number of scholars had urged the government to reform the rules, which are now regarded as outdated and responsible for shrinking China’s labour pool. The announcement was made at the close of a key Party meeting focused on financial reforms and maintaining growth between 2016 and 2020 amid concerns over the country’s slowing economy.

It won’t have any impact on the issue of the aging society, but it will change the character of many young.

Wang Feng

Asia-Pacific One-child policy