One Child Policy in China

The Republic of China is the country with the largest population of 1.34 billion. In 1953 the first census was conducted with the support of United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) according to which the population was 583 million. After 47 years, by 2000 the population became 1.2 billion. (Lavely, 2011).

The obvious rapid growth of the population was troubling for Chinese leaders and since 1960s “Birth Control” offices have been established in China. By 1973 Mao Zedong, the leader of Chinese Revolution, started the family planning movement. Until 1979 the urban couples were controlled to have 2 children families while in rural areas the number of children in the family might be three or four. These limits were necessary for the economic growth of the country. In 1978 The Chinese Government introduced the “One Child Policy” which was applied to first-born children since 1979. (Hays, 2012).

According to the one child policy some rewards and punishments are applied. Parents, who have only one child, have privileges like higher and extra salaries, better health care and housing or priority in school enrollment. In contrast, families where there is second child should pay fines. If they are not able to pay fines they may lose their jobs, or their house may be destroyed or land taken away. (Hays, 2012)

During the years the positive impacts of birth control have been noticed. Since 1970s till 2009 the fertility rate per woman sharply declined from 5.9 to 1.61. Due to this decrease the standards of living started to improve. Some problems occurred as a result of overpopulation like epidemics, environmental pollution and overload of health, educational and other social services were also reduced. (One Child One family Policy).

One of the benefits of one child policy is that the health services provided to women during the pregnancy were improved. In order to avoid abortions the family planning offices made the necessary means available for free. (Hays,...