China’s One Child Policy

China Stats Government: Communist Nation The Communist Party of China (CPC) is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China (PRC) Population: 1.357 billion (2013) The world’s most populous country 20% of the world’s population   91.51% of the population was Han Chinese Capital: Beijing Largest City: Shanghai 14.35 million people (2000) Skyscraper-studded global financial center

China’s Current Issues Overpopulation is the situation of having large numbers of people with too few resources and too little space There are four major factors that contributes to  overpopulation: Social issues Economical issues Environmental issues Security problems China is suffering from an imbalance in social and economic development between different regions, between urban and rural areas, and in income generation The uneven distribution of social wealth has created major social and economic issues for the government and will influence the path of China’s development in the future. About 62% of the population lives in the rural areas but economists are predicting that by 2035 almost 70% of the population will live in urban areas. Huge migration to the city will have a massive impact on the social and welfare state as well as on the environment, which the government is having to address through its policy decisions. It is stated by Chinese sources that 35% of the total area has been harmed by acid rain and 40% of rivers have been polluted. Over 25% of Chinese residents drink contaminated water and 400 of the 667 Chinese cities suffer from water shortage. 35% of people living in the towns and cities breathe polluted air. Only 32% of all hazardous solid waste is currently treated. 

Population Policies During Mao Zedong's rule the population policy of China was “the more people, the stronger we are”, leading to overpopulation and a series of famines. 1945 –1976 During the 1960s the population growth rate averaged 2.4% per year When Deng Xiaoping took power in 1978, his new policies focused on strengthening China's economy, and he saw overpopulation as a block to economic development. The Chinese government had issued three policies to reduce the birth rate: Late marriage – men were encouraged to marry no earlier than 28 years old (25 in rural areas) and women no earlier than 25 years old (23 in rural areas). Longer spacing between births – couples were encouraged to allow at least a four-year gap after the first child before having another baby. Fewer children – it was suggested that urban families should be limited to two children, and rural families to three children The One Child Policy In 1979 the authorities tightened their control and limited households to only one child. The goal of this policy was to limit China’s population to 1.2 billion by the year 2000.

THE ONE CHILD POLICY A one-child policy was introduced to control China's exploding population, help raise living standards and reduce the strain on scarce resources. China's One Child Policy most strictly applies to Han Chinese living in urban areas of the country. Only covers about 35 percent of Chinese It does not apply to ethnic minorities Families where both parents are only children can have an extra child.  Exceptions include if first born is disabled For families who observe the One Child Policy, there are rewards: higher wages, better schooling and employment, and preferential treatment in obtaining governmental assistance and loans. For families who violate the One Child Policy, there are sanctions: fines, employment termination, and difficulty in obtaining governmental assistance. With the One Child Policy in place, China is expected to achieve zero population growth by 2025 It is estimated to have prevented about 400 million births The rationale for implementing the policy was to reduce the growth rate of China’s enormous population Population containment essential to economic reform & living standards Feeding 20% of world’s population on 7% of the arable land

Why Boys? China’s sex ratio at birth of 118 male infants for every 100 female infants is likely to be due to 3 factors; underreporting of female births excessive female infant mortality and prenatal sex determination and sex-selective abortion Son preference has a long history in China and is tied to the social and economic roles of males in Chinese families Family lineage is traced through males Traditionally females join husband’s family Social safety net Financial dependence on offspring essential for 70% of elderly Sons care for parents Daughters tend parents-in-law

China Ends One Child Policy October 2015 China will allow two children for every couple "To promote a balanced growth of population, China will continue to uphold the basic national policy of population control and improve its strategy on population development" The changing demographics have forced China to allow for more children to create a younger work force Many couples will opt out of having two children for finical reasons

China: Unnatural Selection

Exit: How do you think the change in China’s policy will effect its population?