one-child policy

A woman carries a baby born on China's National Day, Oct. 1, 2019, at a hospital in Chengdu, China. Experts say that once-strict government restrictions on births is likely to place a burden on the country's economy.

In China, Birthrate Falls To Lowest Level In 70 Years

11:44am January 17, 2020

by Scott Neuman

Last year, there were 10.48 births per 1,000 people — the lowest since the country was founded in 1949. Beijing also said its economy cooled to the slowest pace in nearly three decades.

Unwed pregnant women in China face a legal gray zone where they are unable to access public services for themselves and their children.

In China, Kids Of Unwed Mothers May Be Barred From Public Health Care, Education

2:36pm November 06, 2019

Being a mom without a husband leaves many women in a legal gray zone where they are unable to access medical and other public services for themselves and their children. Some women are even fined.

A newborn girl is the first baby born in the New Year at Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Hospital on January 1, 2018 in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province of China.

Despite The End Of China's One-Child Policy, Births Are Still Lagging

2:45pm July 16, 2018

Beijing hoped that by ending its infamous policy restricting women to one child, it would see a quick turnaround in the number of births. But the old policy has had a lasting impact.

A photo from November 2013 shows a man playing with his child at a park in Yichang, in central China's Hubei province. City leaders are encouraging couples to have two children.

World News

Chinese City Urges People To 'Appreciate The Significance Of Having Two Children'

7:08pm September 22, 2016

by Rebecca Hersher

The city of Yichang is calling on couples to serve their country by having a second child, even as harsh fines are announced for families in Beijing who violate the rules on having more than two kids.

Cover detail from One Child, by Mei Fong.

How China's One-Child Policy Led To Forced Abortions, 30 Million Bachelors

5:16pm February 01, 2016

Journalist Mei Fong tells Fresh Air that China's one-child policy drastically reshaped the country's demographic make-up. "China has 30 million more men than women," she says. Her book is One Child.

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France is willing to give money to families that have more babies.

World News

Who Was The First To Try To Manipulate Birthrates? Not China!

6:32am October 31, 2015

by Nurith Aizenman

Credit (or blame) goes to France, which wanted more babies in the 19th century. Like most government plans to influence birthrate, it didn't quite work.

Models for children's wear wait for a show during China Fashion Week in Beijing on Thursday. China announced an end to the one-child policy for urban couples that had been place for more than three decades.

World News

As China Lifts One-Child Policy, Many Chinese Respond With Snark

6:24pm October 30, 2015

by Anthony Kuhn

China declared success and will now allow couples to have two kids. Many saw the program as outdated and say families in all urbanizing countries have fewer kids regardless of government diktats.

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Faced with an aging population, China has eased its one-child policy. Here, an elderly man is seen holding a baby as he rides a bicycle in Beijing last month.

World News

One-Child No More: China Ends Decades-Old Restriction

8:01am October 29, 2015

by Bill Chappell

After more than 35 years, China has rescinded its law banning many families from having more than one child; all of them will now be allowed to have two.