China’s One Child Policy

China -Factfile

• 25% of the world’s population• 7% of world’s arable land• 8% of the world’s water supply

• LAWS: 1979 – One child policy*1980s – parents in rural areas may have 2

children if the first is a girl.*1990s – city parents may buy a permit (costing

one year’s wages) for a second child *Punishment: abortion, mothers held in

detention centres, sterilization, fines eviction from home

History of the One Child Policy

• 1950s: In the early 1950s the philosophy of the Chinese government was ‘a large population gives a strong nation’. The government wanted many children to be born.

• 1959-61: Up to 20 million people died in a famine including many children.

• 1960s: There was a population boom. The population increased by 55 million during the decade ( roughly the total population of the UK)

• 1980s: Asking families to have fewer children during the 1970s had not worked so in 1979 the One Child Policy was introduced. Strong pressure was put on women to use contraception. There were even people known as ‘granny police’ whose job it was to watch their neighbours to make sure they were taking the pill. If they suspected women were pregnant without permission they were reported to the authorities. Some women were forced to have abortions and sterilisations.

• 1990s: The policy has been deemed a failure. At a meeting in Peking in 1989 delegates were told there would be around 120mn more Chinese people than had been planned.

• 2000: Policy has been relaxed, but you are still fined heavily is you have more than one child.

Government Propaganda for the One Child Policy

For those with one child:

1. Free Education for your one child.

2. An extra months salary per year until your child is 14.

3. A house normally reserved for a family of 4.

4. Pension benefits.

• For those with 2 children:

1. No free education

2. No allowances

3. No pension benefits

4. Payment of a fine to the state from earnings

5. Demotion at work, or even unemployment

• To help you:• 1. Women must be 20yrs old before they can

marry.• 2. Men must be 22yrs old before they can marry.• 3. Couples must have permission to marry.• 4. Couples must have permission to have one

child.• 5. All hospitals have family planning officers.• 6. Family planning is available at work.• 7. Redundant country people are encouraged to

move to towns.

Effects of the One Child Policy• Birth control measure seem to be working in the cities.• In the Shaanxi Province there are 145 males born for every 100

females born.• This leads to large numbers of unmarried men.• The baby boom of the 1950s means China has a large greying

population.• The policy means there are low numbers of younger people to

support the old.• Children with no brothers and sisters receive a great deal of

attention – spoilt.• In rural areas problems have risen as they need the children to help

on the farm. They go to great lengths to ensure the first child born is male. If the first child is a girl the child may be disposed or killed (female infanticide)