China Abandons One Child Policy; New Law Allows for Two Children

China’s three-decade-old controversial one-child policy has been abolished; couples can now have two children.

China has abolished its one-child policy to combat a growing ageing population. (Photo: iStockPhoto)

China’s three-and-a-half decade-old controversial one-child policy has finally been terminated, reports The Times of India, with Chinese lawmakers passing a new law allowing all couples to have two children starting January 1.

The state advocates that one couple shall be allowed to have two children.

Newly revised Law on Population and Family Planning

The world’s second-largest economy has done away with the population control policy amidst concern over its ageing population and shrinking workforce.

By 2050, China is expected to have nearly 500 million people over 60, exceeding the population of the US.

A 159-member National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, headed by President Xi Jinping, approved this historic decision.

China’s Population

• 15.5 percent of China’s population is above the age of 60 (212 million as of 2014)
• 40 million of the 212 million are disabled.
• UN predicts by 2030, 18 percent of people will be over the age of 65.
• Greater demand for elderly care services.

However, the new two-child policy has not met with as much enthusiasm as hoped; official surveys indicate that people in China are not keen to have a second child due to heavy costs involved in bringing up another child.