China's one-child policy

• The policy started being an encouragement, but in 1980 it was made mandatory to only have one child.
• The birth rate fell from 33 in 1979 to 17 in 1970.
• The policy is estimated to have reduced the growth of 1.3 billion by as much of 300 million people over the first 20 years alone.
• Many people in China value female infants less highly than males as they weren’t considered to be able to aid in work. This caused sex-selected abortion.
• Females were aborted or died because of neglect, abandonment or even infanticide. This was seen more in rural areas.
• Fertility rates fell about 1.6 births per woman.
• The downsides of maintaining this policy is a shrinking labour force and an ageing population.
• In 2013, the policy was relaxed and allowed couples to have 2 children.