When China stopped having children

Summary

The video examines how China's population growth boomed after the 1960s, reaching 650 million, but then declined rapidly due to the one-child policy starting in 1979. This policy, along with urbanization and societal changes, made China's fertility rate one of the lowest in the world at 1.5 children per woman. However, the aging population and shrinking workforce is now a concern. Although the one-child policy ended in 2015, norms favor small families. UN predictions estimate China's population peaking at 1.4 billion before declining by 400 million by 2100. This shrinking population underscores economic challenges ahead.

Takeaways

• 😲 China had a huge drop in fertility rate from 1970-1980, going from 6 to 2.5 children per woman in just 10 years
• 😮 The one-child policy in China starting in 1979 used propaganda, incentives and punishments to limit families to one child
• 😢 The one-child policy resulted in forced abortions, sterilizations and unregistered children without rights
• 😠 There was a strong preference for sons leading to gender imbalance and millions of missing girls
• 👵 China's population growth is slowing and the country is rapidly aging
• 😰 The working age population is shrinking while the older population keeps increasing
• 📉 China's total population likely to decline significantly in coming decades
• 🔄 China recently switched to a two-child policy but facing uphill battle to increase fertility rate
• 😐 Low fertility rate and aging population also an issue in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore
• 🤔 UN predictions may underestimate speed and scale of China's population decline

Q & A

What was China's fertility rate in the 1960s?

In the 1960s, China had a fertility rate of six babies born per woman.

What was the goal of Mao's Great Leap Forward?

The Great Leap Forward aimed to increase foreign trade by exporting life-supporting crops while nationalizing farmland and enforcing strict government prices on harvests.

How long did it take for China's fertility rate to drop from almost 6 to 2.5 children per woman?

China's fertility rate dropped from almost 6 to 2.5 children per woman in just 10 years, from 1970 to 1980.

What was the main feature of China's one-child policy?

Under the one-child policy, Chinese families were expected to have no more than one child, with few exceptions.

What were some consequences of China's one-child policy?

Consequences of the one-child policy included forced abortions, sterilizations, unregistered children denied rights and services, and gender imbalance due to preference for male children.

How has the one-child policy impacted China's population growth?

The one-child policy has contributed to very low fertility rates in China, slowing population growth significantly.

What is predicted about China's future population size?

China's population is predicted to decrease by 64 million by 2050 and by 400 million by 2100, to about 1 billion people.

How does China's aging population impact its economy?

China's aging population puts pressure on the smaller younger workforce to support larger older generations, impacting economic growth.

What is China doing now regarding its low fertility rate?

Since 2015 China has scrapped its one-child policy and now promotes parents having more children to secure the future workforce.

Why is it difficult for China to increase its fertility rate?

Increasing fertility faces challenges like entrenched small family norms, increased urbanization and cost of living, and limited immigration.