Family Planning

The logo of China's family planning

Family planning (计划生育) is China's population control policy which promotes late marriage and late childbearing, having fewer but healthier babies, especially one child per couple.

A flexible practice is adopted for rural people and ethnic minorities. In rural areas, couples may have a second baby in exceptional cases, but must have an interval of years between the first and the second child.

In areas inhabited by minority peoples, each community may work out its own regulations in accordance with its wishes, population, natural resources, economy, culture and customs.

In general, couples may have a second baby, or a third in some places. As for ethnic minorities with extremely small populations, couples may have as many children as they wish.

Beginning in 1978, it has been one of China's basic state policies, combining government guidance with voluntary compliance of citizens.

The central and local governments have instituted policies and regulations for controlling population growth, improving population quality and structure, as well as macro plans on population development.

Governments provide consultation, guidance and technical services concerning reproductive care, contraception, healthy birth and positive childrearing.

Couples of child-bearing age, guided by relevant state policies and regulations, can make arrangements for pregnancy and birth in an appropriate and responsible manner and choose appropriate contraceptive methods, taking their age, health, employment and financial situations into consideration.

The State Council has submitted a bill the top legislature for deliberation. The bill aims to allow couples to have two children if either parent is an only child.

The new one-child policy is expected to go into force in some provincial regions in the first quarter of 2014. Health and family planning authorities at various levels are conducting risk assessment for the policy.