The three-child policy (Chinese: 三孩政策; pinyin: Sānhái Zhèngcè), whereby a couple can have three children, is a family planning policy in the People's Republic of China.[1][2] The policy was announced on 31 May 2021 at a meeting of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), chaired by CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping, on population aging.[3][4]
The announcement came after the release of the results of the Seventh National Population Census, which showed that the number of births in mainland China in 2020 was only 12 million, the lowest number of births since 1960, and the further aging of the population, against which the policy was born.[5] This was the slowest population growth rate China experienced.[6] The state-owned Chinese news agency, Xinhua, stated that this policy would be accompanied by supportive measures to maintain China's advantage in human labor.[3] However, some Chinese citizens expressed dissatisfaction with the policy, as they would be unable to raise children due to the high cost of living in China relative to the income.[7][4]
The policy was adopted by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and State Council of the People's Republic of China in June 2021 and announced in July.[8] In August, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress amended the Population and Family Planning Law,[9] allowing each couple to have three children and cancelling restrictive measures including fines for couples having more children than permitted.[10][11]
- ^ "China announces three-child policy, in major policy shift". India Today. Beijing. Reuters. 2021-05-31. Archived from the original on 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
- ^ "China allows couples to have three children". BBC News. 2021-05-31. Archived from the original on 2021-06-09. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
- ^ a b "China introduces three-child policy in response to ageing population". www.abc.net.au. 2021-05-31. Archived from the original on 2021-05-31. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
- ^ a b Wee, Sui-Lee (2021-05-31). "China Says It Will Allow Couples to Have 3 Children, Up From 2". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
- ^ "三孩生育政策来了". 新华网. Archived from the original on 2021-06-07. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
- ^ "China announces three-child policy, in major policy shift". The Japan Times. 2021-05-31. Archived from the original on 2021-05-31. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
- ^ "Cost of Living in China". www.numbeo.com. Archived from the original on 2021-10-06. Retrieved 2021-10-06.
- ^ "Xinhua Headlines: China unveils details of three-child policy, support measures – Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 2023-06-06. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
- ^ "China: Three-Child Policy Becomes Law, Social Maintenance Fee Abolished". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Archived from the original on 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "China Focus: China adopts law amendment allowing couples to have 3 children". www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
- ^ "China: Three-Child Policy Becomes Law, Social Maintenance Fee Abolished". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2022-12-07.