China's Population Boom

Having a family in a world with dwindling resources and ever-increasing mouths to feed is a moral dilemma for many. Ask Lester Brown, president of the Earth Policy Institute, who has long been one of the world's leading thinkers on building a sustainable society. He will tell you that for the good of the planet and future generations, there is "no feasible alternative" to strive for only two children per couple.

In China, where its 1.3 billion population increases by at least 12 million people a year, a “one-child” policy has been enforced since 1979. With few exceptions, families are legally allowed only one offspring. China’s population has more than doubled since 1950 (500 million that year) and today, represents 20 percent of the world population. It seems like a good idea to slow down that kind of growth. Indeed, China says its one-child plan has likely prevented 400 million people from being added to its enormous population.

But the BBC News reports this week, that for the first time since the one-child rule was adopted, Chinese officials in Shanghai are lobbying to permit families to procreate in multiples. The Shanghai leaders are reminding citizens of the policy's exception, which allows two children if both the husband and wife in a couple were only children. According to the BBC, this is the case for the majority of Shanghai’s newlyweds.

Why the sudden change? The over-60 population in China’s largest city is increasing fast. Currently it's about 21 percent, by 2020 it will be at about one-third if current trends hold, and by 2050, according to the US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, China will have only 1.6 persons to support each retiree as compared to 7.7 in 1975.

Photo courtesy of xiaming via Flickr.