Managing Population Managing Population ChangeChange

Key statements: Key statements: The population of many LEDCs is growing The population of many LEDCs is growing rapidlyrapidly

Governments in LEDCs have tried to Governments in LEDCs have tried to manage population growthmanage population growth LEDC Governments use anti-natalist LEDC Governments use anti-natalist policiespolicies

Examples of Managing Examples of Managing Population in LEDCsPopulation in LEDCs

ChinaChinaThe one child policyThe one child policy

Population ControlPopulation Control

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ChinaChina’’s One Child Policys One Child Policy

•Why did China’s Government need to introduce such a drastic scheme?

•What have been the impacts of this type of population control?

•What are some of the long term impacts of a one child policy scheme?

ChinaChina’’s One Child Policys One Child PolicyWhy was it introduced?Why was it introduced?

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Previous Governments had been encouraging Previous Governments had been encouraging couples to have large families to increase the couples to have large families to increase the countrycountry’’s workforce.s workforce.

By the 1970By the 1970’’s Chinas China’’s population was growing s population was growing very quickly – in 1950 it was 1.9% very quickly – in 1950 it was 1.9%

The Government soon realised if this continued The Government soon realised if this continued population growth would be population growth would be unsustainableunsustainable

In 1979, the Chinese government introduced the In 1979, the Chinese government introduced the 'One Child Policy', limiting couples to one child. 'One Child Policy', limiting couples to one child.

This form of 'population control' has caused This form of 'population control' has caused controversy ever since.controversy ever since.

Poorer families in thePoorer families in thecountryside have stronglycountryside have strongly

resisted the 'One Childresisted the 'One ChildPolicy'. They need Policy'. They need children to work the children to work the land, and some have land, and some have

had more children had more children despite the risk of despite the risk of

heavy fines. heavy fines.

ChinaChina’’s One Child Policys One Child PolicyWhat is it?What is it?

But without registration as a citizen, the But without registration as a citizen, the newborn child is doomed to a hidden newborn child is doomed to a hidden life, with no right to education or a life, with no right to education or a decent job.decent job.

In December 2001, the government took steps to soften the In December 2001, the government took steps to soften the policy. Families in rural areas are now officially allowed two policy. Families in rural areas are now officially allowed two children if their first-born child is a girl. Meanwhile, ethnic children if their first-born child is a girl. Meanwhile, ethnic minorities are allowed two or three children because they minorities are allowed two or three children because they represent only a fraction of China's population and often live in represent only a fraction of China's population and often live in hostile environments. hostile environments.

Today, a new fund to help children is paid for by the fines from Today, a new fund to help children is paid for by the fines from couples that break the rules. The Chinese government has also couples that break the rules. The Chinese government has also introduced measures that will improve the position of women by introduced measures that will improve the position of women by giving them more opportunities in education and jobs. giving them more opportunities in education and jobs.

China's population is now 1.3 billion. The Chinese government China's population is now 1.3 billion. The Chinese government argues that without the 'One Child Policy', there could have argues that without the 'One Child Policy', there could have been 320 million more mouths to feed. But education and been 320 million more mouths to feed. But education and health care has also played a part in reducing China's birth rate.health care has also played a part in reducing China's birth rate.

ChinaChina’’s One Child Policys One Child PolicyLong term ImplicationsLong term Implications

The falling birth rate is leading to the The falling birth rate is leading to the population structure becoming population structure becoming

unbalanced between young and old unbalanced between young and old and male and femaleand male and female

What do you think might happen to the What do you think might happen to the population structure in the future?population structure in the future?

ChinaChina’’s One Child Policys One Child PolicyWhat does the future hold?What does the future hold?