Issue Brief: The Conflicted Legacy of China's Population Policy

China's One-Child Policy had surprisingly little to do with lowering fertility rates, but it did lead to a severe imbalance in the sex ratio — with consequences that are likely to haunt the country for years.

Key Takeaways: 

• China’s One-Child Policy was only a limited factor in reducing the country’s fertility rate, which had fallen dramatically as China’s economy developed.
• China’s population policies contributed to a startling increase in the sex ratio, threatening social stability.
• The demographic effects of China’s population control efforts have long-term social and economic consequences and will be difficult, if not impossible, to reverse.