China's population growth has slowed since 1979 when a one child per family policy came into effect. Nevertheless, due to the increased life expectancy and a decrease in the infant mortality rate, China's population is expected to reach 1.4 billion by late 2010. Though the one child policy of the Chinese Government has helped to control the population of the country, it has been criticized as well and is slowly being relaxed in places (many can buy their way out now). In 2000 the ratio of male to female births in China was 117:100, significantly higher than the baseline elsewhere in the world. The State Population and Family Planning Commission estimated that by 2020, there will be 30 million more men than women, potentially leading to social instability. Already today Chinese women are being returned to China from Southeastern Asian countries to help mitigate the effects of this lopsided ratio. |
