Overview of China’s Population Policy (1949–2019)

This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution of China’s population policy from 1949 to 2019, situating policy changes within broader demographic trends, ideological debates, and socioeconomic transformations. It first traces the deep cultural roots of traditional fertility concepts and their influence on population governance before the founding of the PRC. It then examines population changes and policy responses in the early decades of the PRC, highlighting major demographic fluctuations, academic debates on population control, and the gradual institutionalization of family planning. Particular attention is given to key theoretical contributions, policy controversies, and the shift from general advocacy of birth control to more explicit, goal-oriented population regulations. By integrating demographic data, policy documents, and theoretical discussions, this chapter clarifies the historical logic, policy objectives, and practical implications of China’s population governance, laying the foundation for subsequent analysis of the one-child policy and later population strategies.