One-Child Policy: Implementation to Abolition (1979–2015)

1. Two-child norm promoted nationwide

   Jan 1, 1971Labels: family-planning campaign, China government

   • Britannica
   • CSIS

2. One-child push begins under new leadership

   Jan 1, 1978Labels: Chinese leadership, family-planning policy

   • Britannica
   • CSIS

3. Party open letter calls for one child

   Sep 25, 1980Labels: Communist Party, Youth League

   • PubMed
   • Britannica

4. Family planning enters 1982 PRC Constitution

   Dec 4, 1982Labels: 1982 PRC, state policy

   • Britannica
   • Cornell LII

5. Rural and local exceptions expand unevenly

   Jan 1, 1984Labels: rural exemptions, ethnic minorities

   • Britannica
   • CECC

6. 1991 central decision strengthens enforcement

   May 12, 1991Labels: Party Central, State Council

   • PubMed
   • CSIS

7. National Population and Family Planning Law adopted

   Dec 29, 2001Labels: National People, Population and

   • CECC
   • LexisCN

8. Population and Family Planning Law takes effect

   Sep 1, 2002Labels: Population and, legal implementation

   • LOC
   • LexisCN

9. Third Plenum signals major partial relaxation

   Nov 15, 2013Labels: Third Plenum, demographic policy

   • CECC
   • CNBC

10. Provincial rollouts implement the 2013 exception

    Jul 1, 2014Labels: provincial governments, local regulations

    • CECC
    • Britannica

11. Fifth Plenum announces end of one-child rule

    Oct 29, 2015Labels: Fifth Plenum, Communist Party

    • DW
    • CSIS

12. National law amended to authorize two children

    Dec 27, 2015Labels: NPC Standing, law amendment

    • LOC
    • CECC

13. Two-child policy becomes law nationwide

    Jan 1, 2016Labels: two-child policy, national law

    • LOC
    • DW