China to allow three-child families as birth rate declines sharply - BBC News

The authorities in China have announced that couples will be allowed to have up to three children, raising the limit from two.

It follows census figures showing a steep decline in the birth rate.

Five years ago, the Chinese Communist Party finally abandoned its one child policy, which had begun in 1976. At the time there were fears of uncontrolled population growth.

Clive Myrie presents BBC News at Ten reporting by China correspondent John Sudworth.

#BBCNews

[tvgerbil]

The Chinese are expected to look after their elderly parents too. So a young couple having to look after three children and two sets of elderly in-laws is probably way beyond their capability.

[jakeofalltradesmusic]

The woman saying they can't afford 3 children is really the key here. China can lift all the restrictions it wants on birth rates, but, as someone who currently lives in China, I see that people make way too little money to afford children. My colleagues only make enough money for them to have to hole up in 1-brdroom-4-person dorms in order to just have a roof over their heads.

The sad thing is that, from my Americn perspective, most things are quite cheap here compared to the US (not everything, but most things), and many of my Chinese peers _still_ can't make enough money to do much beyond the basics. So, the government needs to focus on increasing the common people's wages if they have any hope of overcoming the hesitancy caused by cost concerns of having a child or 3.

[MsFluffySama]

They traumatized several generations into having 1 kid and now want them to have more, good luck.

[jackleng]

low benefits, high tax and house price, food issue, low income. 4 parents plus 3 children, work 9am to 9pm, 6 days. Maybe it's not a good idea.

[vincentho]

The Chinese young people even don`t want to get married now because of the high cost for housing and rasing a kid

[kptl]

“We can’t have a second child because we can’t afford it”
If only all people were smart enough to think like this 🙄

[LadyStudio]

"The survey was deleted before it got any worse..." 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[dongoui]

If it doesn’t come up with other policies to support young people, I’d say this is a stupid decision!

[Gray_the_gray_cat]

“From one child birth control to 3 child policy, did you ever ask us, the people’s opinion?”

[miyukilin]

I’m Chinese woman who has two girls in my family. I was not surprised that this policy was announced on that day. However I won’t think about giving more babies birth in the future because of my economically pressure

[meatball]

I wonder how long it will be before they are told how many children they must produce.

[bartpickford]

If its to help the military, then naturally this should be called the infantry

[KIMJUNGEUNism]

It’s insane that the state has the power to decide how many children a family can have. It’s simply not the government‘s business.

[mybakwaaschannel]

so is that when Credit card declines meme comes in when a women who already have 2 children gives birth to twins?

[IExpectedBSJustNotThisMuchBS]

"We can't afford it." The same reason the birth rate is falling in the US too.

[lukechristie]

Imagine being ALLOWED to have a third child.

[mandymandy]

Women are wising up and not having so many children because we’re realising what a s**t world to bring a child into. The power is in our hands

[TechWeLove]

They should take off restrictions on any family size or they will collapse. There's no restrictions in Japan and they are already collapsing.

[micoroyce]

nowadays having one child is exhausting to feed. no way for 3.

[jasondevon]

Send China a few million Africans and South Asians, like we had in Europe, if they need people. China needs lots more diversity!