Question

“In the late 1970’s China’s population growth rate has sharply declined as compared to India.”

Elucidate the reasons and impacts of this situation.

Answer 1

1. The most significant reason for the sharp decline in China’s population growth was the implementation of the One-Child Policy in 1979. Unlike India’s voluntary family planning approach, China used strict regulations and incentives to limit population growth.
2. Additionally, rapid urbanisation and a focus on female education naturally led to lower fertility rates.
3. The immediate impact was a reduction in the “dependency ratio,” as fewer children meant more resources could be diverted toward infrastructure and industrial growth. This helped China achieve rapid economic expansion and higher per capita income.
4. However, in the long run, this has led to a “demographic crisis” characterised by a rapidly ageing population and a shrinking youth workforce, which now threatens future economic sustainability.