After the founding of the People's Republic in 1949, lived in China around 540 million people. In the 1950s the population rose, despite lower life expectancy significantly. The political leadership of Mao Zedong thought that a powerful state a high population is required. Only at the end of the decade have been campaigns for birth control was initiated.

The total population of China fell temporarily during the Great Leap Forward, which is a great hunger disaster triggered. Since the over-population, an additional reason for the famine was in the 1960s, numerous birth planning campaigns. Abortions were allowed in because of contraception and, where available, free of charge. The Cultural Revolution brought the campaigns again temporarily halted. Therefore, the 1960s, the decade with the highest population growth in China, where the annual rate in some years and over 3 per cent reached.

After the Cultural Revolution, the activities started again and then reinforced. In addition to campaigns, the marriage age increases, and a two-child limit was introduced. From the end of the 1970s were again tightened measures: In times of economic liberalization and the opening of the country to the outside world was the over-population as the main obstacle to economic progress. The existing rules since 1979, the one-child family and immediate abortion for unauthorized pregnancies before. The limitation of birth control, however, at a relatively low administrative level and from the central government does not control, so there are significant differences in the handling of the schemes are: In some areas, threatening to breach any draconian punishments, in others exceptions are made en masse. Especially outside the cities are families with two or three children do not feature. The national minorities have higher numbers of children admitted, just as farmers whose first child is a daughter, and twins were viewed as particularly fortunate, since in this case also Han Chinese were allowed to keep both kids and both kids got the full state benefits. The sanctioning of unauthorized births ranging from withdrawal of social benefits through money penalties up to dismissal threats. Overall, the implementation of the policy difficult, since a high number of unreported cases of second births is due to money and staff shortages, and corruption is possible. 1981 on the progressive population of the billion mark and in 2005 was 1.3 billion people in the most recent milestone.

Nevertheless, it is estimated that by the birth control from 300 to 340 million births have been prevented. Despite these measures, the population continues to grow, with 2032 (For a constant remaining fertility of 1.7) with 1.467 billion people of the summit is expected. Thereafter, a decline of population in 2050 to 1.424 billion forecast. The current population growth is around 0.6 percent per year with a birth rate of 15 per thousand, a death rate of 6.7 per thousand and infant mortality from 27 per thousand. Currently, the number of children per woman to 1.79.

The one-child policy in China is itself not uncontroversial. However, the problem of overpopulation so serious that the government of a mitigation measures will not think. An alternative is a tax disadvantage for families with several children in conversation. That would be an alternative to the problem of an aging society that is already taking shape, prevents. Another alternative suggested in early October 2004 the head of the Population Commission of China: the birth control should be in favor of a two-child policy will be relaxed. Firstly, from 2010, women over 35 years allowed a second child and subsequently every year the retirement age by one year. But shortly after the Commission's proposal was the one-child policy suspended. Couples who are themselves single children, may now have a second child.

Because of abortions of female fetuses were 2005 in China 118 girls to 100 boys. Worldwide, the ratio 100:105. Therefore, to determine the sex by ultrasound in the People's Republic is punishable to restore a natural balance. However bribed doctors to suggest that they "do not see the difference" could. To close the mothers that the baby will be a girl.

The current life expectancy is at 70 for men and women for 74 years.