<P> The one - child policy, a part of the family planning policy, was a population planning policy of China . It was introduced in 1979 and began to be formally phased out near the end of 2015 and the beginning of 2016 . The policy was only enforced on Han Chinese and allowed exceptions for many groups, including ethnic minorities . In 2007, 36% of China's population was subject to a strict one - child restriction, with an additional 53% being allowed to have a second child if the first child was a girl . Provincial governments imposed fines for violations, and the local and national governments created commissions to raise awareness and carry out registration and inspection work . </P> <P> According to the Chinese government, 400 million births were prevented . This claim has been questioned . Although 76% of Chinese people supported the policy in a 2008 survey, it was controversial outside of China . </P> <P> On October 29, 2015, it was reported that the existing law would be changed to a two - child policy, citing a statement from the Communist Party of China . The new law became effective on January 1, 2016, following its passage in the standing committee of the National People's Congress on December 27, 2015 . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="4"> Population in China </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Year </Th> <Th> Million </Th> <Th> Change </Th> <Th> Change / year </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1964 </Td> <Td> 694.6 </Td> <Td>------- </Td> <Td>------- </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1982 </Td> <Td> 1008.2 </Td> <Td> 313.6 </Td> <Td> + 17.42 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2000 </Td> <Td> 1265.8 </Td> <Td> 257.6 </Td> <Td> + 14.31 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1339.7 </Td> <Td> 73.9 </Td> <Td> + 7.39 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="4"> Source: Census of China </Td> </Tr> </Table>

In china you can only have one child