<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 in 2015 . The policy 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 called "false" by scholars, because "three - quarters of the decline in fertility since 1970 occurred before the launching of the one - child policy; and most of the further decline in fertility since 1980 can be attributed to economic development ." Thailand and Iran, along with the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, have had similar declines of fertility without a one - child policy . 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>

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