How did China’s family-size limit change after the one-child policy ended in 2016?

Following the end of the one-child policy in early 2016, the Chinese government transitioned to a two-child limit, allowing all families to have two children.12

This change did not result in a sustained increase in birth rates, as many couples remained hesitant to expand their families due to concerns regarding the cost of childcare, the impact on careers, and a lack of available support services. Furthermore, decades of government messaging had deeply ingrained the perspective that having only one child was preferable.1

In response to ongoing demographic challenges—including low birth rates, a shrinking workforce, and an aging population—the government further relaxed these restrictions. In May 2021, it was announced that all married couples would be permitted to have up to three children, a policy that was formally enacted into law in August 2021. Alongside this shift, the government pledged to implement supportive measures in areas such as finance, education, and employment to address the social and economic barriers that had previously discouraged couples from having more children.1