How many births did the Chinese government estimate were prevented by the one-child policy?

The Chinese government estimated that approximately 400 million births were prevented by the one-child policy, a program implemented in 1980 to curb China's population growth.12

It is important to note that while this is the official government estimate, some analysts dispute this figure. The policy, which was rescinded in 2016, resulted in significant social consequences, including a skewed sex ratio and the use of coercive measures such as forced abortions and sterilizations, which violate fundamental human rights.12