What problems did undocumented children face under China’s one-child policy?

Under China’s one-child policy, families who had children beyond the permitted limit often kept those births hidden from authorities to avoid sanctions. These children, who were not officially registered, were considered undocumented and faced significant hardships throughout their lives.12

The primary challenges faced by these undocumented children included:

• Access to Education: Because they lacked official documentation, these children often struggled to enroll in or attend school.12
• Employment Barriers: As they reached adulthood, their lack of legal status made it difficult for them to find formal work or participate fully in the economy.12

While the exact number of these individuals remains unknown, estimates suggest that there were anywhere from hundreds of thousands to several million such children affected by the policy's enforcement.2