Britannica Sources used in this answer

When did China allow married couples to have up to three children?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

What was China's one-child policy? — one-child policy Learn more about China's one-child policy.

The Chinese government announced in May 2021 that all married couples would be permitted to have up to three children, a change that was formally passed into law in August 2021.12

This decision followed the earlier transition from the one-child policy—which officially ended in 2016—to a two-child policy. The shift to a three-child limit was prompted by data from the 2020 census, which highlighted concerns regarding low birth rates, an aging population, and a shrinking workforce.12