Population Growth Throughout History
As early as 2 C.E., China already had a population of some 60 million which attributed to about 1/4th of the entire world's population at the time. Over the next 1000 years, China's population would remain that number due to different fluctuations and growths. It wasn't until the Ming dynasty in the late 14th century that China's population began to change rapidly and into a pattern that we currently see today. This, along with high increases in population in the Qing dynasty as well, left the problem of putting pressure on China's arable land. Successful changes in agriculture during this time helped feed the growing population and saved the soils in which crops like grain and corn were grown. By 1851, the population reached around 431,896,000 before the effects of the disastrous Taiping Rebellion brought about a slowing of past growth patterns ("China Will...")
As early as 2 C.E., China already had a population of some 60 million which attributed to about 1/4th of the entire world's population at the time. Over the next 1000 years, China's population would remain that number due to different fluctuations and growths. It wasn't until the Ming dynasty in the late 14th century that China's population began to change rapidly and into a pattern that we currently see today. This, along with high increases in population in the Qing dynasty as well, left the problem of putting pressure on China's arable land. Successful changes in agriculture during this time helped feed the growing population and saved the soils in which crops like grain and corn were grown. By 1851, the population reached around 431,896,000 before the effects of the disastrous Taiping Rebellion brought about a slowing of past growth patterns ("China Will...")
Some 30,000,000 deaths occurred between 1851-1864 during the upheavals associated with the attempt to establish the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. In some areas of central China, the effects of this were not reversed until the mid-twentieth century.
For more information about the Taiping Rebellion, click here
One-Child Policy
Between 1851 and 1949, a century of rebellion, social upheaval, and suffering, China's population base increased only by another 100,000,000 on top of its 432,000,000 base. (During the same period, the population of the United States increased from about 23,000,000 to 151,000,000.) During the Great Leap Forward, China experienced a famine that led to an estimated 20,000,000 deaths due to a breakdown in agricultural production and resulting food shortages. After this tragic event, people spoke up about adopting a population policy in order to prevent furthering the issues already being dealt with a the time. Answering this plea, politicians and population planners came up with the one-child policy. The implementation of the policy was especially harsh in the early 1980s, notorious because of forced abortions, infanticide, and strict penalties. This policy was especially strict in urban areas, whereas in rural communities, actually having two or three children was not uncommon (Zraick). Here, National Geographic encases some statistics following this policy.
Between 1851 and 1949, a century of rebellion, social upheaval, and suffering, China's population base increased only by another 100,000,000 on top of its 432,000,000 base. (During the same period, the population of the United States increased from about 23,000,000 to 151,000,000.) During the Great Leap Forward, China experienced a famine that led to an estimated 20,000,000 deaths due to a breakdown in agricultural production and resulting food shortages. After this tragic event, people spoke up about adopting a population policy in order to prevent furthering the issues already being dealt with a the time. Answering this plea, politicians and population planners came up with the one-child policy. The implementation of the policy was especially harsh in the early 1980s, notorious because of forced abortions, infanticide, and strict penalties. This policy was especially strict in urban areas, whereas in rural communities, actually having two or three children was not uncommon (Zraick). Here, National Geographic encases some statistics following this policy.
Short documentary describing the history of the one-child policy and its effects on China's future:
via YouTube
References
"China Will Feel One-Child Policy’s Effects for Decades, Experts Say." Issues and Trends in China's Demographic History, Asia for Educators, 2009, afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/china_1950_population.htm. Accessed 1 Dec. 2016.
Zraick, Karen. "China Will Feel One-Child Policy’s Effects for Decades, Exper." The New York Times30 Oct. 2015, www.nytimes.com/2015/10/31/world/asia/china-will-feel-one-child-policys-effects-for-decades-experts-say.html?_r=0. Accessed 1 Dec. 2016.
"China Will Feel One-Child Policy’s Effects for Decades, Experts Say." Issues and Trends in China's Demographic History, Asia for Educators, 2009, afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/china_1950_population.htm. Accessed 1 Dec. 2016.
Zraick, Karen. "China Will Feel One-Child Policy’s Effects for Decades, Exper." The New York Times30 Oct. 2015, www.nytimes.com/2015/10/31/world/asia/china-will-feel-one-child-policys-effects-for-decades-experts-say.html?_r=0. Accessed 1 Dec. 2016.