GETTYChina has finally seen a baby boom after birth rates rose last year
Births soared by 7.9 per cent in 2016 as the country saw the deliveries of more than 17.8 million newborns, according to China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission, but has still fallen SHORT of government estimates.
The figure, up by 1.31 million, is believed to have soared to produce the highest birth rates in this century - a record high not seen since the year 2000.
And it was revealed at least 45 per cent of babies born during 2016 were to families who already had one child.
Now the health authority is convinced the increase should be attributed to officials putting an end to a controversial policy that only allowed citizens to have one child.
GETTYChina saw an increase in birth rates of more than 7 per cent
GETTYAlmost half all babies born were to second time parents
The notorious one-child policy began in the 1970s in a bid to curb a then-surging population and limit the demands for water and other resources.
But it soon became a huge taboo subject after it was revealed the rule was responsible for severe human rights abuses - resulting in millions of backstreet abortions and thousands of newborn babies being abandoned in the streets.
Families who breached the shocking policy were handed heavy fines, while women were ordered to use compulsory birth control methods such as intrauterine devices.
The figure, up by 1.31 million, is believed to have soared to produce the highest birth rates in this century - a record high not seen since the year 2000.
And it was revealed at least 45 per cent of babies born during 2016 were to families who already had one child.
Now the health authority is convinced the increase should be attributed to officials putting an end to a controversial policy that only allowed citizens to have one child.
GETTYChina saw an increase in birth rates of more than 7 per centGETTYAlmost half all babies born were to second time parentsThe notorious one-child policy began in the 1970s in a bid to curb a then-surging population and limit the demands for water and other resources.
But it soon became a huge taboo subject after it was revealed the rule was responsible for severe human rights abuses - resulting in millions of backstreet abortions and thousands of newborn babies being abandoned in the streets.
Families who breached the shocking policy were handed heavy fines, while women were ordered to use compulsory birth control methods such as intrauterine devices.
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