China's decision to allow all couples to have two children instead of one has resulted in birth rates rising to the highest level since 2000, an outcome that fall short of government expectations, according to new birth numbers released by the country yesterday.
New births in the world's most populous nation reached 17.86 million in 2016, up by around 1.3 million compared to the average new birth between 2011 to 2015. But the increase falls far short of earlier government estimates that China would add three million babies annually for the next five years.
"While the total number of women of childbearing age fell by 5 million, the number of births increased significantly, showing that the family planning policy adjustments were timely and effective," a Chinese government official told reporters on Sunday.
But many families are still hesitant about having a second child because of high costs financially and emotionally, according to a survey conducted by the National Health and Family Planning Commission.
China issued new guidelines in late 2015 allowing all parents to have two children, after introducing a limited "two-child" policy in 2013 allowing certain qualified couples to have two children. The country began implementing a "one-child policy" at the end of 1970s in order to limit population growth.
During 2003 to 2013, new births in China have been around 16 million. Concerned that the country's dwindling workforce will not be able to support an increasingly ageing population, new births have been gradually growing after the initiation of the selective "two-child" policy in 2013.
China is expecting 17 million to 20 million new births between 2017 to 2019, as the effect of the policies becomes more visible. It expects its total population to rise to around 1.42 billion by the end of the decade, up from 1.37 billion at the end of 2015.