China to allow 2 children for all married couples, ending decades-old 1-child policy

BEIJING — China said Thursday it would allow all married couples to have two children, signaling the end after 35 years to its drastic and unpopular "one-child" policy that has been blamed for skewing the gender balance, forcing women into unwanted abortions and bringing about a rapidly aging workforce.

The decision was the most significant easing of strict population policies that were long considered some of the ruling Communist Party's most onerous intrusions into family life and had been gradually relaxed in recent years. Many rural families and some urban ones already were able to have two children.

http://www.startribune.com/china-decides-to-abolish-1-child-policy-allow-2-children/338255221/