China's present population is approximately 1.2 billion, which is about one fifth of the earth's entire population. China has to feed 22% of the world's people on 7% of the world's arable land, which is a considerable task. Therefore, it is to China's interest as well as the world's that some form of population control is implemented. Although today the urban population density per square kilometer is about 360, China wasn't always such a major chunk of the world population. In 1949, the population on the mainland was a lot less-- about 541.67 million people. However, due to improvements in living standards, by 1969 the population was 806.71 million. The birth rate then was very high--about 34.11 per thousand. The family planning program had begun already, but due to a lack of understanding about the seriousness of the problem and a lack of a clear policy, there were no major effects. It wasn't until after the peak birth period, 1962-1972, that a stronger program was made to control the ever increasing population. That program is basically what is followed today.
Female Infanticide and Conflicting Traditions
