Birth rate holds steady after one-child policy eased, but there won't be further easing

The birth rate has remained stable following the mainland's easing of the one-child policy, a senior official in charge family planning has said.

But the authorities would not allow all parents to have a second child, as the extra births would cause the population to spike, the official said.

Yang Wenzhuang, chief of the grass-roots family planning department of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, said about 271,600 couples had applied to have a second child, with permission given to 241,300.

It had been estimated there would be about two million extra births every year in the first five years after the easing.

"Many factors contribute to parents' decision to have another child, such as the attitude of the first child, the career plans of the mother, housing and employment. It also shows the influence of policy on birth is dropping," Yang said.

The commission estimates the population will hit 1.38 billion by next year, below the 1.39 billion target set out in the 12th five-year plan. The population is projected to reach 1.41 billion by 2020, also below the target of 1.45 billion set by the central government in 2006.

Twenty-nine of 31 provinces and regions - all except Tibet and Xinjiang - have relaxed the one-child policy since the National People's Congress approved the easing of rules but left it to provincial lawmakers to enact.