What effect did China's one child per family policy have on birth records?

The one child per family policy in China, which aimed to control population growth, had significant social and economic implications, particularly regarding birth registration. Under this policy, many families, especially in rural areas, faced pressure to comply with government regulations. As a result, some families may have opted to have unregistered births to avoid penalties or restrictions associated with having more than one child. This led to situations where certain births were not recorded officially, resulting in gaps in birth records.

This phenomenon reflects the complex dynamics between government policy, social norms, and individual family choices. In a context where compliance may have been viewed as essential for avoiding fines or other consequences, some parents chose not to register their children, thus impacting the accuracy and completeness of official birth statistics.