China's birth rate soars to highest level in 17 years after one-child policy is scrapped

Birth rates in China have risen to their highest in 17 years after a change to the country’s strict one-child policy.

The single child rule was relaxed at the start of 2016 after 40 years, allowing Chinese couples to request to have two children.

The change was prompted by an ageing population and a low birth rate in the country.

But figures from the National Health and Family Planning Commission show in 2016 there were 11.5 per cent more babies born than in the previous year – and 45 per cent of those babies born had older siblings in their family.

The increase in the birth rate comes at the same time as the number of women of child-bearing age in the country dropped.

Yang Wenzhuang, from the NHFPC, said: “While the total number of women of childbearing age fell by five million, the number of births increased significantly, showing that the family planning policy adjustments were extremely timely and extremely effective.”

Despite the relaxing of the one-child policy to two children, families still need birth permits issued by the government or will face a forced abortion.

By 2050 China is likely to see an extra 30 million people of working age, officials have predicted.