Chinese couples stick with one child, fueling population crisis

Average family size shrinks to 2.62 people in latest census

20210511N china child on shoulders

China's four decades of family planning limits have produced parents devoted to the educational success of their sole child. (Photo by Yusho Cho)

YUSHO CHO and IORI KAWATE, Nikkei staff writers

SHANGHAI/BEIJING -- China is not having success in convincing couples to have two children. The size of the average Chinese family shrank to 2.62 people in the latest census, down 0.48 from a decade ago, despite the repeal of its one-child policy. 

Young couples are finding it impossible to have a bigger family as education and housing costs weigh heavily on their budgets.

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