China perhaps has the world’s stringent
child policy per couple. The country with a billion-plus population allowed only
one child per couple till 2016. But in the latest statistical yearbook released by the
Chinese government found that at least eleven million and a half children had
gone undercounted born between 2000 and 2010.

That means the number of children born
during that period now stands at 172.5 million, well above the 160.9 million in
that age group recorded in the 2010 census.

Independent demographer He Yafu said this
has happened because parents with two children did not register their children
with the state registrar to avoid punishment. China allowed couples to have a
second child only in 2016, meaning some parents would not officially report a
newborn if they were over the quota until the child turned six and needed to
register for school.

57 per cent were girls

Of those undercounted children about 57%
were girls, indicating that parents did not report girls so they could continue
to try for a boy.

The 2010 census was conducted on November
1, 2010. That means the census did not take account of the children born in the
last two months of the year. Census surveys also typically do not include
people who have died or emigrated in the intervening years.

Problem with counting 

The latest revelation showed how difficult
it is to accurately count the number of people in the world’s most populous
country China. Birth numbers for the time between 2011 and 2017 were also revised
upwards in the latest statistical yearbook, suggesting the problem of counting.

However, with China now effectively giving
up limits on family size, there could be no inconsistency in counting in
future. While the cap for most families is currently set at three children,
there are no penalties for exceeding it.