After she gave birth to a baby girl two years ago, Chen Xianglin’s husband, parents and parents-in-law encouraged her to have a second child, but she was reluctant.  

“I value my daughter’s all-round education and development, and the importance of spending time together,” said the 26-year-old accountant. “When I think about having to work, and the economic pressure, I think having one child is enough.”  

An increasing number of women in China are making the same choice. The number of new births in China fell by 2m last year to 15.2m — the second consecutive year of decline since China repealed its controversial “ one child” policy in 2015. China’s population expanded by 0.38 per cent last year — a rate comparable with Western European countries. That was the lowest pace since 1961, when the country was struggling with the aftermath of a famine which killed about 40m people.