Two-child policy#China

{{Short description|Population-control policies in some countries and territories}}

A two-child policy is a government-imposed limit of two children allowed per family or the payment of government subsidies only to the first two children.

A two-child policy has previously been used in several countries including Iran, Singapore, and Vietnam. In British Hong Kong in the 1970s, citizens were also highly encouraged to have two children as a limit (although it was not mandated by law), and it was used as part of the region's family planning strategies. From 2016 to 2021, it had been implemented in China, replacing the country's previous one-child policy, until it was replaced by a three-child policy to mitigate the country's falling birth rates.{{cite news |title= China to allow three |work= BBC |date= 29 October 2018 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-34665539 }}{{cite web|date=29 February 2020|title=China to allow three children for all couples|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/201810/29/c_134763507.htm|publisher=Xinhua}}{{dead link|date=July 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} In July 2021, all family size limits as well as penalties for exceeding them were removed.{{Cite web |last=Cheng |first=Evelyn |date=2021-07-21 |title=China scraps fines, will let families have as many children as they'd like |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/21/china-scraps-fines-for-families-violating-childbirth-limits.html |access-date=2022-04-29 |website=CNBC |language=en}}

Africa

= Egypt =

As Egypt faces overpopulation and high densities, the city of Cairo initiated a family planning campaign known as "Two is Enough" in 2017{{cite web |last1=Bletry |first1=Nadia |title="Two is enough!" – Egypt intends to limit the number of children to two per family |url=https://www.genethique.org/two-is-enough-egypt-intends-to-limit-the-number-of-children-to-two-per-family |website=Genethique |access-date=5 December 2021 |date=15 April 2019}} to encourage Egyptian families to have no more than two children.{{cite web |last1=Emam |first1=Amr |title=Egypt parliament mulls financial incentives for two-child policy {{!}} Amr Emam |url=https://thearabweekly.com/egypt-parliament-mulls-financial-incentives-two-child-policy |website=The Arab Weekly |access-date=5 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205164815/https://thearabweekly.com/egypt-parliament-mulls-financial-incentives-two-child-policy |archive-date=5 December 2021 |language=en}} By April 2021 the program managed to refer 853,643 women to family planning clinics.{{cite web |title=Egypt's 'Two is Enough' project refers 853,643 women to family planning clinics |url=https://dailynewsegypt.com/2021/04/24/egypts-two-is-enough-project-refers-853643-women-to-family-planning-clinics/ |website=dailynewsegypt.com |access-date=5 December 2021 }}{{cite web |title=5.5M door-to-door visits carried out as part of 'Two Enough' campaign |url=https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/99861/5-5M-door-to-door-visits-carried-out-as-part |website=EgyptToday |date=18 March 2021}}

Asia

= East Asia =

== Hong Kong {{Anchor|Hong Kong}} ==

In Hong Kong, the Eugenics League was founded in 1936, which became The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong in 1950.[http://www.famplan.org.hk/fpahk/en/template1.asp?style=template1.asp&content=about/history.asp History of the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327235233/http://www.famplan.org.hk/fpahk/en/template1.asp?style=template1.asp&content=about%2Fhistory.asp |date=27 March 2009 }} The organization provides family planning advice, sex education, and birth control services to the general public of Hong Kong. In the 1970s due to the rapidly rising population, it launched the "Two is Enough" campaign, which reduced the general birth rate through educational means. The organization[http://www.ippf.org/en/About/History.htm History of International Planned Parenthood Federation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813091603/http://www.ippf.org/en/About/History.htm |date=13 August 2009 }} founded the International Planned Parenthood Federation, with its counterparts in seven other countries. The total fertility rate in Hong Kong is currently 1.04 children per woman, one of the lowest in the world. Although the "Two is Enough" campaign found widespread approval, it does not reflect current government policy in supporting families. Tax allowances of 100,000 HK$ per child can be claimed for up to 9 children.{{cite web|title=Amount of Allowance for the Latest 7 years|url=https://www.gov.hk/en/residents/taxes/salaries/allowances/allowances/7years.htm|website=GovHK|publisher=The Government of Hong Kong|access-date=13 April 2017}} Furthermore, parents who have fallen into hardship can apply for special assistance from the state. This is a means-tested financial benefit, which is not limited to a particular number of children either.{{cite web|title=A GUIDE TO COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE|url=http://www.swd.gov.hk/doc/social-sec1/CSSAG0217(eng).pdf|website=Social Welfare Department. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region|publisher=Social Welfare Department|access-date=13 April 2017|archive-date=27 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927112335/http://www.swd.gov.hk/doc/social-sec1/CSSAG0217(eng).pdf}}

== China ==

From 1979 until 2015, Chinese citizens were generally permitted to have only one child, with certain exceptions.{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/topic/one-child-policy|title=one-child policy - Definition & Facts}} The ongoing Cultural Revolution and the strain it placed on the nation were large factors. During this time, the birth rate dropped from nearly 6 children per woman to just under 3.{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/china/|title=The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|date=15 March 2022}} (The colloquial term "births per woman" is usually formalized as the Total Fertility Rate (TFR), a technical term in demographic analysis meaning the average number of children that would be born to a woman over her lifetime if she were to experience the exact current age-specific fertility rates through her lifetime.) Previously, the fine is so-called "social maintenance fee" and it is the punishment for the families who have more than one child. According to the policy, the families who violate the law may bring the burden to the whole society. Therefore, the social maintenance fee will be used for the operation of the basic government.{{Cite journal |last1=Jiang |first1=Quanbao |last2=Liu |first2=Yixiao |date=2016-10-01 |title=Low fertility and concurrent birth control policy in China |journal=The History of the Family |volume=21 |issue=4 |pages=551–577 |doi=10.1080/1081602X.2016.1213179 |s2cid=157905310 |issn=1081-602X|doi-access=free }}

As China's youngest generation (born under the one-child policy, which first became a requirement for most couples in 1979) came of age for formation of the next generation, a single child would be left with having to provide support for their two parents and four grandparents. In response to this issue, by 2009 all provinces allowed couples to have two children if both parents were the only children of their parents themselves.{{cite web | url=http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2007-07-10/154513416121.shtml | language=zh | access-date=7 November 2008 | date=10 July 2007 | publisher=Sina.com | title=计生委新闻发言人:11%以上人口可生两个孩子 (English: "Spokesperson of the one-child policy committee: 11% or more of the population may have two children)}} After a policy change of the Chinese government in late 2013, most Chinese provinces further relaxed the policy in 2014 by allowing families to have two children if one of the parents is an only child.{{cite news |title=China's 'one-child' rethink marks symbolic shift |author=Patti Waldmeir |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/7bed3f70-4dfa-11e3-8fa5-00144feabdc0.html |newspaper=FT |date=15 November 2013 |access-date=2013-11-19}}{{Cite journal | last1 = Ouyang | first1 = Y. | title = China relaxes its one-child policy | doi = 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)62544-1 | journal = The Lancet | volume = 382 | issue = 9907 | pages = e28–e30 | year = 2013 | pmid = 24298609| s2cid = 31618458 | doi-access = free }}{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2014-07/10/content_17706811.htm|title=Most Chinese provincial areas relax one-child policy - China - Chinadaily.com.cn|last=杨洁|website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}

Han Chinese living in rural areas were often permitted to have two children, as exceptions existed if the first child was a daughter.{{cite news | last=Yardley | first=Jim | work=The New York Times | date=11 May 2008 | access-date=20 November 2008 | title=China Sticking With One-Child Policy | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/world/asia/11china.html?_r=2}} Because of cases such as these, as well as urban couples who simply paid a fine (or "social maintenance fee") to have more children,"[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-12/14/content_3918776.htm New rich challenge family planning policy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015192912/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-12/14/content_3918776.htm |date=2007-10-15 }}." Xinhua. the overall fertility rate of mainland China is, in fact, closer to two children per family than to one child per family (1.8). In addition, since 2012, Han Chinese in southern Xinjiang were allowed to have two children. This, along with incentives and restrictions against higher Muslim Uyghur fertility, was seen as attempt to counter the threat of Uyghur separatism.{{cite news|title=The government in Xinjiang is trying to limit Muslim births|url=https://www.economist.com/news/china/21678007-government-xinjiang-trying-limit-muslim-births-remote-control|access-date=10 November 2015|newspaper=The Economist|date=7 November 2015}}

On 29 October 2015, Xinhua reported the change in the existing law to a two-child policy citing a statement from the Chinese Communist Party. The new policy allowing Chinese couples to have two children was proposed to help address the ageing issue in China.{{cite web|title = News Analysis: Two-child policy calls for better public services - Xinhua {{!}} English.news.cn|url = http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-10/30/c_134767995.htm|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151031201249/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-10/30/c_134767995.htm|archive-date = 31 October 2015|website = news.xinhuanet.com|access-date = 2015-10-31}} On 27 December 2015, the new law was passed in the session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, which governs country's laws, effective from 1 January 2016.{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-12/27/c_134955448.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151228021749/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-12/27/c_134955448.htm|archive-date=28 December 2015|title=Top legislature amends law to allow all couples to have two children|publisher=Xinhua News Agency| date=27 December 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-27/chinas-one-child-policy-officially-scrapped/7055834|title=China officially ends one-child policy, signing into law bill allowing married couples to have two children|publisher=ABC Online| date=27 December 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/world/china-1-child-policy-ends-officially-bill-allowing-2nd-child-signed/story-GjHa860HH8tgdeNWSlIR5N.html|title=China: 1 child policy ends officially, bill allowing 2nd child signed|publisher=Hindustan Times| date=27 December 2015}}

In 2018, about two years after the new policy reform, China is facing new ramifications from the two-child policy. Since the revision of the one-child policy, 90 million women have become eligible to have a second child.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180223131904.htm|title=China's two-child policy may exacerbate gender inequality|work=ScienceDaily|access-date=2018-03-27|language=en}} According to The Economist, the new two-child policy may have negative implications on gender roles, with new expectations for women to bear more children and to abandon their careers.{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/china/21736574-two-child-rule-still-applies-officials-know-more-babies-are-needed-not-fewer-china|title=China is in a muddle over population policy|newspaper=The Economist|language=en|access-date=2018-03-27}}

After the reform, China saw a short-lived boost in fertility rate for 2016. Chinese women gave birth to 17.9 million babies in 2016 (a record value in the 21st century), but the number of births declined by 3.5% to 17.2 million in 2017, and to 15.2 million in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/2182963/chinas-birth-rate-falls-again-2018-producing-fewest-babies|title=China's birth rate falls to its lowest rate since 1961|last=Leng|first=Sidney|date=21 January 2019|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|access-date=2019-01-22}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-03/china-debate-over-shrinking-birth-rate-highlights-growth-concern |title=China's Debate Over a Shrinking Birth Rate Highlights Growth Concerns |date=January 3, 2019 |publisher=Bloomberg |access-date=2022-05-02}}

In China, men have greater marital power, which increases fertility pressure on their female partners. The dynamic of relationships (amount of "power" held by each parent), and the amount of resources each parent has contributes to the struggle for dominance.{{Cite journal|last1=Qian|first1=Yue|last2=Jin|first2=Yongai|date=21 February 2018|title=Women's Fertility Autonomy in Urban China: The Role of Couple Dynamics Under the Universal Two-Child Policy|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323327889|journal=Chinese Sociological Review|volume=50|issue=3|pages=275–309|doi=10.1080/21620555.2018.1428895|s2cid=158137927}} Resources would be items such as income, and health insurance. Dominance would be described as who has the final say in pregnancy, who must resign in their career for maternal/parental leave. However, women have shown interest in a second child if the first child did not possess the desired gender.

Chinese couples were also polled and stated that they would rather invest in one child opposed to two children. To add, another concern for couples would be the excessive costs of raising another child; China's childcare system needs to be further developed.{{cite web|url=https://www.caixinglobal.com/2018-03-12/no-easing-of-two-child-policy-official-says-101220222.html|title=No Easing of Two-Child Policy, Official Says - Caixin Global|website=www.caixinglobal.com|language=en|access-date=2018-04-10}} The change in cultural norms appears to be having negative consequences and leads to fear of a large aging population with smaller younger generations; thus the lack of workforce to drive the economy.

In May 2018, it was reported that Chinese authorities were in the process of ending their population control policies.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/asia/article/china-to-scrap-family-planning-rules-as-birthrate-dwindles-x82kccgl3|title=China to scrap family planning rules as birthrate dwindles|last=Beijing|first=Didi Tang|date=22 May 2018|work=The Times|access-date=2018-05-22|language=en|issn=0140-0460|url-access=subscription }} In May 2021, the Chinese government announced it would scrap the two-child policy in favour of a three-child policy, allowing couples to have three children to mitigate the country's falling birth rates.{{cite news |last1=Wee |first1=Sui-Lee |title=China Says It Will Allow Couples to Have 3 Children, Up From 2 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/31/world/asia/china-three-child-policy.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=31 May 2021 |date=31 May 2021}}{{cite web |title=China announces three-child policy in a major policy shift |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/31/china-announces-three-child-policy-in-a-major-policy-shift.html |website=CNBC |access-date=31 May 2021 |date=31 May 2021}}

= Middle East =

== Iran ==

Iran authorities encouraged families in Iran not to have more than two children when conducting family planning in Iran from the early 1990s to late 2006. Iran's government "declared that Islam favoured families with only two children", as one historian put it.Abrahamian, History of Modern Iran, (2008), p.184 When the family planning program was initiated, Iran's Health Ministry launched a nationwide campaign and introduced contraceptives - pills, condoms, IUDs, implants, tubal ligations, and more.Sciolino, Elaine, Persian Mirrors : the Elusive Face of Iran, Free Press, 2000, 2005 (p.282)

Starting in 2006, the government's population control policy changed when Ahmadinejad called for reversal of Iran's existing policy of "two children is enough"[http://www.stimson.org/swa/pdf/Iran_DemBrief1.pdf Prospects for Ahmadinejad's Call for More Rapid Population Growth in Iran] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081129025629/http://www.stimson.org/swa/pdf/Iran_DemBrief1.pdf |date=29 November 2008 }} {{cite news

| url = https://www.theguardian.com/iran/story/0,,1929364,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=1

| title = Ahmadinejad urges Iranian baby boom to challenge west

| access-date = 2010-03-03

| last = Tait

| first = Robert

| date = 23 October 2006

| work = Guardian Unlimited

| publisher = The Guardian

| location = London

}} and later in 2012 Ayatollah Khamenei also stated that Iran's contraceptive policy made sense 20 years ago, "but its continuation in later years was wrong ... Scientific and experts studies show that we will face population aging and reduction (in population) if the birth-control policy continues."{{cite web|title=Iran urges baby boom, slashes birth-control programs|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-07-29/iran-baby-boom/56576830/1|publisher=usatoday|access-date=3 July 2015}}

= Southeast Asia =

== Myanmar ==

In Myanmar, Rohingya people have been subjected to two-child policies.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|date=2013-05-25|title=Burmese Muslims given two-child limit|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/25/burma-muslims-two-child-limit|access-date=2021-08-16|website=the Guardian|language=en}}{{cite web|date=2013-06-21|title=Burma's Bluff on the Two-Child Policy for Rohingyas|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/06/21/burmas-bluff-two-child-policy-rohingyas|access-date=2021-08-16|website=Human Rights Watch|language=en}} Aung San Suu Kyi, the UN and Human Rights Watch described the policy as a human rights violation in 2013.{{Cite news |author=Jason Szep |author2=Andrew R. C. Marshall |date=2013-06-11|title=Myanmar minister backs two-child policy for Rohingya minority|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-rohingya-idUSBRE95A04B20130611|access-date=2021-08-16}}{{cite web|date=2013-05-28|title=Burma: Revoke 'Two-Child Policy' For Rohingya|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/05/28/burma-revoke-two-child-policy-rohingya|access-date=2021-08-16|website=Human Rights Watch|language=en}}

== Singapore ==

In Singapore, the two-child policy until the 1980s was called "Stop at Two".

== Vietnam ==

Vietnam has had a population policy for over 50 years. It was launched by the Vietnamese government in the early 1960s in North Vietnam and continues in a modified form today, throughout all of Vietnam (not just the north).{{cite web |last1=Pham |first1=Bang Nguyen |last2=Hill |first2=Peter S |last3=Hall |first3=Wayne |last4=Rao |first4=Chalapati |title=The Evolution of Population Policy in Viet Nam |url=http://epc2012.princeton.edu/papers/120007 |publisher=School of Population Health, University of Queensland |access-date=12 March 2015}} The policy emphasizes the official family-size goal to be một hoặc hai con, which means "one or two children."{{cite journal |last1=Goodkind |first1=Daniel |title=Vietnam's One-or-Two-Child Policy in Action |journal=Population and Development Review |date=March 1995 |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=85–111 |jstor=2137414|doi=10.2307/2137414}}

In 1963, North Vietnam began a policy advocating a two-child norm due to the sharp population increase of the largely poor and rural population. Vietnam's family planning policy was developed before those of other countries, such as China. The government used a system of information, education, communication (IEC) campaign and publicly accessible contraceptives to curb the population.{{cite book |last1=Knudsen |first1=Lara |title=Reproductive Rights in a Global Context: South Africa, Uganda, Peru, Denmark, United States, Vietnam, Jordan |date=30 June 2006 |publisher=Vanderbilt University Press |isbn=978-0-8265-1528-5 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/reproductiverigh0000knud/page/139 139–168] |edition=1 |url=https://archive.org/details/reproductiverigh0000knud/page/139}} After the reunification of North and South Vietnam in 1975 under the Communist Party, there was a governmental effort to extend the policies of the North to the rest of Vietnam, which extended into the next decade.{{cite journal |last1=Allman |first1=James |last2=Vu |first2=Qui Nhan |last3=Nguyen |first3=Minh Thang |last4=Pham |first4=Bich San |title=Fertility and Family Planning in Vietnam |journal=Studies in Family Planning |date=September 1991 |volume=22 |issue=5 |pages=308–317 |doi=10.2307/1966685 |jstor=1966685 |pmid=1759276}}

After 1983, each family was required to limit the number of children to two. In 1985, the government increased incentives, such as contraceptives and abortion acceptors, and disincentives, such as penalties for violations in family planning.{{cite web |title=Viet Nam |url=https://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/abortion/doc/vietnam.doc |access-date=19 April 2015 |website=United Nations}}

In 1988, the Council of Ministers issued an in-depth family planning policy, adding additional restrictions beyond the previous restriction of keeping the maximum number of children per household to two.{{cite journal|title=Vietnam's New Fertility Policy|journal=Population and Development Review|date=Mar 1989|volume=15|issue=1|pages=169–172|doi=10.2307/1973424|jstor=1973424|author=Council of Ministers}} The detailed one-or-two-child policy of Vietnam was established nine years after China's one-child policy was implemented, and elements of China's policy are reflected in Vietnam's, such as the emphasis on marrying later, postponing childbearing age (22-years of age or older for women and 24-years of age or older for men), and spacing out birth of children (3–5 years apart). The state was required to supply free birth control devices (such as intrauterine loops, condoms, and birth control pills) and to provide facilities for individuals who are eligible for abortions. Furthermore, if families did not comply with the two-child policy, they were required to pay high fees and were unable to move into urban centers.

In 1993, the Vietnamese government issued the first formalization for the unified Vietnam of the one-to-two child policy as a mandatory national policy. The policy combined advertisements and education to promote a smaller family "so people may enjoy a plentiful and happy life."{{cite web |title=Resolution of 1993 on Policy Concerning the Population and Family Planning Work |url=http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/population/policies/VIETNAM2.htm |website=Hanoi Voice of Vietnam Network |access-date=12 March 2015}} The goal of the policy was to reduce the Vietnamese fertility rate to the replacement level of 2.1{{cite journal |last1=Searchinger |first1=Tim |last2=Hanson |first2=Craig |last3=Waite |first3=Richard |last4=Lipinski |first4=Brian |last5=Leeson |first5=George |last6=Harper |first6=Sarah |date=8 July 2013 |title=Achieving Replacement Level Fertility |url=http://www.wri.org/publication/achieving-replacement-level-fertility |website=World Resources Institute}} by 2015, so that the country could have a stable population in the mid-21st century. In 1997, the goal was accelerated to reach the replacement level by 2005, and the government subsequently integrated an increased use of abortion as a means to curb population growth.{{cite book |last1=May |first1=John F. |title=World Population Policies: Their Origin, Evolution, and Impact |url=https://archive.org/details/worldpopulationp00mayj |url-access=limited |date=30 March 2012 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-94-007-2836-3 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/worldpopulationp00mayj/page/n165 139]–145}}

The total fertility rate in Vietnam dropped from 5.6 in 1979 to 3.2 by 1993, suggesting the two-child policy was successful in containing the population growth.{{cite journal |last1=Haughton |first1=Jonathan |title=Falling Fertility in Vietnam |journal=Population Studies: A Journal of Demography |date=1997 |volume=51 |issue=2 |pages=203–211 |doi=10.1080/0032472031000149916}}

Another study, published in the Worldwide State of the Family in 1995 by Tran Xuan Nhi,{{citation |last1=Nhi |first1=Tran Xuan |title=Vietnam's families |publisher=Worldwide State of the Family}} found a contrasting finding that the total fertility rate only dropped slightly and the size of nuclear families experienced only a slight change, dipping from 4.8 to 4.7 from 1989 to 1994.{{cite journal |last1=Wisensale |first1=Steven |date=2000 |title=Family Policy in a Changing Vietnam |journal=Journal of Comparative Family Studies |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=79–90 |doi=10.3138/jcfs.31.1.79}}

On 4 June 2025, due to a below replacement birth rate, the government lifted all regulations regarding the number of children families are allowed to have{{Cite news |title=Vietnam relaxes two-child policy amid falling birth rate |url=https://english.news.cn/asiapacific/20250604/9b625ab09f844a17a9f65da7f0dc6b9e/c.html |work=Xinhua}} Under the revised law, families are afforded the freedom to decide how many children they would like to have, childbirth timing, and spacing between births.

Europe

= United Kingdom =

In October 2012, the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government's proposed policy of only paying child benefit for the first two children of unemployed parents was described as a 'two-child policy',{{cite news|last=Ramesh|first=Randeep|title=Two-child benefits policy targets the strivers in low-paid jobs|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/oct/25/iain-duncan-smith-two-child-policy|work=The Guardian|access-date=29 October 2012|location=London|date=25 October 2012}} and was fronted by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and former leader of the Conservative Party Iain Duncan Smith.{{cite news|last=Grice|first=Andrew|title=What is Iain Duncan Smith's two-child policy?|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/what-is-iain-duncan-smiths-twochild-policy-8227368.html|work=The Independent|access-date=29 October 2012|location=London|date=26 October 2012}}

In April 2015, David Cameron denied any such plans to cut child benefits or tax credits. However, three months later, George Osborne, the then Chancellor, announced that child tax credits would be limited to the first two children only. This was to come into force from the 2017/2018 financial year and apply to children born after that date only.{{cite news|last=Bennett|first=Asa|title=Tax credits: what are they, who claims them, and why is everyone so angry about the cuts?|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/georgeosborne/11951056/Tax-credits-what-are-they-who-claims-them-and-why-is-everyone-so-angry-about-the-cuts.html|publisher=The Telegraph|access-date=12 April 2017|location=London|date=26 October 2015}} From February 2019 however the policy becomes retrospective. Families making a new benefit claim (or whose circumstances change) will have the 2-child policy applied to them irrespective of when their children were born.

The two-child policy took effect on 5 April 2017. One aspect of the new rules, termed the "rape clause" [https://fullfact.org/economy/what-rape-clause/ "rape clause"/ What is the rape clause?, October 9, 2019] has caused controversy. Although the policy excludes all but the first two children from all available benefits, an exemption can be applied for if the conception of the third and any further children occurred as a result of the rape of the claimant. A woman wishing to claim this exemption must fill in an eight-page form:

"The form requires women wanting to be eligible for the exemption to sign a declaration saying they were raped or otherwise coerced into sex – and giving the child's name. They must sign a declaration reading: 'I believe the non-consensual conception exemption applies to my child.' They must also sign another declaration that says: 'I confirm that I am not living with the other parent of this child.'"{{cite news|last1=Walker|first1=Peter|last2=Butler|first2=Patrick|title=Government under fire over new child tax credit form for rape victims |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/06/government-under-fire-over-new-child-tax-credit-form-for-victims|work=The Guardian|access-date=12 April 2017|location=London|date=6 April 2017}}

That women must thereby identify the child in question (which is thought to be assigned a tax code created for this exemption{{cite news|last1=Rustin|first1=Susanna|title=The 'rape rule' for tax credits tramples the rights of children it's meant to protect|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/17/rape-rule-tax-credits-rights-children-sex-crime|access-date=12 April 2017|work=The Guardian|date=17 March 2017}}), that first or second children conceived by rape do not count towards this exemption and that women who are still living with their abusers are not eligible are just some of the aspects of the rape clause that caused widespread condemnation. Ruth Graham, writing for Slate, summarises the issues surrounding this new policy:

"The policy and the exemption have received harsh criticism from a wide variety of sources since they were announced in 2015. One member of parliament called the exemption implementation 'inhumane and barbaric.' Feminists have pointed out the cuts disproportionately affect women. A coalition of the UK's largest Christian denominations and Jewish groups pointed out that the policy discriminates against people whose religion compels them to have larger families. A United Nations committee on children's rights asked the British government to explain the policy last year, because of concerns about women having to somehow prove they were raped."{{cite news|last1=Graham|first1=Ruth|title=This Cruel New U.K. Policy Punishes Women for Having More Than Two Children 378 69 618|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2017/04/10/the_u_k_two_child_tax_credit_policy_is_nonsensical_and_cruel.html|access-date=12 April 2017|work=Slate|date=10 April 2017}}

Following the Labour Party's victory in the 2024 general election, Keir Starmer received calls to scrap the policy but declined as a result of financial reasons, and suspended seven Labour MPs who voted in favour of scrapping it.