Governments should limit the number of children per couple.

Discussions around population control began to gain prominence in the 18th century with thinkers like Thomas Malthus, who argued that unchecked population growth would outpace food supply and lead to widespread poverty and social collapse. These ideas influenced later policies and debates, particularly in the 20th century, as global population growth accelerated. The most notable and impactful example of state-enforced birth limits is China’s one-child policy, introduced in 1979 to slow population growth and support economic reform. This policy remained in place for over three decades, shaping demographic trends and family structures before being phased out in favor of a two-child, and later a three-child, policy due to aging population concerns. Other countries, like India and Iran, have implemented less restrictive population policies through incentives, education, and family planning programs.