China expands childbearing support policies to promote high-quality population development
China has made steady progress in building a more comprehensive childbearing support policy system, as a package of measures including childcare subsidies, tax deductions and expanded childcare services have taken effect nationwide in recent years to promote high-quality population development.
As the latest efforts, the 2026 childcare subsidy scheme has opened for application nationwide. Eligible families with children under the age of three can receive an annual subsidy of 3,600 yuan (about 516 U.S. dollars) per child.
Meanwhile, China has also raised the threshold for special additional deductions in individual income tax for taking care of children under age three as well as for children's education from 1,000 yuan to 2,000 yuan monthly (around 143 to 287 U.S. dollars) since Jan 1, 2023.
Fan, a new mother in Nanning City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said that all these policies have brought greater subsidies and improved services.
"After going through the whole process, the subsidies are greater. Whether in terms of costs or services, I think they are all very good," she said.
With policy support, local governments have vigorously developed diversified childcare services, including integrated childcare and early education programs, community-embedded childcare facilities, and employer-sponsored childcare services.
So far, 1,315 counties, cities, districts and banners nationwide have introduced support measures such as construction subsidies, operational subsidies and family consumption vouchers for childcare services, effectively reducing the cost burden on families.
The national average price of full-day childcare services has dropped by 29 percent.
At the same time, a total of 4,845 secondary and tertiary public general hospitals across the country are now able to provide pediatric services.
About 80,000 childcare service institutions have signed agreements with medical and health institutions to establish health growth records for enrolled infants and toddlers, further advancing the building of a childbearing-friendly society in an all-round way.
