The One-Child Policy was a population control measure implemented by the government of China in 1979. Its primary goal was to limit the rapid population growth that was seen as a barrier to economic development. Families were generally restricted to having only one child, although there were exceptions for ethnic minorities and families in rural areas. The policy led to significant demographic changes, including an aging population and a gender imbalance due to a cultural preference for male children. In 2015, the Chinese government officially ended the One-Child Policy, allowing families to have two children in response to these challenges.