The future of the Chinese people China is the most populous country in the world with an astonishing 1.35 billion inhabitants. That number would be significantly higher if it were not for the family planning policy put into effect on September 25, 1980 under Chairman Mao. This was a population control effort and was considered highly successful by the Chinese government. However, success is defined differently in many countries. In America, for example, it usually ends with a positive result. The cons of this attempt to control the population far outweigh the pros. The problem of overpopulation has turned into an economic tragedy. Crime rates, gender gaps, forced abortions, and mass suicides are major problems that arise from the population control efforts of the one-child policy. In just over a decade, China will lose its title as the most populous country in the world. More importantly, China's demographics are changing due to unpredictable demographic changes. The need for a male heir and the one-child policy have caused an imbalance in the sex ratio in China. The reason is that men are usually the main income earners because they are more employable and earn higher wages for the same work. Because male children have greater earning potential, they are less likely to be killed. The average male-to-female ratio was 118:100 in 2010. In rural areas, if their firstborn is a girl or suffers from a physical or mental illness, families can apply to try again. Families who apply to try again are subject to birth spacing or waiting 3 or 4 years to try again. Additional children will result in hefty fines of up to ten times the average income. Families who violate the policy are required to pay financial penalties and could even lose their jobs if they choose. It sounds incredible and many people were thrilled at the thought of having another child, but financially it is impossible. Having to support your parents for an unknown amount of time is a huge obligation. Many Chinese families have huge debts and adding another child to that is simply not possible. The Chinese government noticed a problem but tried to solve it in the wrong way. They managed to control their population but in hindsight they created a much more problematic problem for Chinese culture. Having many more men than women will only cause an increase in sex trafficking, bride selling and prostitution rates. Homosexuality may even become more accepted in Chinese culture as an end result of the huge gender imbalance. China will never be the same again and the worst is yet to come.