Why is the Uyghur population shrinking?

Because of the one-child policy, Chinese authorities have prescribed abortion, sterilization, and contraceptives such as intrauterine devices (IUDs). So it is natural to assume that the dramatic decline in births in Xinjiang reflects the impact of such measures. But the reasons are more complex and also socioeconomic, analyzes family planning expert and author Yi Fuxian of the University Wisconsin-Madison.

Last updated: 24. July 2025