The population of 2142 is about 15 billion people. Technologically advanced combines have instituted rigid population control measures. Reproduction is limited to self-replacement, for example, one child per person. This has been named "The One Life/One Birth Law". Theoretically this will stabilize the population, but actually it reduces it through early death of the child or premature death of an adult before he or she has reproduced. This will guarantee a gradual decline in the population. But it also requires mandatory sterilization immediately after the permitted off-spring is born. A citizen who goes beyond the One Life/One Birth limit will be forcibly sterilized and risks having all assets seized in order to support the extra child.