With a global perspective，drawing upon data related to population policy as well as the reproductive health/family planning published by the United Nations，this article examines the general trend and characteristics of population regulations and policy intervention across the world，and discusses the implications for the future reform of China’s family planning policy．We find that，in the past 30 years，regarding population policies in the fields of population growth，fertility level，aging，reproductive health/family planning as well as internal rural-urban migration，the number and proportion of countries with no population intervention in the world have considerably decreased．Such intervention has become a major world trend．More than 90% of the world’s countries or regions are currently practicing family planning，showing the universality，inclusiveness and strong vitality of this policy．The promotion of reproductive health has greatly enriched and expanded the traditional family planning practice．This article suggests that China’s family planning policy should promote reform and innovation in distinguishing basic concepts of population policy，integrating services，supporting external policies and bringing into full play the role of social organizations．