Brief Introduction

China is the most populous country in the world, with 1.27627 billion people at the end of 2001, one fifth of the world's total. This figure does not include the Chinese living in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, and Taiwan Province.

China: Population Density

Moreover, the population density is high, with 133 people per sq km. This population, however, is unevenly distributed. Along the densely populated east coast there are more than 400 people per sq km; in the central areas, over 200; and in the sparsely populated plateaus in the west there are less than 10 people per sq km.   

The following table gives an overall view of the composition of the population of China (2001):

Composition of Population (%)

Sex: male 51.63 / female 48.37

Region: cities and towns 36.22 / countryside 63.78

Age: below 14 years old 22.89 / 15-64 years old 70.15 / above 65 years old 6.96

 Targets and Principals

Main guidelines for tackling the population and development issue: Taking into consideration its basic national conditions, including large population, inadequate per-capita resources and low level of economic and scientific development, China would persistently follow its own path in tackling the issue of population and development. It would draw on other countries' managerial expertise and scientific achievement and tackle its own population and development issue in accordance with its own specific conditions. China would persistently follow its sustainable development strategy and bring about a coordinated development of population, economy, society, resources and environment so as to realize national modernization with comprehensive human development. It would combine the universal principle of human rights with its national conditions, give top priority to the rights to subsistence and development, and facilitate the people's enjoyment of a higher standard of basic rights and freedom in civil, political, economic, social and cultural areas. China respects different cultural background, religious beliefs, and moral concepts. Taking into full consideration the unity between priorities and conditions, rights and obligations, China has formulated and implemented population and development plans and policies to ensure that all social members enjoy an equal opportunity for development.

By 2005, China is to have its population within 1.33 billion (excluding the population of the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions and Taiwan Province). Comprehensive medical and reproductive health services are to be offered. Informed choice of contraceptive measures is practiced. The maternal mortality rate is to be reduced to 42 per 100,000. By 2010, China is to have its population within 1.4 billion and the Chinese people will lead a much better life with an obvious improvement of its population quality. By the mid-21st century, the total population would reach its peak of 1.6 billion, to be followed by a gradual decrease. The population quality and health level would have an overall improvement, with senior high school education and higher education popularized nationwide.