China People Stats
Author: Edsel.G
China is the most populous country in the world with over 1.3 billion as of 2010 census. This huge population is a double-edged sword which has empowered the country’s economic machinery and, at the same time, is threatening to suck the country’s natural resources dry. With China’s natural riches on a rapid state of decline, the Chinese communist government has implemented strict population-control measures, the most infamous of which was the one-child policy.
For several decades, the vast population of the country suffered from poverty and famine. However, China’s huge economic growth has lifted hundreds of millions from poverty and is now on the way to providing each and every citizen with Western-style standards of living.
China has 56 legally recognized ethnic groups, the largest of which are the Han Chinese, which make up 91% of the entire population. Foreigners have also begun to take refuge in the many affluent cities of the country; the largest groups come from South Korea, US, and even Japan.
There are several important Chinese languages; the most important of these is Mandarin (spoken by 70% of the population) which is thought to originate in Beijing. Other important languages include Wu, Yue, Xiang, and Min. There are other languages, but the legally accepted lingua franca is the Mandarin. By sheer number of speakers, Mandarin surpasses English as the most spoken language. However, English is spoken by more nationalities and more countries, thus making it the universal language of the world.
Definitions
- Age distribution > Median age: The median age of the country's residents. This is the age most people are in the country.
- Age distribution > Population aged 0-14: Percentage of total population aged 0-14.
- Age distribution > Population aged 0-14 > Total: Number of people aged 0-14.
- Age distribution > Population aged 15-24 > Percent: Percentage of total population aged 15-24.
- Age distribution > Population aged 15-24 > Total: Number of people aged 15-24.
- Age distribution > Total dependency ratio: Percentage of dependant persons out of total population aged 15-64. A dependant person is a person aged 0-14 and those over 65 years old.
- Birth rate: The average annual number of births during a year per 1,000 persons in the population at midyear; also known as crude birth rate. The birth rate is usually the dominant factor in determining the rate of population growth. It depends on both the level of fertility and the age structure of the population.
- Death rate: The average annual number of deaths during a year per 1,000 population at midyear; also known as crude death rate. The death rate, while only a rough indicator of the mortality situation in a country, accurately indicates the current mortality impact on population growth. This indicator is significantly affected by age distribution, and most countries will eventually show a rise in the overall death rate, in spite of continued decline in mortality at all ages, as declining fertility results in an aging population.
- Ethnic groups: This entry provides a rank ordering of ethnic groups starting with the largest and normally includes the percent of total population.
- Gender > Female population: Total female population.
- Marriage, divorce and children > Total divorces per thousand people: Total number of divorces in given year by country. Figures expressed per thousand people for the same year.
- Population: Population, total refers to the total population.
- Population > Population growth, past and future: Population growth rate (percentage).
- Population growth: Percentage by which country's population either has increased or is estimated to increase. Countries with a decrease in population are signified by a negative percentage. Future estimates are from the UN Population Division.
- Population growth rate: The average annual percent change in the population, resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and leaving a country. The rate may be positive or negative. The growth rate is a factor in determining how great a burden would be imposed on a country by the changing needs of its people for infrastructure (e.g., schools, hospitals, housing, roads), resources (e.g., food, water, electricity), and jobs. Rapid population growth can be seen as threatening by neighboring countries.
SOURCES: United Nations Population Division. Source tables; United Nations Population Division. Source tables; United Nations Population Division. Source tables; United Nations Population Division. Source tables; United Nations Population Division. Source tables; United Nations Population Division. Source tables; CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011; CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011; United Nations Population Division. Source tables; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; United Nations Population Division; United Nations Population Division. Source tables
Citation
Did you know
- China's labor force stands at 706 million people, almost three times that of Europe and twice that of North and South America combined
- Of all the nations of the world, China has the most people. But there are 71 nations that are more crowded.
- China loses 2 million people per year.
- China has more broadband internet subscribers than Japan has people.
- China has 84 million-strong cities, about as many as the whole western world combined.
- China's mammoth National People's Congress has nearly 3000 members.
China People Profiles (Subcategories)
- China has had the highest population since 1960.
- China has had the highest population, total since 1961.
- China has had the highest urban and rural > urban population since 1960.
- China ranked first for sex ratio > under 15 years globally in 2012.
- China has had the highest urban population since 1975.
- China has had the highest structure > population > total since 1960.
- China ranked first for sex ratio > at birth amongst East Asia and Pacific in 2013.
- China has had the highest marriage, divorce and children > marriages since 1978.
- China has had the highest marriage, divorce and children > total divorces since 1987.
- China has had the highest age distribution > population aged 80 or over > total since 1980.
- China has ranked in the top 2 for gender > female population since 1950.
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China is the most populous country in the world with over 1.3 billion as of 2010 census. This huge population is a double-edged sword which has empowered the country’s economic machinery and, at the same time, is threatening to suck the country’s natural resources dry. With China’s natural riches on a rapid state of decline, the Chinese communist government has implemented strict population-control measures, the most infamous of which was the one-child policy.
For several decades, the vast population of the country suffered from poverty and famine. However, China’s huge economic growth has lifted hundreds of millions from poverty and is now on the way to providing each and every citizen with Western-style standards of living.
China has 56 legally recognized ethnic groups, the largest of which are the Han Chinese, which make up 91% of the entire population. Foreigners have also begun to take refuge in the many affluent cities of the country; the largest groups come from South Korea, US, and even Japan.
There are several important Chinese languages; the most important of these is Mandarin (spoken by 70% of the population) which is thought to originate in Beijing. Other important languages include Wu, Yue, Xiang, and Min. There are other languages, but the legally accepted lingua franca is the Mandarin. By sheer number of speakers, Mandarin surpasses English as the most spoken language. However, English is spoken by more nationalities and more countries, thus making it the universal language of the world.
Posted on 06 Apr 2014
Edsel.G
247 Stat enthusiast
