China is the most populous country in the world, with its population passing the 1.3 billion mark on January 6, 2006. Population is one of the decisive factors shaping the pattern of China’s economic growth. On the one hand, the huge population has provided China a massive labor force, making China the “factory of the world.” On the other hand, the gigantic population also puts great pressure on China with regard to employment, social welfare, natural resource, and
environment.
The major characteristics of China’s current population are its uneven regional distribution, rapid aging process, huge internal migration, and rural-urban segregation. In 2005, about 562 million persons, constituting 43 percent of the overall population, were classified as urban population, while the remaining about 745 million persons, constituting 57 percent of the population were rural. China has already entered into the phase of an aging society as more than 7.69 percent of the population, numbering about 101 million, were 65 years and older in 2005. China’s population is highly concentrated in the central and eastern parts of the country. However, an unprecedented large-scale rural-urban migration, generally with the eastern coastal region as the destination and numbering about 147 million, has been a major demographic event over the past two decades. The migration has changed the spatial distribution of China’s population, affected patterns and path of her urbanization, and exerted great impact on China’s socioeconomic development.
Next few posts will provide an overview of China’s current demographic situation, identify the main trends, offer some projections, and discuss in broad terms the impact of the demographics on China’s future economic growth, employment, urbanization, and pension system.
