China
| Capital: | Beijing |
| Area size: | 9327420 sq. km Slightly smaller than Canada |
| Time zone: | GMT +8 |
| Currency: | Yuan |
| Area code: | (+) 86 |
| Driving: | Right |
| Climate description: | Hot, dry summers and bitterly cold in the northeast; hot summers and cold winters in the north and central regions; substantial rainfall with semi-tropical summers and cool winters in the southeast |
People
Standard of living
Economy & aid
Health
Disasters, conflict & migration
Language
Chinese (official) is a modernised version of Mandarin; regional variants, such as Cantonese, are also spoken, along with the languages of minority ethnic groups.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide
Population
Future population estimates
1622.4 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2006)
Ethnic groups
There are 56 officially recognised nationalities of which Han is the largest, comprising more than 91 percent of the population. Among the largest of the 55 ethnic minorities are the Chuang, Uighur, Tibetans and Mongols.
Source: NI World Guide
Religion
The main belief systems are Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. There are also smaller Muslim (2 percent) and Christian minorities.
Source: NI World Guide
Percentage urban population
Year women granted right to vote
1949
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.
Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available
Percentage of population under 15
Chinese (official) is a modernised version of Mandarin; regional variants, such as Cantonese, are also spoken, along with the languages of minority ethnic groups.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide
Population
| 2007 | 1337.0 million | U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006) |
| 2006 | 1324.3 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2005 | 1313.0 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2004 | 1305.0 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2003 | 1296.8 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2002 | 1288.4 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2001 | 1279.5 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2000 | 1270.0 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
Future population estimates
1622.4 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2006)
Ethnic groups
There are 56 officially recognised nationalities of which Han is the largest, comprising more than 91 percent of the population. Among the largest of the 55 ethnic minorities are the Chuang, Uighur, Tibetans and Mongols.
Source: NI World Guide
Religion
The main belief systems are Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. There are also smaller Muslim (2 percent) and Christian minorities.
Source: NI World Guide
Percentage urban population
| 2007 | 42.2 percent | U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005 |
| 2006 | 41.3 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2005 | 40.4 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2004 | 39.5 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2003 | 38.6 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2002 | 37.6 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2001 | 36.7 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2000 | 35.8 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
Year women granted right to vote
1949
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.
Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available
Percentage of population under 15
| 2005 | 21.6 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 22.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 22.7 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 23.7 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 24.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 24.8 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Average life expectancy
Life expectancy - male
Life expectancy - female
Infant mortality
Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
Births attended by skilled personnel
Maternal mortality
Human development index (HDI rank)
Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
Percentage of undernourished population
Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.
Population with access to improved water
Population with access to improved sanitation
Literacy - average
Literacy - male
Literacy - female
Landlines telephones
Cellular telephone subscribers
Internet users
Transparency International corruption ranking (1=least corrupt, 179=most corrupt)
Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
| 2005 | 72.5 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 71.9 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 71.5 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 71 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 70.6 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 70.5 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Life expectancy - male
| 2005 | 71.0 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 70.2 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 69.9 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 68.8 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 68.6 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 68.5 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Life expectancy - female
| 2005 | 74.3 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 73.7 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 73.5 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 73.2 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 72.9 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 72.8 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Infant mortality
| 2006 | 20 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 2005 | 23 per 1,000 live births | U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 2004 | 26 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 2003 | 30 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 31 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 31 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 32 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
| 2006 | 24 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 2005 | 27 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 2004 | 31 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 2003 | 37 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 39 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 39 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 40 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Births attended by skilled personnel
| 1997-2005 | 97 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 1996-2004 | 96 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 1995-2003 | 97 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 1995-2002 | 76 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1995-2001 | 89 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 1995-2000 | 89 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Maternal mortality
| 2005 | 45 per 100,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2000 | 56 per 100,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
Human development index (HDI rank)
Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
| 2000-2006 | 7 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 1996-2005 | 8 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 1996-2004 | 8 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 1995-2003 | 10 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 1995-2002 | 11 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1995-2001 | 10 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 1995-2000 | 9 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Percentage of undernourished population
| 2002-2004 average | 12 percent | U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006 |
| 2001-2003average | 12 percent | FAO 2006 |
Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.
Population with access to improved water
| 2006 | 88 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2008 |
| 2004 | 77 percent | UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006 |
| 2002 | 77 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2000 | 75 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
Population with access to improved sanitation
| 2006 | 65 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2008 |
| 2004 | 44 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2006 |
| 2002 | 44 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2000 | 40 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
Literacy - average
| 2004 | 90.9 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 90.9 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 90.9 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 85.8 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 84.1 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Literacy - male
| 2004 | 95.1 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 95.1 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 95.1 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 92.5 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 91.7 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Literacy - female
| 2004 | 86.5 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 86.5 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 86.5 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 78.7 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 76.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Landlines telephones
| 2006 | 278 per 1,000 people | International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 2007 |
| 2005 | 266 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2004 | 238 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2003 | 202 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2002 | 166 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2001 | 141 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2000 | 114 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
Cellular telephone subscribers
| 2006 | 348 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2005 | 299 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2004 | 256 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2003 | 208 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2002 | 160 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2001 | 113 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2000 | 67 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
Internet users
| 2006 | 104 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2005 | 84 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2004 | 72 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2003 | 61 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2002 | 46 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2001 | 26 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2000 | 18 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
Transparency International corruption ranking (1=least corrupt, 179=most corrupt)
| 2008 | 72 (joint) | Transparency International 2008 |
| 2007 | 72 (joint) | Transparency International 2007 |
| 2006 | 70 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2005 | 78 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2004 | 71 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2003 | 66 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2002 | 59 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2001 | 57 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2000 | 63 (joint) | Transparency International |
Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
International humanitarian aid flows
Access the Financial Tracking Service, a global real-time database which records all reported humanitarian aid - including that for NGOs, the Red Cross/Crescent Movement, bilateral aid, in-kind aid and private donations - searchable by country.
Source: Financial Tracking Service, ReliefWeb
Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
GNI per capita, Atlas method
The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country’s exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.
GDP
Annual GDP growth
Annual inflation
Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
1.6 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
34.9 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
| 1990-2005 | 9.9 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 1990-2004 | 16.6 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 1990-2003 | 16.6 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 1990-2002 | 16.6 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1990-2001 | 16.1 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
GNI per capita, Atlas method
| 2006 | 2000 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2005 | 1740 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2004 | 1500 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2003 | 1270 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2002 | 1100 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2001 | 1000 current US$ | |
| 2000 | 930 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country’s exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.
GDP
| 2006 | 2644.7 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2005 | 2243.9 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2004 | 1931.6 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2003 | 1641.0 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2002 | 1453.8 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2001 | 1324.8 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2000 | 1198.5 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
Annual GDP growth
| 2006 | 10.7 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2005 | 10.4 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2004 | 10.1 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2003 | 10.0 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2002 | 9.1 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2001 | 8.3 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2000 | 8.4 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
Annual inflation
| 2006 | 3.6 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2005 | 4.2 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2004 | 6.9 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2003 | 2.6 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2002 | 0.6 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2001 | 2.1 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2000 | 2.1 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
1.6 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
34.9 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
Physicians
Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum occurs in Hainan and Yunnan. Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported. Risk of P.vivax in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Sichuan, Xizang (only along the valley of the Zangbo river in the extreme southeast) and Yunnan. Very low P.vivax only risk in Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi and Shandong, in remote rural communities below 1500m. There is no risk in urban areas or densely populated plain areas. Tourists do not need to take prophylaxis unless staying in remote rural areas listed above.
Source: WHO
TB cases
| 2000-2004 | 106 per 100,000 people | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 1990-2004 | 106 per 100,000 people | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 1990-2003 | 164 per 100,000 people | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1990-2002 | 167 per 100,000 people | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
| 2007 | 0.1 percent | U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008 |
| 2006 | 0.1 percent | U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008 |
| 2005 | 0.1 percent | U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008 |
| 2004 | 0.1 percent | U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008 |
| 2003 | 0.1 percent | U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008 |
Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum occurs in Hainan and Yunnan. Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported. Risk of P.vivax in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Sichuan, Xizang (only along the valley of the Zangbo river in the extreme southeast) and Yunnan. Very low P.vivax only risk in Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi and Shandong, in remote rural communities below 1500m. There is no risk in urban areas or densely populated plain areas. Tourists do not need to take prophylaxis unless staying in remote rural areas listed above.
Source: WHO
TB cases
| 2006 | 99 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2005 | 100 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2004 | 101 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2003 | 102 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2002 | 103 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2001 | 104 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2000 | 105 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
Chronology of natural disasters
Access EM-DAT, a database of natural disasters from 1900 to the present - death tolls and numbers of affected people - searchable by country.
Source: Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium
Number of refugees originating here
Number of refugees residing here
Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
Landmine casualties per year
Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
No
Source: Landmine Monitor Report
Percentage of GDP spent on military
Percentage of GDP spent on education
Percentage of GDP spent on health
| 2007 | 149095 | UNHCR |
| 2006 | 140598 | Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) |
| 2005 | 124021 | UNHCR |
| 2004 | 134724 | UNHCR |
| 2003 | 132406 | UNHCR |
| 2002 | 132115 | UNHCR |
| 2001 | 117409 | UNHCR |
| 2000 | 110975 | UNHCR |
Number of refugees residing here
| 2007 | 301078 | UNHCR |
| 2006 | 301027 | UNHCR |
| 2005 | 301041 | UNHCR |
| 2004 | 299375 | UNHCR |
| 2003 | 299354 | UNHCR |
| 2002 | 297277 | UNHCR |
| 2001 | 295325 | UNHCR |
| 2000 | 294110 | UNHCR |
Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
| No data available | |||
Landmine casualties per year
| 2004 | 4 | Landmine Monitor Report 2005 |
| 2003 | 2 | Landmine Monitor Report 2004 |
Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
No
Source: Landmine Monitor Report
Percentage of GDP spent on military
| 2005 | 2.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 2.4 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 2.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 2.5 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 2.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 2.1 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Percentage of GDP spent on education
| 2002-2005 | No data available percent | |
| 2002-2004 | No data available percent | |
| 1998-2000 | 2.1 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
Percentage of GDP spent on health
| 2004 | No data available percent | |
| 2003-2004 | 2.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2002 | 2.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2001 | 2.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2000 | 1.9 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
AlertNet makes every effort to ensure statistics are updated from the relevant sources as soon as they are available.
Unlike some other content on this website, the written content in this article may be republished or redistributed by any means free of charge. Any use of photographs and graphics on this website is expressly prohibited. You must check whether written content contained in other articles on this website may be republished or redistributed without the express permission of Reuters or the relevant third party provider.
Related articles
Breaking stories
Asia
N.Korea restores UN monitoring of atom site-diplomats
Asia
ASIA: Countries lagging in
flu pandemic plans, UN warns
AlertNet insight
Asia
Climate change fight needn't cost the earth - economist
Aid agency news feed
Asia
China: Faces of recovery
Blogs
Americas
Yes, people over 50 have sex too
Maps
Americas
GLOBAL poverty distribution - infant mortality as poverty indicator
More briefings