China’s Population
China is the most populous country in the world and has the largest population of anyone on the planet. The country is both an ancient and a modern nation and this has been evidenced by its demographic trends, challenges, and demographic projections over the years. This article will provide an overview of China’s population and discuss the various demographics, trends, and challenges within the population.
Demographics
China is the most populated country in the world and is 8.9% of the world’s population. According to the World Factbook, China’s population has reached 1.41 billion in 2020. The population is distributed into four main categories: Han Chinese, Zhuang, Hui, and Manchu. About 91.5% of China’s population is of Han Chinese descent, 1.5% of the population is Zhuang, 8.1% is Hui and 0.9% Manchu. Other minority populations in China include Mongols, Uighurs, Miao, Tujia, Buyei, She, and Kirgiz.
The age structure of China’s population is 36.1% aged 0-14, 62.1% aged 15-64, and 1.8% aged 65 and over. This age structure can be attributed to China’s one-child policy, which was abolished in 2016. The average population growth rate is estimated to be 0.6%.
Urban-Rural Divide
China is one of the most urbanized countries with 54% of the population residing in its cities. This has led to an immense disparity between the urban and rural inhabitants as many parts of China still suffer from poverty and lack of access to proper healthcare and education.
Life Expectancy
Life expectancy in China is 75.6 years, with males having a life expectancy of 73.6 years and female having a life expectancy of 78.2 years. This has been marked as an improvement compared to previous decades due to the increased access to healthcare and improved healthcare infrastructure.
Population Challenges
The most important population challenges in China are related to the aging population, overpopulation, gender imbalance, inequality of resources, and poverty.
Aging Population
China is facing an aging population, as the number of elderly is increasing exponentially due to the low population growth rate and the one-child policy. The number of people aged 60 and above is estimated to reach 400 million by the year 2020. This poses a significant challenge for the government, as the pension system, healthcare system, and social security system must be improved to handle the increasing dependency ratio.
Overpopulation
China is home to more than 1.4 billion people and is one of the most densely populated countries. This has led to overcrowding, natural resource depletion, and environmental hazards. The government is attempting to combat this issue by implementing various policies such as the one-child policy and the two-child policy.
Gender Imbalance
China has a gender imbalance due to a traditional preference for male children and selective abortions of female fetuses. The resulting gender discrepancy has caused a skewed sex ratio of 121 males to 100 females in the 0-19 age group. This has resulted in social issues such as bride trafficking and an increase in crime rates.
Inequality of Resources
The inequality of resources is a major problem in China. This is mainly due to the unequal distribution of wealth, which is largely concentrated in the coastal cities. This has resulted in rural and urban disparities as the citizens living in the rural areas have less access to proper healthcare, education, and other resources.
Poverty
Despite being one of the most developed countries in the world, poverty is still a major issue in China. According to the World Bank, 8 percent of Chinese citizens live under the poverty line which is one of the highest in the world and is concentrated in the rural areas.
China is the most populous country in the world, with a population of 1.41 billion. The country is diverse, with the main populations being Han Chinese, Zhuang, Hui, and Manchu. The age structure consists mainly of those aged 0-14, 15-64, and 65 and over. There is an urban-rural divide and a gender imbalance due to the traditional preference of male children and selective abortions of female fetuses. China faces a multitude of population challenges due to aging population, overpopulation, inequality of resources, and poverty. Nevertheless, the Chinese government is now attempting to address these issues through various policies and initiatives.
