|
Population
1.248 billion (1998) , Growth Rate 1%/year
Population
density : 130 inhabitants per square
kilometre
Life
expectancy :68 years (male), female 71
years (female)
Ethnic
make-up Majority :
Han Chinese (93%), with 55 minorities
comprising the remaining 7%. These include
Zhuang (1.4%), Manchu (0.9%), Hui (0.8%),
Uighur (0.6%), Yi (0.6%), Mongolian (0.4%),
Tibetan (0.4%).
Main cities
:
Beijing (population 12.6m), Shanghai
(14.5m), Tianjin (9m). (Chongqing
municipality: 30m.)
Language :
Putonghua (Mandarin Chinese - Beijing
dialect) is the official language. Other
major dialects in the south: Cantonese,
Hokkien and Hakka. Major dialects in north
and west: Mongolian, Tibetan and Uighur.
Religion :
China is officially atheist, but religion is
tolerated to the extent that it does not
challenge the state. The principal religions
and philosophies are Buddhism, Daoism (or
Taoism) and Confucianism. There are 100m
Buddhists and some 20m Muslims, over five
million Protestants and at least four
million Roman Catholics.
Economy :
Since the introduction of reforms in 1978,
China has seen unprecedented growth as its
economy moves away from a centrally planned
system to one controlled largely by market
forces. Foreign investment and international
trade have fuelled both public and private
sector growth. Over the past 20 years, GDP
growth has averaged at least 9% a year.
Preliminary official figures in late
December 1999 put GDP at 7.1% for the year.
Inflation, spiralling out of control in the
mid-90s, is now a source of concern for the
authorities with a 27th month of negative
growth recorded in December 1999.
Political
structure :
Three pillars support the system that runs
the People's Republic of China (PRC): the
party, the state and the army. |
China in Brief
