Communiqué of the Seventh National Population Census (No. 1)

National Bureau of Statistics 2021-05-11 10:00 Print| Large| Medium| Small

Communiqué of the Seventh National Population Census [1] (No. 1)

Basic Situation of the Seventh National Population Census

 

National Bureau of Statistics of China

Office of the Leading Group of the State Council

for the Seventh National Population Census

May 11, 2021

 

In accordance with the Statistics Law of the People's Republic of China, the Regulations on National Population Census and the Notice of the State Council on Conducting the Seventh National Population Census [NO. (2019) 24], China carried out its Seventh National Population Census [2]. For more than a year, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, with the strong support of all regions and all government departments, the concerted efforts made by census agencies and census staff at all levels across the country and the active participation of census respondents, the Seventh National Population Census made significant achievements and delivered remarkable outcomes with field enumeration and the aggregation and evaluation of the main data successfully completed.

 

I. Great Importance Attached by Leaders

 

General Secretary Xi Jinping participated in the on-site registration of the census and delivered an important speech, clearly pointing out that the Seventh National Population Census was a major survey of national conditions and strength in the new era and a major event for the Party and the country. Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, Wang Qishan and other CPC senior officials participated in the population census registration at Zhongnanhai respectively. Premier Li Keqiang gave important instructions on population census. The State Council established a leading group for the Seventh National Population Census with Vice Premier Han Zheng as the group leader. The Leading Group consists of 25 line ministries with its office set up at the National Bureau of Statistics. All governments at town, street community and county levels and above across the country set up census agencies, providing a solid organizational backing for conducting the census. Local governments at all levels comprehensively strengthened organization and management, meticulously organized and implemented the census, and ensured that the staff, measures and funds were all in place. All members actively fulfilled their duties with functions fully played, and provided multiple support to ensure the successful implementation of the census.

 

II. Scientific Formulation of the Program

 

Upholding the principle of “scientific and feasible approach, demands and capabilities, inheritance and innovation”, the Office of the Leading Group of the State Council for the Seventh National Population Census (hereinafter referred to as the “Office of the Leading Group”) drew on experience from previous censuses, solicited opinions extensively and strengthened top-down design. Six special pilots and one comprehensive pilot were organized nationwide, with a view to conduct a more scientific, standard and operable census. The Office of the Leading Group formulated the Program for the Seventh National Population Census and 7 detailed rules for implementation, regulating the contents and methods of the census as well as the workflow, tasks and requirements of all the steps explicitly to provide institutional guarantee for conducting the population census in an orderly way.

 

III. Census by Law

 

The law and regulations were followed throughout the whole process of the population census. Opinions on Deepening the Reform of Statistical Management System to Improve the Authenticity of Statistical Data, Suggestions on the Treatment of Liable Persons Violating the Statistical Law and Disciplines, and Regulations on Prevention and Punishment of Statistical Fraud and Data Falsification were thoroughly implemented. The Regulation on the Seventh National Population Census was earnestly implemented, all the requirements in the census program were strictly complied with, and the census discipline was thoroughly enforced. The implementation of population census was taken as an important work of statistical inspection with strengthened statistical law enforcement and supervision and the violation of laws and disciplines was dealt with in accordance with the law so as to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of census data.

 

IV. Focus on Census Innovation

 

To improve the quality and efficiency of the census, the Office of the Leading Group fully deployed information technologies to innovate the contents and methods of the census. Digital data collection was fully adopted as enumerators collected data and transmitted them in real time through electronic devices. Respondents were allowed to fill in and submit questionnaires online. The application of administrative records and big data was strengthened. Technologies such as cloud technology, cloud services and cloud application of the internet were fully applied in the data processing and the census data were collected, transmitted and stored under the National Cyber security Multi-Level Protection Scheme (security level 3) so as to ensure the security of citizens’ individual information. For the first time, over seven million census staff were under centralized online management.

 

V. Carefully Organize the Enumeration

 

Census agencies at all levels carefully selected and recruited census staff. Training was strengthened at all levels to ensure that supervisors and enumerators passed the examination before starting to work. Preparation work such as software development, verification and update of household registration, demarcation and mapping, and preliminary surveys was completed on time. After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of the Leading Group conducted a timely study on the impact of the pandemic on the population census, made contingency plans, rearranged work schedule, and advanced the census solidly. From November 1st to December 10th, 2020, over seven million census staff successfully completed the field enumeration of the census covering all households and residents by rigorously following the census programs and the requirements of the regular epidemic prevention and control.

 

VI. Assure Data Quality

 

With a strict quality control system, the Seventh National Population Census established and improved the census data tracing and accountability mechanism to ensure the verifiability, traceability and accountability of the data. The census data were cross-checked elaborately with administrative records and big data of enterprises. Upholding strict quality control requirements, census agencies at all levels carried out quality validation and acceptance to ensure the quality at every stage of the census. The Office of the Leading Group organized the post enumeration survey to have a objective and holistic assessment of the quality of the census. Results showed that the census results were reliable with an undercount rate of 0.05 percent.

 

VII. Provide a Clear Picture of the National Population

 

The Seventh National Population Census has offered a good understanding of the size, structure and distribution of China's population and mapped the trends of demographic changes. It has provided accurate statistical information support for the improvement of China's population development strategy and policy system, the formulation of economic and social development plans and the promotion of the high-quality economic development. The census has not only provided a clear picture of the total Chinese population and the trends of change of population size, but also the population structure and distribution and the population migration, which reflect the evolution of the population structure and the demographic and social changes.

 

Notes:

 

1. All figures in the Communiqué are preliminary results.

 

2. The reference time of the census is 00:00 hours of November 1, 2020. The population census covers all natural persons residing in the territory of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese citizens residing outside but not permanently settled down in locations beyond the territory of the People’s Republic of China at the census reference time, excluding foreigners temporarily staying in the territory of the People’s Republic of China.

 

(In case of any difference between English translation and the original Chinese text, the Chinese edition shall prevail.)