BRIEF INTRODUCTION

I. Data in this chapter show the basic condition of population at the 5^th National Population Census, with zero hour of November 1, 2000 as the reference time, and at the previous censuses, including the main data of population of the whole nation and of 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government, such as the national population, urban population and rural population over the years, and data of the advance tabulation of the 5^th national population census, such as population growth rate by regions, Han nationality and various national minorities population, dependency ratio, family household size and the educational level of population, etc.. In addition, a comparison is made among the main data of the five population censuses undertaken after the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

II. The 12 tables in this chapter are prepared and provided by the Department of Population, Social and Science Statistics of the National Bureau of Statistics. Among them, figures for 1982-1989 in tables 4-1 and 4-2 have been adjusted in accordance with the data from the population censuses of 1982 and 1990, figures for 1990-1999 are estimated on the basis of the annual national sample surveys on population changes, figures for 2000 are obtained from the advance tabulation of the 5^th national population census, with zero hour of November 1, 2000 as the reference time, and figures for other years are collected from the residence registration. Data in Table 4-4 present results from the five national population censuses. Data in other tables are obtained from the advance tabulation of the 5^th National Population Census.

III. Population enumerated in 2000 national population census refers to people with citizenship of the People’s Republic of China and with permanent residence on the mainland of the country. The principle of de jure population was adopted in the population census, that is everyone should be enumerated at his/her permanent residence and one person is enumerated only at one place. The reference time of the census is zero hour of November 1, 2000. Data of 2000 national population census are the data of de jure population at the reference time.

Unless otherwise specified, the national total population of 2000 national population census refers to the total population of the 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities and of military personnel of the mainland of China (including 1.05 million persons with their household registration unsettled), and population by regions excludes the military personnel (also excluding 1.05 million persons with their household registration unsettled). The national total is obtained from the advance tabulation. Data for the urban/rural population and for illiterate population have been adjusted in several provinces, so the sum of figures by province is not equal to the national total in some tables.

Figures in the tables may be not balanced slightly and have not adjusted at the compilation since the absolute figures of 2000 national population census are rounded by 10,000. The relative figures of national total are calculated from the enumeration and the relative figures by regions are kept in accordance to the communique of each province, autonomous region or municipally.