Tom O'Byrne, Beijing, ABC World News from Radio Australia
As China correspondent Tom O'Byrne reports, details of
last year's nationwide census are now being released.
Officials
from the National Bureau of Statistics say China's population
stands at 1-point-two-six-five billion people, and it's growing
by around 10 million people each year. The census is confirming
several well-known trends: a big jump in the number of urban dwellers,
a worrying rise in those older than 65, and another decline in
the average family size to 3-point four people. Officials claim
the government's strict family planning policies are working,
but while some provinces are allowing second and even third children,
most Chinese families still have only one child. A worrying and
related trend, say officials, is that female infanticide is far
from bein eradicated.
|
