Chinese experts say China is facing population issues such as men
outnumbering women by 50 million and an increasingly aging
population.
According to a report in the Beijing Evening News, experts at
the first China Population Forum held in Beijing say China's
population has a low growth rate, although zero growth rate will
not occur until the middle of the 21st century.
Hou Yafei, a Beijing Population Institute expert, said a great
proportion of the population receives no education after graduating
from primary school. Only one in fifty of those 25 years old and
over have had a college education. In developed countries that
figure is one in four.
Limited education has prevented many people from becoming eligible
for new industries such as the information industry.
Song Jian, a professor with , says the population structure will become China's
core concern this century.
Besides the big difference between the male and female population,
statistics also show those 60 years old and over account for more
than 10 percent of the population.
Song also says the speed of urbanization in China is far below that
of industrialization. These structural conflicts must be seen to,
otherwise in the long run, problems such as an economic slowdown
will follow.
( November 14, 2001)