Language
Chinese (official) is a modernised version of Mandarin; regional variants, such as Cantonese, are also spoken, along with the languages of minority ethnic groups.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	1345.8 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	1337.0 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	1324.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	1313.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	1305.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	1296.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	1288.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	1279.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	1270.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
1417.0 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
There are 56 officially recognised nationalities of which Han is the largest, comprising more than 91 percent of the population. Among the largest of the 55 ethnic minorities are the Chuang, Uighur, Tibetans and Mongols.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
The main belief systems are Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. There are also smaller Muslim (2 percent) and Christian minorities.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	42.2 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	41.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	40.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	39.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	38.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	37.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	36.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	35.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1949
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available

Percentage of population under 15

2005	21.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	22.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	22.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	23.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	24.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	24.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Time zone
GMT +8

Climate description
Hot, dry summers and bitterly cold in the northeast; hot summers and cold winters in the north and central regions; substantial rainfall with semi-tropical summers and cool winters in the southeast

Currency
Yuan

Telephone dialling code
(+) 86

Driving (left/right)
Right

Average life expectancy

2005	72.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	71.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	71.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	71 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	70.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	70.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	71.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	70.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	69.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	68.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	68.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	68.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	74.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	73.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	73.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	73.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	72.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	72.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	19 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	20 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	23 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	26 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	30 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	31 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	31 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	32 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	22 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	24 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	27 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	31 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	37 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	39 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	39 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	40 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	97 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	96 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	97 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	76 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	89 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	89 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	45 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	56 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	81	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	81	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	85	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	94	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	104	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	96	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	7 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	7 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	8 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	8 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	10 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	11 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	10 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	9 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	12 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	12 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	88 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	77 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	77 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	75 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	65 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	44 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	44 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	40 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	90.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	90.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	90.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	85.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	84.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	95.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	95.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	95.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	92.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	91.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	86.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	86.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	86.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	78.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	76.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	275 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	275 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	279 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	267 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	239 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	203 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	167 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	141 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	114 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	474 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	412 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	349 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	300 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	257 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	209 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	160 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	113 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	67 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	223 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	160 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	105 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	85 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	72 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	61 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	46 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	26 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	18 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	72 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	72 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	70 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	78 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	71 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	66 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	59 (joint)	Transparency International
2001	57 (joint)	Transparency International
2000	63 (joint)	Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day

1990-2005	9.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	16.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	16.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1990-2002	16.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2001	16.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	2370 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	2010 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	1740 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	1500 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	1270 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	1100 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	1000 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	930 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	3205.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	2657.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	2235.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	1931.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	1641.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	1453.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	1324.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	1198.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	10.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	10.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	10.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	10.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	9.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	8.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	8.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	7.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	3.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	3.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	6.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	2.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	0.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	2.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	2.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
1.6 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
34.9 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Physicians

2000-2004	106 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	106 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	164 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	167 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum occurs in Hainan and Yunnan. Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported. Risk of P.vivax in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Sichuan, Xizang (only along the valley of the Zangbo river in the extreme southeast) and Yunnan. Very low P.vivax only risk in Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi and Shandong, in remote rural communities below 1500m. There is no risk in urban areas or densely populated plain areas. Tourists do not need to take prophylaxis unless staying in remote rural areas listed above.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	98 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	99 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	100 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	101 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	102 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	103 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	104 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	105 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

Number of refugees originating here

2008	175180	UNHCR
2007	149095	UNHCR
2006	140598	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	124021	UNHCR
2004	134724	UNHCR
2003	132406	UNHCR
2002	132115	UNHCR
2001	117409	UNHCR
2000	110975	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	300967	UNHCR
2007	301078	UNHCR
2006	301027	UNHCR
2005	301041	UNHCR
2004	299375	UNHCR
2003	299354	UNHCR
2002	297277	UNHCR
2001	295325	UNHCR
2000	294110	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	4	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	2	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
No
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	2.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	2.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	2.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	2.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	No data available percent
2002-2004	No data available percent
1998-2000	2.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	No data available percent
2003-2004	2.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	2.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	2.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	1.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003