What is China's current Population?

China has the world’s largest population. According to the latest data, there are about 1,387,357, 649 people living in the Asian nation as of now.

Although China’s overall growth rate has drastically decreased over the decade, it hasn’t really affected the overall population and the population density of the Communist nation.

Some of China’s cities have one of the highest population densities in the world. One thing to note here, that China’s total population is way beyond the number quoted above, as these are merely government statistics. Plus, there are many areas in China which don’t fall under Beijing’s rule, and the people living in those parts don’t account for the total population. Let’s understand everything about the world’s most populated nation, and what problems the former poses for the latter. Take a look:

China’s Population As On Today

As stated above, in order to understand China’s total population, it is important to understand the governance in the Asian nation. While on paper, China’s population is around 1,387,357, 649, this figure doesn’t include figures from Taiwan and the suburban districts of Hong Kong and Macau. If we were to add up the people who live in these places, the overall figure will rise drastically.

China’s Population Density

China is one of the largest nations in the world, and despite that, it has a population density of 145 people/ square meter. In spite of its huge landmass, China ranks a whopping 81st in the list of the most densely populated nations in the world.

However, the real picture is not presented in the overall figure. If you look at some prominent Chinese cities, Shanghai, for instance, the population density rises to about 3,800 people/ square meter. A similar trend can be seen throughout the popular cities in China. What this means is that Chinese cities are extremely crowded, and you’ll rarely find a moment where you’re not surrounded by at least 1000 people.

Growth Rate Of Population In China

If you take a look at the chart above, you’ll see that the growth rate has decreased rapidly. However, one major aspect that plays a huge role in China’s population boom despite a regressive growth rate is life expectancy. As the standard of living has increased in China over the last three decades, the life expectancy has increased tremendously. The average life expectancy for both men and women in China is about 77 years. This is more than many nations in the world. In short, increased standards of living, and an increased growth rate has only facilitated the population to increase further. Let’s take a look at some mind-boggling stats about China’s population problem.

#. 243,153,990 young people under 15 years old (130,977,360 males / 112,175,630 females)

#. 1,016,649,368 persons between 15 and 64 years old (522,638,343 males / 494,324,849 females)

#. 122,392,767 persons above 64 years old (58,769,855 males / 63,622,412 females)

Problems China Faces Due To The Large Population

#1.  China's Two-Child Policy Has Failed Miserably

Needless to say, a large population is always a problem for any nation. Despite China’s emergence as a superpower in the last decade or so, the issue of population has been a niggling problem for Beijing. They have implemented the two-child policy, and have put a number of other restrictions in terms of childbirth, however, to no avail. 

#2. China Has Lesser Youth Population Than Other Countries

Another major problem that China faces due to its huge population is the decrease in the number of the youth population. Due to an increased life expectancy and a falling mortality rate, most of China’s population is way beyond its youth. India, for instance, which comes only behind China in terms of population, has the world’s largest youth population. Having a higher percentage of youth in your population ensures a better future for the nation.

So, there you have it. Undoubtedly the large population is a major problem for China going forward. If you wish to add more to this topic, let us know in the comments below.

(Featured Image Courtesy: YouTube)