1964 Chinese census explained

Second National Census
Country:China
Previous Year:1953
Previous Census:1953 Chinese census
Date:1964
Next Year:1982
Next Census:1982 Chinese census
Population:694,581,759
Region Type:province
Most Populous:Henan
Least Populous:Tibet Autonomous Region

The 1964 Chinese census, officially the Second National Population Census of the People's Republic of China, was conducted by the People's Republic of China with a zero hour of 1 July 1964. The census results were not publicized until the early 1980s.[1]

The 1964 census included additional information about education, occupation, and class to the information gathered by the first census concerning name, age, sex, nationality, and relationship to heads of households.[2]

Results

Total Population

The census found that the total population of Mainland China in 1964 was 694,581,759.

However, the official summaries published in Chinese Sociology and Anthropology by the Chinese State Statistical Bureau in 1984 listed the 1964 population as 723,070,269.[3] China's official Xinhua news organization continues to report more significant figure.[4]

Demographics

The census found approximately 356,520,000 men and 338,060,000 women living in China, a ratio of 105.46 to 100.

The average household size was 4.43, increasing by 1/10 person per household from the previous census. 40.69% of the population was 14, or under, 55.75% was between 15 and 64, and 3.56% was 65 or older.

Han Chinese accounted for approximately 654,560,000 persons (94.24% of the total). Minorities accounted for approx—forty million twenty thousand persons (5.76%).

127,100,000 Chinese were classified as living in cities, with an urbanization rate of 18.30%.[5]

Provincial Distribution

Province or
autonomous region
1953 Census1964 CensusChange% Change
Anhui30,343,63731,241,657898,0202.96
Fujian13,142,72116,757,2233,614,50227.50
Gansu[6] 12,928,10212,630,569-297,533-2.30
Guangdong[7] 34,770,05942,800,8498,030,79023.10
Guizhou15,037,31017,140,5212,103,21113.99
Hebei[8] [9] 35,984,64445,687,7817,009,30618.12
Henan44,214,59450,325,5116,110,91713.82
Heilongjiang11,897,30920,118,2718,220,96269.10
Hubei27,789,69333,709,3445,919,65121.30
Hunan33,226,95437,182,2863,955,33211.90
Jiangsu41,252,19244,504,6083,252,4167.88
Jiangxi16,772,86521,068,0194,295,15425.61
Jilin11,290,07315,668,6634,378,59038.78
Liaoning18,545,14726,946,2008,401,05345.30
Qinghai1,676,5342,145,604469,07027.98
Rehe5,160,822   
Sichuan[10] [11] 62,303,99967,956,4902,271,4273.46
Shaanxi15,881,28120,766,9154,885,63430.76
Shandong48,876,54855,519,0386,642,49013.59
Shanxi14,314,48518,015,0673,700,58225.85
Xikang<--includes Qamdo?-->3,381,064   
Yunnan17,472,73720,509,5253,036,78817.38
Zhejiang22,865,74728,318,5735,452,82623.85
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region19,560,82220,845,0171,284,1956.57
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region6,100,10412,348,6386,248,534102.4
Xizang Autonomous Region
(Tibet)<
--includes Qamdo?-->1,273,9691,251,225-22,744-1.79
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region4,873,6087,270,0672,396,45949.17
Beijing Municipality2,768,1497,568,4954,800,346173.4
Shanghai Municipality6,204,41710,816,4584,612,04174.33
Tianjin Municipality2,693,831   
Total582,603,417694,581,759111,978,34219.22

Controversy

As with the 1953 census, the accuracy of the Second National Population Census was questioned by many outside observers. The information collected about occupation and education could have been more systematic, and it could not even be accurately tabulated[2] even though the nation's illiteracy rate was recorded at 32.26%[3] and 33.58%.[5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Kirkby, Richard J.R. Urbanisation in China: town and country in a developing economy, 1949-2000 AD. Taylor & Francis, 1985. . Accessed 28 Mar 2012.
  2. Aird, John S. "The Preparations for China's 1982 Census". The China Quarterly, No. 91 (Sept 1982), pp. 369-385. Cambridge University Press.
  3. Chinese State Statistical Bureau. "Major statistics from the second population census (1964)". Chinese Sociology and Anthropology. 1984 Spring-Summer; 16(3-4):66-8. Accessed 28 Mar 2012.
  4. Xinhua Net. "Backgrounder: China's national population censuses". 28 Apr 2011. Accessed 28 Mar 2012.
  5. [National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China]
  6. The population Ningxia was detached from the 1964 figures.
  7. Includes the modern Hainan province.
  8. All 1964 figures incorporate Tianjin municipality.
  9. 1964 population figure includes incorporation of parts of Rehe Province.
  10. Includes the modern Chongqing municipality.
  11. All 1964 figures incorporate Xikang province.