Census Reveals China Population of 1.133 Billion
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BEIJING — China today released preliminary figures from its largest-ever census showing a population of 1.133 billion--20 million more people than the government had hoped.
The census, conducted in July, marked the first time the government had conducted door-to-door surveys. It is considered the most accurate figure ever for China’s population.
The census found 1,133,682,501 people residing permanently in mainland China, the New China News Agency reported.
The last reported population figure, in late 1989, showed 1.112 billion Chinese, but that figure was based on previous population figures that Chinese officials have conceded were unreliable.
An editorial in the party newspaper, the People’s Daily, called for greater attention to population control.
The government had hoped to keep the population down to 1.113 by the end of 1990.
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