China To Count A Billion People In 10 Days

Sky News ^ | Nov 1st 2010 | Sarah Gordon

[Cardhu]

China is attempting to complete the world's biggest population census, going door-to-door to document more than one billion people in just 10 days.

The once-a-decade headcount aims to gather information on the exact population of major cities and the migration of workers from rural to urban areas.

Six million census takers will scour the country, counting every single citizen, including undocumented workers and families who have broken the one-child-per-couple rule.

In an attempt to encourage people to be honest, the Government has promised all information will be confidential.

There will be no questions on income - so as not to scare away those committing tax evasion - and families with more than one child are being offered the chance to pay the fine in instalments.

We will go to factories, remote areas and universities to hold mass events so no one will be missed. It is our goal to cover everyone regardless of the challenges.

[Cardhu]

It is thought that the population grew by about 1% last year, which would mean growth of around 130m people - or almost half the population of the US - in the last 10 years.

[Chickensoup]

The book Poorly Made in China mentions that the author thinks the census is wildly off its mark and that there are much less people than ascribed to China.

He states that the Chinese have a need to be biggest, most and best in order not to lose face, and reality and truth suffer.

[pnh102]

If China manages to get this done in 10 days, it would put out make-work census efforts to shame. How long did it take to count 300ish million people here, 10 months?

[momtothree]

We all know what they will do with the children who are a second child to the family or a woman who is pregnant and already has one child. Sorry to sound jaded but that is the way they are. Just a thought.

[Vigilanteman]

Each census taker basically has to count 167 people in ten days, if you do the math. It could be challenging if there are a lot of people not home or not responding, for whatever reason. But it is well within the realm of possible.

[Cardhu]

They specifically address that problem and that will not be the case.

[kabar]

He states that the Chinese have a need to be biggest, most and best in order not to lose face, and reality and truth suffer.

Then why is China trying to reduce its population growth thru its one child policy? The CIA Factbook puts China's fertility rate at 1.54 children born/woman (2010 est.), well below replacement at 2.1.

[Pecos]

My guess is that their economy can’t handle a no-limit policy. Willing to listen to other answers, though.

[kabar]

The Chinese recognize that a huge, growing population is hurting their ability to increase wealth and reduce poverty. In contrast, the US is importing poverty thru its immigration policy. Our population has increased by almost 30 million since 2000 or more than the combined populations of 19 states. 75% of the increase is due to immigration, legal and illegal.

[NonValueAdded]

If China manages to get this done in 10 days, it would put out make-work census efforts to shame. How long did it take to count 300ish million people here, 10 months?

Oh, if only WE had the threat of the bullet or the gulag to back up our door to door effort, I think you would have seen different results.

Not advocating it, mind you; just illustrating with absurdity. Seriously, there was no downside to not answering the US Census and Americans have a different view of authority than do the Chinese. You are comparing apples and lychees.

[momtothree]

“They specifically address that problem and that will not be the case...”

When have you started trusting what Chinese government officials say? It wasn’t that long ago that FR posted a story about an eight month woman (pregnant with a second child) was forcibly removed for an abortion. Do you really think that the census officials will look the other way?!

[WOBBLY BOB]

how can they even get a close estimate without the Census Dancers?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szn8d3sgtxY

[appeal2]

The Chinese are making a big mistake. They should hire the people who ran the US Census. Then they would be able to keep those 6 million employees busy for 2 years and they could double and triple count them in the workforce. Think of how the Chicom economy would boom. There’s nothing quite like census jobs for building a nation’s wealth.

[Chickensoup]

Then why is China trying to reduce its population growth thru its one child policy? The CIA Factbook puts China’s fertility rate at 1.54 children born/woman (2010 est.), well below replacement at 2.1.

The same reason all powerseekers/holders want less population, power and control.

[kabar]

You seem to want it both ways. You referred to a quote about China’s desire to be first in everything, including you seem to believe, in population. That is simply not the case. The Chinese want less people. Their population burden affects their power and wealth. I have been to China. It is still a third world country. Millions still do not have electricity.

[goldstategop]

China has impressive First World cities, a developed transportation system and an economy that keeps growing by leaps and bounds. To be sure, rural China is still undeveloped but even the benefits of a market economy are arriving there. The country is developing a fast growing middle class. Its still an authoritarian society but people have some freedom and the opportunity to give their children a better life that did not exist under the old Communist system. One day as Napoleon observed, China will shake the world. The Sleeping Dragon may awaken in the not too far off future.

[kabar]

BS. I can recall visiting the old Soviet Union, which was really the most underdeveloped developed country in the world or the most developed country in the third world.

My visit to China reminded me of the Soviet Union. Even in cities like Beijing, there is grinding poverty and third world like conditions. The per capita income in China is $6,600. In Mexico, it is $13,300.