China: Introduction

Total Population: 1,412,360,000

Natural Increase: 0.1%

Density: 150 Inhabitants/km²

Urban Population: 62.5%

Population of main cities: Shanghai (21,020,000); Beijing (18,431,000); Shenzhen (12,994,000); Guangzhou (Canton) (12,874,400); Tianjin (12,090,000); Chengdu (9,177,000); Wuhan (8,896,900); Chongqing (7,919,600); Dongguan (7,638,600); Hong Kong SAR (7,572,800); Foshan (7,508,800); Taipei (7,034,500); Hangzhou (6,970,000); Nanjing (6,500,000)

Ethnic Origins: According to Chinese authorities, more than 92% of the population are of Han Chinese origin, with Zhuang, Uighur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Mandchous, Mongol, Buyi, Korean and other ethnic origins forming about 8% of the population. (National Bureau of Statistics of China).

Official Language: The national language is Mandarin; however, there are many different dialects and variants of it.

Other Languages Spoken: There are more than a hundred dialects, with Mandarin in the north and Cantonese in the south of the country. The official language coexists with the other languages (Mongolian, Uyghur, Korean, Tibetan) of the autonomous regions.

Business Language(s): When the foreign party does not speak Chinese, business discussions will generally be held in English.

Religion: The Chinese are generally atheists. That being said, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism are relatively widespread amongst senior citizens and attract a part of the well-to-do class today. There are also Christian and Muslim minorities.

Literacy Rate: 90.9%

Area: 9,600,013 km²

Type of State: The People's Republic of China is a one-party state led by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). China is characterized by a centralized unitary State under the exclusive political leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The Party has the full jurisdiction and authority in the country. It consists of legislative, executive, military, supervisory, judicial and procuratorial branches. The National People's Congress (NPC) is the highest state organ, with control over the constitution and basic laws, as well as over the election and supervision of officials of other government organs.

Type of Economy: Second richest country in the world (GDP); emerging financial market.
Largest population in the world; highest GDP growth rate in the world over the last 10 years.

HDI*: 0.727/1

HDI (World Rank): 90/188

Telephone Code:
To call from China, dial 00
To call China, dial +86

Internet Suffix: .cn

Computers: 4.1 per 100 Inhabitants

Telephone Lines: 20.6 per 100 Inhabitants

Internet Users: 42.3 per 100 Inhabitants

Access to Electricity: 100% of the Population