Population: China

Population: China

1. China's main population features

   • population in 2012 = 1.34 billion
     • 20% or 1 in 5 of the world total
   • far from being evenly spread
     • 94% on only 40% of the land
       • mainly in coastal areas and lower Yangtze basin
     • 6% in remaining area
       • mountainous and desert area
   • north and west negative factors
     • snow covered
     • high plateau
     • dry desert
     • climate = very cold in winter
     • growing season is short
     • rainfall is unreliable
     • isolated
     • poor communications
     • limited farmland
     • limited resources and energy supplies
     • very little government aid
   • The South and East positive factors
     • low lying with flood large flood plains
       • Huang He
       • Yangtze rivers
     • Climate
       • warmer
       • rainfall heavy and reliable
       • growing season long
         • all year in South
     • less isolated
       • better communications
       • coastal ports
         • overseas trade
     • fertile soil
       • Loesses and river silt
         • makes good farmland
     • more resources and energy supplies
     • most government aid

2. one child policy

   • 20th centry
     • families encouraged to have many children
       • causing unsustainable increase in population
   • 1979
     • minimum age for marriage
       • apply to be married and to have children
         • failed to confirm
           • deprived of benefits
           • had to pay a fine
           • liable to forced abortions
           • extreme cases
             • sterilisation
   • exceptions allowed to have a second child
     • disabled child
     • ethnic minority group
     • living in more remote rural areas
   • reducing birth rate and population growth
     • now relaxed
       • women are now offered a wider choice in methods of contraception
       • when two only children marry they can have a second child
   • without policy could have been 400 million greater
   • concerned with ageing population
     • Increase in life expectancy increased from 40 in 1950 to 73 in 2010
       • fewer children and more ageing people developing 4-2-1
         • once only child starts to work he/she will have to look after 2 parents and 4 grandparents who are in retirement
   • good policy
     • energy and non-renewable materials will not run out as fast
     • can control population growth