China: Population and Geography Overview

Study Notes

China's population is 1.4 billion
Population distribution is uneven, concentrated in the east
East includes densely populated areas with major cities: Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou
West is sparsely populated due to harsh natural conditions (dry or high altitude)
Average precipitation in China is over 600 mm, but varies significantly across the country
Southeast region receives the most rain (1000-2000 mm annually)
Northwest region is drier (under 50 mm annually)
China's terrain is a "staircase" with three main elevations
Tibetan Highlands (plateau) is at the highest elevation (around 4,500 m)

China implemented a one-child policy between 1979 and 2015
The policy aimed to control population growth
The one-child policy heavily penalized families with more than one child
The policy resulted in fewer births than expected
China is now experiencing population aging, with a growing share of elderly citizens
Life expectancy has increased from 41 years in 1955 to 76.5 years in 2018.

Han Chinese live primarily in the east
Han Chinese are culturally dominant and speak Chinese.
Other ethnic groups reside in the west
These groups have unique cultures and languages distinct from the Han Chinese.
Approximately 100 million Chinese belong to ethnic minorities.
The Han Chinese migration pattern to other regions is seen as part of a policy by the government of "sinicization"

China transitioned from a poor country to the world's second-largest economy in four decades.
Until 1980, all businesses in China were state-owned
In 1980, China's "open door" policy allowed foreign companies to operate - initially in coastal areas and more recently in inland areas.

China experienced massive migration from rural areas to urban centers in the 1980s and onward.
This migration was driven by economic opportunities in urban areas
Employment opportunities in cities are greater and often threefold more in comparison to rural areas.
Urbanization in China is very evident with the increase in cities of over 1 million inhabitants
A significant portion of the population, estimated at 250 million, are migrant workers who live and work in urban areas without official registration, leading them to be described as the "floating population".

Water distribution in China is uneven with the south being wetter than the North
Flooding is a significant concern in regions like the Yangtze River. This is due to deforestation.
Construction of dams and dikes is an attempt to mitigate flooding risks
Water scarcity is a major issue in the North (especially the Huang He region)
Water is diverted from the south to support crop irrigation in the north, by the South to North Water Diversion Project