Xinjiang Sees Annual Population Growth of 340,000

In the first 15 years of the new millennium, Xinjiang will have an annual population growth of 340,000, equivalent to the population of a large county.

Though Xinjiang ranks first in China in terms of land area, the area of oasis--the place suitable for the living of mankind only accounts for 4.3 percent of its total area and the current density of population in the oasis of Xinjiang has reached 249 persons per square km. The Population of Xinjiang has brought pressure on its social environment, economy and resources. The growth rate of its population, which is higher than that of the whole country, has quadrupled in the past half century since 1949. Because Xinjiang began implementing family planning 10 years later than other parts of China, so people are comparatively young in terms of age structure and the proportion of women at child-bearing age is also higher than that of the whole country. Even if all these women strictly follow the state policy, the population will remain at the stage of sustained growth.

It's forecasted that Xinjiang will still maintain a high speed of population growth in the period of the "Tenth Five-year Plan". By 2015, its total population will reach 23,47 million, therefore Xinjiang will face a serious population situation in the next 15 years.

People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/