China
The People's Republic of China is the world's largest country by population and is the third largest country by area. China`s recent rapid development has made it a major force in world affairs.
Population: 1.3 billion; Density: 141 per sq km; 92% ethnic Han Chinese; 55 ethnic minorities (according to the government)
Most of the population live in the east, so density is greater than statistics suggest. Population growth has been controlled by the government promoting late marriages and requiring parents to have only one child. Abortion is legal. Shanghai has a population of 13.5 million and Beijing, the capital, 14.5 million. China is 60 percent rural with an increasing migration of workers to urban areas.
Religions: Non-religious 49.58%; Chinese religions 28.5%; Buddhist 8.38%; Christian 7.25%; Traditional ethnic 4.29%; Muslim 2%
The Communist party in the 1960s attempted to eliminate organized religion. Previously the dominant religions in China had been Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism. Muslim minority peoples such as the Uyghurs, Kazaks and Kirgiz number 20 million and now practice their religion openly. It is illegal to spread the gospel to anyone under 18.
China country profile.pdfFeb. 2008: Worst Snow Storms in 50 Years Hit China. Learn and pray!
