On Nov 1, China launched the seventh population census across the country. Census is a major way to know of the population's size, structure and distribution, map demographic changes and provide accurate statistical information for authorities to make policies.

Six previous population censuses have shown that the country's population aged 14 or younger has fallen in proportion of the total population in recent decades and the population aged above 65 or elder has risen.

China started easing its one-child policy in late 2013 to boost birth rate. In 2015, China replaced the one-child policy with a new one that allows couples to have two children.

China's gender imbalance became acute after decades of a one-child policy and boy-prone gender selection. Measures have been taken to restore a balanced gender ratio, such as allowing couples to have two children and enforcing the ban on gender selection.

Improved lifestyle, dietary and hygiene conditions following the country's economic development have increased life expectancy from an average of 67.77 years in 1982 to 74.83 years in 2010. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that the average life expectancy in 2015 reached 76.34 years.

The country's reform and opening-up have gradually created the largest flow of internal migration in world history. Following the country's industrialization, more people started to live in towns and cities, which has led the urbanization rate to increase rapidly in recent decades.