China Overview

In order to help you better understand the People's Republic of China , we have provided a number of facts about the country.

Government

Country name: Official: People's Republic of China . Abbreviation: PRC
Government type: Communist, single party system.
Capital: Beijing
Administrative zones: 23 provinces (this is perceived to include Taiwan , although does not), 5 autonomous regions (excluding Hong Kong and Macau ), and 4 municipalities.
Independence : 221 BCE, China was united under the Qin dynasty. 1st of January 1912, the Manchu (or Qing) dynasty was replaced by a republic. 1st of October 1949, People's Republic of China established.
Constitution: The most recent version of the Chinese constitution was officially incorporated on the 4th of December 1982 .

• Legal System: The Chinese legal system is based on structures established in the USSR or Soviet Union . The legislature retains ultimate authority of interpretation. China is not party to ICJ jurisdiction.

• Suffrage : Universal at 18 years of age.

• Political Leaders: Head of State: President Hu Jintao. Head of the State Council: Premier Wen Jiabao.

• Political Parties: Chinese communist party (CCP) and 8 smaller parties controlled by the CCP.

• Political Opposition: There are no major opposition groups to the CCP in China . However, the CCP has identified the Falungog and China Democratic Party as subversive groups.

• International Involvement : China is a member of a number of international organizations. These are; ASEAN (dialogue partner), OAS (observer), UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), and , NAM (observer).

• Flag: Red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner.

Economy

• GDP (Purchasing power parity): USD $ 10 Trillion

• GDP (official exchange rate): USD $ 2.512 Trillion

• GDP (per capita): USD $ 7,600

• Labor Force: 798 million

• Unemployment rate: According to official government figures the unemployment rate for urban areas is 4.2 %, while in rural areas this figure is higher.

• Population below the poverty line: 10 % as of 2004

• Agricultural production: Rice, wheat, corn, tea, barley, oilseed, cotton, potatoes, peanuts, apples, fish, and pork.

• Industries: Metal production, mining and ore processing, textiles, oil and gas, electronics, chemicals, automotive (including aircraft, ships, trains), aerospace.

• Industrial production growth: 22.9 %

• Electricity consumption: 2.5 trillion kWh.

• Economic Aid: USD $ 0. China does not currently receive aid.

• Currency: Yuan (CNY), also referred to as Renminbi (RMB)

• Fiscal Year: Calendar year

People

• Total population: 1, 313, 973, 713 (estimate based on July 2006 figures)

• Population make up: 0-14 years: 28 %. 15-64 years: 71.4 % . 65 years and over: 7.7 %.

• Average Age: Total: 32.7 years . Male: 32.3 years . Female: 33.2 years .

• Population growth rate: 0.56 % (estimate based on July 2006 figures)

• Life expectancy at birth: Total population : 72.58 years. Male : 70.89 years. Female: 74.46 years.

• HIV/AIDS prevalence : 0.1% of total population

• Ethnic Groups: China is home to a number of ethnic groups. These are; Han (91.9 %), Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Hakka, Korean, and other nationalities (8.1%).

• Religions: Although China is officially atheist there are a number of predominant religions, these are; Taoism, Buddhism, Christian ity (3-4 %), and Islam (1-2 %).

• Languages: As China has such a rich make up of ethic groups there are a number of dialects spoken throughout the country. Although Putonghua or Mandarin is the offical language other dialects include; Cantonese, Shanghainese, Fuzhou , Hokkien-Tiawanese, Xiang, Gan, Hakka, and other minority languages.

• Literacy over 15 years: Around 90.9 % of the total population can read and write, while men have a higher rate of literacy than women.

Transportation

• Airports: China has 486 national and international airports (excluding Hong Kong and Macau ).

• Airports with paved runways: 403

• Heliports: 32

• Pipelines: Gas: 22,664 km. Oil: 15,256 km . Refined products: 6,106 km.

• Railways: 74, 408 km

• Roads and Highways: China has the most extensive road network in the world after the USA . The PRC has a total of 1,870,661 km of roads.

• Waterways and Canals: 123,964 km

• Major Ports and terminals: Shanghai , Guangzhou , Nanjing , Dalain, Ningbo , Qingdao

Geographical Information

• Location : China is located in Eastern Asia and has borders on the East China sea , South China Sea , Korea Bay, and the Yellow sea . China has land borders with North Korea , Russia , Mongolia , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan , Afghanistan , Pakistan , India , Nepal , Bhutan , Burma , Laos , and Vietnam .

• Geographic Coordinates: 35 00 N, 105 00 E.

• Country Area : Total: 9,596, 960 Sq Km . Water: 270,550 Sq Km . Land: 9,326,410 Sq Km.

• Comparative Area: In terms of geographical area china is slightly smaller than the USA .

• Coastline: China has a total of 14,500 km in coastline.

• Climate : The weather in China is extremely diverse as the country is big. Ranging from tropical and sub tropical weather in the south to sub-artic conditions in the north, there is no defining weather trend in China .

• Terrain: As with weather, there is no overall terrain characteristic for China . However terrain can vary from mountains, plateaus, and deserts in the West to plains, deltas and hills in the east. China does have many rivers and these will frequently interrupt the landscape.

• Elevation: Lowest point: Turpan Pendi, -154 m. Highest point: Mount Everest, 8,850 m

• Natural resources: China has many abundant natural resources including; coal, iron, oil, natural gas, tin, tungsten, mercury, manganese, zinc, aluminum, lead, uranium, and is the worlds largest hydropower potential.

• Natural hazards and disasters: China is home to a number of natural hazards including, Typhoons, earthquakes, floods, and tsunamis.

• Environmental issues: Air pollution, deforestation, desertification, and droughts.

• Geographical notes: Worlds 4th largest country, and contains the worlds highest point.

Communications

• Telephones (land line) in use: 350.433 million.

• Mobile telephone units: 437.48 million

• Phone country code: +86

• Television broadcast stations: 3,240. Of these stations 209 are owned and operated by China Central television, 31 are provincial tv stations, and approximately 3,000 are local channels.

• Internet country code: .cn

• Internet users: 123 million

• Censorship: All media in the country is subject to government approval. China is ranked 163rd out of 168 in the world wide press freedom index of 2006.

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China Information