Anhui
II. Population Situation
In 1997, Anhui has a population of 62.199 million, ranking the 8th in China. Nevertheless, its size of land only accounts for 1.45% of the total size of China, ranking the 22nd. Its population density is 446 per km2 , 3.5 times of the national average density.
There is a distinctive area difference in population distribution, dense in the north and sparse in the south. The first four highest population density areas are the North of Huai Plain, areas aside rivers, hill area of Jiang-huai, mountain area of west of Anhui, ranking from the high to the low. Mountain area of the south of Anhui has the lowest population density. The proportion of urban population is still low and that of the primary industry population is high. Though there are 53 minorities, their population accounts for less than 1% of the total population.
Since 1949, Anhui population can be divided into four stages. (1)1949-58, the first culmination of population growth with the PGR of 22.2‰; (2)1959-61, the period with the great decline of CBR for the serious natural disaster; (3)1962-73, the second culmination of population growth with the high PGR of 31.1‰; (4)1974-, the period of controlled population growth for the implementation of family planning. In short, Anhui population reproduction has transited from the high birth, high death and low growth to the eve of the high birth, low death and high growth. The new type of low birth, low death and low growth is coming.
Anhui population sex ratio is high a bit, e.g. 106.89 in 1990, 105.44 in 1995 and 107.9 in 1997. The sex ratio of age group 0-4 is particularly high.
In 1997, the proportions of age group 0-14, 15-64 and 65+ were 25.04%, 68.18% and 6.78%, respectively. The median age was 28.35.
Since the 1980s, the TFR of Anhui province has changed in form of saddle, from the high to the low and to the high again. TFR in areas surrounded rivers was lower than that in North-huai areas. In 1997, the CBR was 15.8‰ and the NGR was 9.3‰. According to the population projections by the high, middle and low parameters, it is important for Anhui Province to consolidate the achievement of family planning program by the end of this century when the culmination of birth continues.
In the first ten years since the setup of P.R. China, the death rate declined greatly. Since the 1960s, the death rate has became stable. In recent years, for the aging of the age structure, the total death rate rose slightly, but actually the standardized death rate declined slightly. At present, the death curve of “J” became more smooth. The sex difference of death rate in reducing, but the difference of elderly death rate between urban and rural areas is still large. In 1997, the number of death was 396 thousand and the death rate was 6.5 ‰, slightly less than the average national one in the corresponding period.
The e0 of Anhui province has risen from less than 35 before 1949 to 70.22 in 1990, among which that of male was 68.33 and that of female was 72.13.
In 1997, Anhui had a population 15 and above of 46.623 million, among which 9.577 million were unmarried, 34.02 million were married, 284 thousand were divorced and 2.738 million were widowed.
In recent years, the family size has reduced little by little, but the total number of household has risen. Single person family, nuclear family and joint family are increasing, but stem family and others are decreasing. In 1997, the former was 3.75 and the latter was 16.577 million.
In 1997, the proportion of population 60 and above was 10.12%. It indicates that Anhui province has become an aged society since then. In the elderly group, the population 60-69 dominates.
Compared with four national censuses, the general population education is increasing. Population educated has increased, but the illiterate rate has declines. In 1997, population educated was 46.6676 million, accounting for 76.17% of total population. The number of population educated per 100 thousand were 1,280 with above junior college, 5,800 with senior middle school, 29,980 with junior middle school and 39,080 with primary school. The number of illiterate population above 15 were 8.8158 million and the illiterate rate was 19.46%.
The growth of inner-provincial migration is slow. Its characteristics are as follows: working or business as the main motivation of migration; rural migrants dominated; economic development area as the main in-migration destination. In recent years, Anhui has been one of the largest net out-migration province. The out-migration focuses in 11 provinces, eps. in Jiangsu province and Shanghai city. The majority of in-migration is from Jiangsu and Sichuan provinces. Economic factors and distance are two main determinants of inter-provincial migration.
Anhui is one of populous provinces in China, with the huge base, the high density and the rapid growth. The population pressure on resource and environment is increasing. The relations of population and grain, population and energy, population and land, water, forest and mineral resource are becoming more strained. Pollution from human being’s activity appears and increases. Resident’s living and health and human being’s survival are threatened.
III. Family Planning
Anhui family planning program experienced a zigzag process. In 1963, the Province Family Planning Leading Group was set up, but the specific affairs were in charged by the MCH Section in Health Department. In 1966, the Leading Group failed to work, for the breakup of “Culture Revolution”. Until September 12, 1972, the institutions of family planning program could not be recovered. After that, in the Health Department, the Office of Family Planning was set up to be responsible for the province family planning program. In 1977, the Office was independent from the Heath Department. For strengthening the family planning program, the Province Revolution Commission adjusted the composition of the Family Planning Leading Group. The Group included one of Secretaries Province Revolution Commission and Directors from related departments. In 1982, the Office was promoted to be the Family Planning Commission, a functional department in the province government.
There are main measures as follows:
At the end of 1977 and at the beginning of 1983, two IEC months of family planning program were developed, respectively. In 1988, cooperated with other 6 provinces of East China, Anhui edited a series of peasant’s instructing books on family planning. Anhui also promoted “Jounal of Anhui Population”, “Anhui Population Newspaper” and “Marriage and Childbearing” successfully.
The basic principle is to reward the advanced and help the laggard. Anhui regularly held meetings to learn advanced experience. According to the Fourth Census, Anhui Province Family Planning Leading Group enumerated 12 counties whose family planning program ranked the last group in successive three years, and paid more attention to these counties.
In 1988, “Temporary Regulation on Family Planning Program of Floating Population in Anhui Province” was formulated and piloted jointly by Family Planning Commission, Public Security Bureau and Business department and. In 1994, “Detailed Regulations on Family Planning Program of Floating Population in Anhui Province” was promulgated and implemented.
After 1992, leaders of 16 sub-provincial city governments signed the responsibility contracts of yearly population objective with the province government.
In 1993, the family planning index was included in the standard of comparatively well-to-do. The objective is that the family planning rate must be above 95% before the year of 2000.
Cadres are trained with the quantitative management of family planning to improve the implementation family planning program. In specific ways, the “adjusting strategy and focus on five changes” is generalized and extended. The five changes are to interfere early but not late, manage before pregnancy but not after pregnancy, manage into the deep field but not on the surface, manage quantitatively but not crudely, and manage frequently but not occasionally. In the key measures, the five rates are emphasize. In the macro-guidance, the “five of one” is extended. These “five” are a focus management, a test paper, a front, a team and a crew route.
In 1997, the pilot of “Integrated approach” covered 81 counties.
A sub-provincial pilot area and 20 pilot counties have been evaluated qualified.
In 1997, family planning teams were reorganized seriously, related files were sorted out, and contract management was extended. “Collected by township and managed by the county” on family planning charge was also advanced.
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