Ningxia
I. Basic Figures
II. Population Situation
1. Size and Distribution
In the sense of population size, Ningxia is quite small. To the Liberation in 1949, the population is only 1,197,500. After the establishment of the Autonomous Region in 1958, the population boomed very quickly. Till 1997, the total population of the region is 5,289,000, becoming the third from the bottom among all provinces and autonomous regions of the country, only more than Qinghai Province and Tibet Region.
The Hui Nationality is the largest ethnic group except the Han, and the percentage of Hui population of Ningxia in 1997 is 33.98%. Ningxia has no other sizable ethnic minority, and all of them put together occupy only 0.51% of the total.
Ningxia’ population distribution is uneven geographically, and so do the social and economic development levels. In those better-irrigated areas of the north with better natural conditions, the land is relatively densely populated. Whereas in dry land of the middle and high cold land of the south, people is sparely distributed.
2. Population History
As we mentioned before, Ningxia has experienced a population boom after the establishment of the Public in 1949. The procedure of booming can be divided into four stages, from a somehow very sharp increase to a rather stabilized one.
Stage one (1950-1959): a booming period. It was an unprecedented population increase in history, not only caused by in migration of 523,500 persons throughout the decade, but also the very high fertility, upper 40 per thousand in 6 years of the decade. As the result, the total population significantly increased from 1,197,500 of 1949 to 2,088,600 of 1959.
Stage two (1960-1962): the stagnant period. China then was in the time of economic difficulties caused by three-year natural disasters. Ningxia’ fertility reduced obviously and large amount of people moved out. Thus, negative growth emerged and the total population decreased to 1,988,100.
Stage three (1963-1982): The fast growing period. Then, China was experiencing the so called Cultural Revolution” and the Ningxia’s has completely no fertility regulation. Therefore, the Ningxia’s population in this period has a biggest increase that lasted for quite a long time. The average increase rate throughout the period is 3.47%, and the population almost doubled. Till 1982 the total number reached 3,930,400.
Stage four (1983-now) The Stabilized period. The whole region has been covered by family planning program. The fertility was markedly reduced, although still higher than the mean level of the whole country. The total population of 1997 is 5,289,000, that is 632,000 more than the figure of 1990.
3. Population Structure by Sex and Age
From 50s-90s, the sex rate of Ningxia’s total population has experienced three trends: firstly, increase, later, sharp decrease, and eventually slow decrease. The sex ratio increased from 115.55 of 1953 to 117.99 of 1960. Till 1970, the ratio decreased to 108.31. Then, the ratio decreased continuously to 105.45 of 1990, which is 0.59 % lower than the mean level of the whole country. The ratio of 1997 is 105.68.
In 80s and the decades before, obvious variations can be observed between rural and urban areas and parts of the Region. For instance, townships have the highest sex ratio, cities the lower, and counties the lowest. Shizuishan coal mine district once has a high sex ratio of 114.65 in 1982, but reduced to normal soon after the households registration system was switched. Since 1990, the sex ratio between areas tend to be normal, and difference between rural and urban has been gradually fade away. In 1997, sex ratio of the total population of t he Region is 105.68.
Apart from the figure of 1964 (101.09), Ningxia’s sex ratio at birth for five decades is almost within the range of normal. Since 1990s, the ratio stabilized at 105-106, except 1997, when it raised to 109.
4. Fertility Level and Changes
The reproduction pattern of Ningxia is now in the course of a turning, from continuous increase to stabilization. In the year of 1997, the fertility of the whole Region is 18.90 per thousand, and the natural increase rate 13.47 per thousand. Obvious differences can be observed between mountainous areas and plain areas: fertility of mountainous areas is 21.34 per thousand, natural increase rate is 15.96 per thousand, and family planning rate 73.80 %. While plain areas has a fertility of 14.67 per thousand, natural increase rate of 9.72 per thousand, and family planning rate of 90.65 %. 1997 is the twelfth years on a fertility peak in succession. Counties in Southern mountainous part of Ningxia are viewed as the most difficulty areas for fertility regulation. Generally, growth rates of minorities are higher than Han Nationality. Comparing to figures of 1996, the population of Hui and all other minorities respectively increased 2.01% and 5.52 %, while the Population of Han only increased by 1.18% in the same year.
5. Mortality and Life Expectancy
During the past half century, the death rate of Ningxia decreased sharply, from 22.4 per thousand of 1952, to 5.43 per thousand of 1997. Before the Liberation of 1949, the mortality of Ningxia is even higher than 30 per thousand, and the infant death rate is higher than 200 per thousand. Obvious variations can also be observed between districts: the Northern part has a lower mortality while the Southern part a higher one, and the mortality of rural areas is higher than that of urban. The mortality curve of Ningxia presented a J-shape, owing to an obvious postpone of death age and greatly reducing of infant death rate.
The average life expectancy of Ningxia Population in 1990 is 68.62, among which male is 67.83 while female is 69.89, which is respectively lower than the mean levels of the whole country by 0.27 and 1.75.
6. Marriage Status, Family Size and Type
Marriage of Ningxia is characterized by low rate of never-married, high rate of married, low rate of widowhood, and low rate of divorce. Among never-married, there are more males than females, more urban inhabitants than rural ones, more plain people than mountain people, and more primary school graduates than illiterates and semi-illiterates. The spouse rate of Ningxia by age groups presents somehow a U-shape, caused by higher spouse rates in groups of female under 39 and groups of male above 40. Hui’s spouse rates in general are higher than Han and all other nationalities. Most husbands are older than wives, and the mean age differential between husbands and wives is 3.87 years. The rate of widowhood increases in higher age groups, with more females than males.
As for divorce rates, male Han is higher than Hui, but lower than other minorities. Whereas female Han’s rate is lower than Hui as well as all other minorities. Differentials can also be find between rural and urban. Both male and female in urban has high rates than rural. In recent years, non- marriage rates of male increased while the rates of female are decreasing which is accompanied by the trend of gradually postponed age of marriage of female. It can be related with the improvement of women’s social status and education.
The size of households is shrinking, but differs by urban and rural. In 1990, the average size of each household in Ningxia is 4.57 persons, while in 1997 it reduced to 4.11 persons. Inhabitant pattern is changing, and nuclear family increased quickly. For instance, in 1990, nuclear family occupies 75.34% of the total, which increased by 2.73 compared with the figure of 1982. While in 1997, the percentage of nuclear family is 80%. The percentage of two-generation household is 71.8%, and one generation household is 8.2%. Compared with the figure of 1982, single person household in 1990 decreased by 8.16%, occupies 2.25% of the total. It can be explained by relating with the trend of decrease in non-married. The single person household increased a little to 3.3% in 1997. The percentage of stem family household is rather stable in 1990s, that is 15.41% in 1990 and 16.7% in 1997.
7. Aging of Population
From the 1949 to 1982, the age structure pattern of Ningxia Region is young. Since carrying out family planning program in 1982, age structure transferred significantly, although differential between urban and rural still exists. Till 1990, age structure of urban areas has transferred into the “adult pattern”, while in rural areas the structure remains as the “pattern of children”. In 1997, the age structure of Ningxia is: 0-14 age group occupies 29.53% of the total, age group of 15-64 is 66.18%, age group of 65 and plus 4.29%. The ratio of dependants /providers of the total population is 51.11%, higher than 47.09%, the mean level of the country in the same year. The ratio of child/provider and aged/provider are respectively 44.63% and 6.48%.
8. Population Quality
Along with the sharp reduction of the rate of illiteracy and semi-illiteracy, the education level of Ningxia population raised dramatically. For instance, the ratio of university graduates/illiteracy increased from 7.26 of 1990 to 14.2 of 1997. But the illiteracy rate is still quite high: 23.1% in 1997, among which, 67.3% are women.
In Ningxia Region, difference in education levels can be find by ethnic groups. The Hui Nationality has the lowest education level, the Han’s is higher than Hui, and all other nationalities together are the highest. In 1990, the illiteracy rate of all other nationalities is 10.08%, and the mean per capita education year is 7.3 years. Han has the illiteracy rate of 26.36% and mean education year is 5.6 years. The illiteracy rate of Hui is as high as 50.40%, and the mean education year 3.2 years.
Among Hui Population, the percentage of primary graduate is 31.12%, junior middle school graduate 18.07%, senior middle school graduate 14.21%, university graduate 12.47%. The university graduate/illiteracy ratio is 2.01.
9. Migration and Population Floating
According to statistics of household registration department of the Government, the migrated person around the Region in 1997 is 98,052. It decreased by absolute value of 12, 671, or by relative value of 11.44%, compared to the figure of 1996. Economic activities are reported as the main reason for these migrations, such as laboring, business, and so on, occupying 84% of the total. Other reasons for move out are official business trip, hospitalization, and relative or friend visiting. Most migrations last less than one year. Among migrants, the percentage of male is 70.95%, much higher than female’s of 29.05%. Migration within the Region is 54%, more than inter-provincial migration.
Comparatively speaking, the population and environment of Ningxia is good. There are many rich energy mines and other kinds of non-metal mines. The Huanghe River waters the vast farm land and the long sunshine time of the region is especially good for agricultural crops and stock raising. Because these good conditions are so unevenly distributed and the fact that poorer the places are, the higher fertility they have. There are great disparities between the Southern and Northern parts of the Region. In plain areas of the North, per capita farm land is relatively more therefore has bigger room for development. Moreover, the profitable irrigation project to a great extent makes up the water shortage caused by low precipitation. But when turning our eyes on the mountainous areas of the South, it seems that the tension between land and the population it supports is becoming more and more serious. That is caused by the following factor: Firstly, it is very difficult to fertilize mountainous land; secondly, natural disasters happen frequently, and thirdly, very high fertility. These factors now have formed a vicious circle.
Just because of lacking water, both surface water and underground water are far from enough, Ningxia belongs to one of the poorest regions China. The precipitation in the Region is very low but is evaporated quickly all year round. To improve the situation, The Central Government helped Ningxia to get loans from the World Bank so as to build a tremendous irrigation project, which will greatly improve the ecosystem and natural environment of the dry land of Ningxia. An important fact should be noted here is that the advantages be brought about by these efforts might likely be counteracted by the high fertility of the Region if it have been continued.
III. Family Planning
As a remote and mountainous Region, Ningxia is backward culturally and economically. It did carry out family planning for quite a long time after the Liberation, early marriage, early childbearing, and unchecked birth are quite common. Since implementation of family planning in 1972, Ningxia has experienced 4 stages:
During the stage, family planning projects focused on knowledge dissemination. Started from urban areas and Han nationality settled areas gradually spread to rural and Hui inhabited areas. In Sep. 1972, a family planning leading group was set up under the Autonomous Region Government. Then, family planning leading groups were established at each administrative level, like districts, cities, and counties. A slogan like this was put forward in 1975: “Each urban couple are advocated to have two children, in plain areas each peasant couple are advocated to have 2-3 children, while in mountain areas each peasant couple are advocated to have 3-4 children. They had better have a 3-years interval between births. ”
2.Transition Stage (1979-1985)
Within this period, family planning of Ningxia transferred into a new form: Combing specific practice of Ningxia with the policy of the central Government, some detailed regulations were stipulated, organizations were established and strengthened, knowledge dissemination continued, and grassroots level was stressed as the focus of the Project. For instance, in June, 1980, The local Government stipulated “ The Trail Edition of Family Planning Regulations by Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region”, which required late marriage, late childbearing, good child bearing and rearing. The regulations were revised in 1982, and since then the family planning regulations of the Region were formed: “ For government officials, state employed workers, and urban inhabitants, one couple was advocated to have only child. For peasants, one couple was advocated to have one, and sometimes two children, whereas for those minorities inhabiting in Southern mountainous areas, one couple was advocated to have one or two, at most three children.” Family planning of Ningxia paid great attention to works at grassroots level, such as training of family planning worker, and so on.
3.Institulization (1986-1988)
According to the spirit of the Central Government, about the family planning for minorities of China, Ningxia Autonomous Region issued family planing regulations, < Temporary Family Planning Regulations of Ningxia Autonomous Region> for local use. In 8 counties of Southern mountainous areas, family planing project was combined with aid-the-poor program. In settlements of Hui inhabitants, implementation of family planning become much easier when Muslim clergymen were admitted into local Associations of Family Planning, since they usually played an active role in spreading birth control ideals.
In Dec. 28, 1990, the 6th People’s Congress discussed and approved <Family Planning Provision of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region>, which strengthened the differences in regulations between rural and urban, mountainous and plain areas, and nationalities. As the result, family planning was significantly improved. For instance, a few management rules on drifting population were put forward, family planning finance input increased, staff was trained, and contraceptive knowledge was further spread, etc.
After great effort for two decades, Ningxia’s family planning has made significant and gratifying progress, which was shown by the following examples.
1). The people’s reproduction ideals have greatly changed. Larger percent of them, including Han, Hui and other minorities, adopted the policy on their own initiatives. Till the end of 1997, the contraceptive prevalence rate of Ningxia Region is 91.12%, family planning prevalence rate is 81.20%, and acceptance rate of only-child certificates is 12.5%.
2) Population explosion was brought under control, which reduced the great pressure on environment, social and economic development.
3) Family planning in mountainous areas has also progressed greatly. The fertility of 8 counties of the Southern part of Ningxia in 1993 is 22.92 per thousand, and the natural growth rate 17.52 per thousand, which respectively reduced by 20.21 and 17.52 per thousand. In 1997, the fertility of the 8 counties of the Southern part is 21.34%, and natural growth rate 15.96%.
Reference:
1．"Data Year Book of Ningxia", China Statistical Press, 1998
2．"Demographic Statistics Year Book of China: 1998", China Statistical Press, 1998
3．"Statistical Year Book by Nationality: 1998", Nationality Press, 1998
4．"Population of China at Turning of Century: Ningxia",
China Statistical Press, 1998
5．"China Family Planning Year Book:1998", Edited by the State Family Planning Commission, 1998
6．"Atlas of People's Republic of China", China Map Press, 1999
7．"China Population in 1997", Population and Social Scientific & Technological Statistical Division under the State Statistical Bureau, China Statistical Press, 1998
8．"Family Planning in China", Chief-Edited by Peng Peiyun, China Population Press, 1997