Knock Knock: China’s Seventh National Census Arrives in Beijing

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Confused why someone is knocking on your door to ask you very personal questions? Never fear – you are not alone! China will launch the Seventh National Census on Nov 1, with surveys in some regions – including Beijing – already underway. Should you encounter one such census administrator, here’s a quick guide on what you need to know.

What information is included in China’s national census?

As dictated by the Statistics Law and Regulations on the National Census, the Seventh National Census will include basic population survey information per household. Items include age, sex, ethnicity, education level, relationships between household members, occupation, and home address, among others. This year’s survey will also include digital mapping, creating detailed records of district-level resident information.

What are the results used for?

China’s national census serves as a basis for public policymaking, providing Chinese leaders with an understanding of the country’s regional distribution and demographics – and offering an important baseline for other social, economic, and political goals. The national census also serves as a record of China’s rapid social and demographic changes over the last 70 years.

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Are foreign citizens also included in the survey?

Foreign nationals will be included in the 2020 survey, the second census to include foreign residents. In 2010, new regulations specified that all people, including residents of Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, or any other country, were to be included in survey information. This excludes foreign citizens transiting through China on either business or tourist visas or Chinese citizens who have settled abroad.

The 2010 survey found that nearly 600,000 foreigners were living in China by the end of 2010. The top three countries of origin for foreign residents were South Korea, the United States, and Japan. Among them, men were in the majority (at 56.62 percent), while 43.38 percent were women. Business and study were the top motivations reported for wanting to live in China.

What happens if I encounter a census taker?

Census takers are required to show certificates stating that they are official census representatives and are legally obligated to keep individual information confidential. It is not guaranteed that a census worker will speak English. Expect that they will ask for your name, age, gender, nationality, level of education, purpose for living in China, and duration of time spent in China.

How frequently does the census take place?

China conducts a census once every ten years, with six national censuses having been completed since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Previous censuses took place in 1953, 1964, 1982, 1990, 2000, and 2010. Throughout this period, China’s population has boomed dramatically to 600 million, 700 million, 1.03 billion, 1.16 billion, 1.29 billion, and 1.4 billion, respectively.

Each iteration of the survey has added new regulatory measures or survey questions. The 1964 census, for example, was the first to include education level and occupation.