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China Information » The People in China

The People in China

Of the fifty-five or fifty-six ethnic groups of people in China, about 92 percent of them qualify as ethnic Han people. The language of the Han people is Mandarin while other groups have their own languages. Still, all languages are able to read the universal written Chinese script. They simply translate what they read into the meaning their own language has for the script.

The Han people are found all over the country although there are pockets in which the very numerous Han people are in a minority. The non-Han are sometimes referred to as non-Chinese and include the Thai-speaking Zhuang, the Muslim Hui, the Uigurs, those in Tibet areas, the Yi or Lolo people, the Miao who live in the mountainous areas of South China, the Koreans in the Manchuria area and the Mongols in the Mongolian Steppes.

The total population of China, including the non-Han groups, is between 1.32 billion and 1.5 billion. The number is somewhat unclear. Although this makes China the most populated country on Earth, the population control attempts are succeeding to a great degree, resulting in a fast-aging China. Since most couples are restrained as to how many children they may have, the few children are sometimes considered as 'little emperors' who have too many parents and grandparents for their own good.

Regardless of the 'little emperor' syndrome, there is great respect in China for older people. The Chinese tend to be a harmonious type of people with respect for elders, love for children and a tendency to avoid confrontations.

Because of more recent contact with the outside world, especially the Western world, there is an undercurrent of moving toward western styles and entertainment. The youth in China tend to admire western freedoms and are sometimes adopting western nicknames for themselves, using their Chinese names only in official Chinese documents. Christmas and other western holidays are becoming more popular among the Chinese young people.

Families, too, are undergoing change in China. Rather than the husband of a household making all final decisions, couples tend to work together for goals which are agreeable to both the husband and wife.

Officially, ethnic discrimination is prohibited in China. Equality is a part of the harmony which Chinese people seek. Thus, even non-Han groups are considered equal to the Hans. This should make China a successful melting-pot of ethnic groups.

Despite the Red Guard's destruction of religious temples and other religious sites in the past, religion is growing in China, although slowly. Still, there are around 1.2 billion atheists in China. The government has traditionally discouraged the practice of religion.

Social measures are slow to reach the average Chinese citizen. About 109 million Chinese have health insurance now. About 4 million people in the country actually receive unemployment benefits. Still, the Chinese now enjoy a higher standard of living than previously. Women's rights, improved educational facilities and better care for senior citizens are among the improvements China has made.

This country full of gentle and harmonious people is gradually becoming a world leader in human rights.