China Conducts 1982 Census

During 10 days in July, nearly a quarter of the human race was counted as the People's Republic of China, the world's most populous country, held its first modern census. Nearly 13 million (some 6 million trained census personnel and about 7 million volunteers) produced comprehensive information about the educational level of the entire population, its rural-urban distribution, and the success of the family planning programme. Responses were processed by computers provided by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), and while mainland China counted one thousand and eight million (1.8 billion, US) people in its 29 provinces, full census results will take years to analyze.

Crowd attending a meeting in the central square of Hohhot in preparation of the census. Posters in the background deal with the same subject.