Populations of Han, ethnic minorities rise
▶ Xinjiang releases census data for past decade, refuting rumors, slander
The population of Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region grew more than 18 percent over the past decade, the fourth fastest growth rate among the nation’s 31 provincial- level regions, and the populations of the Han and ethnic minorities have increased greatly with the latter accounting for more than 57 percent of the total, regional authorities announced on Monday.
The announcement came after some anti- China forces and media outlets used the population data from the seventh national census, which was released on May 13, as new ingredients to cook up their old lies of “genocide.”
As detailed demographic data, including the population of each ethnic group, birth rate and population by age group in the region, had not been released at that time, some media reports claimed that the rapid expansion of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps had contributed to the region’s 18.3 percent population growth in the past decade. Some even suspected that the Xinjiang regional government has falsified data on population.
The regional’s statistical bureau on Monday released a communiqué on the census data of Xinjiang from the seventh census, refuting the hype, rumors and vicious slander with detailed information and facts- based explanations.
As to why the regional population data from this census was inconsistent with that from 2010 to 2018 previously published by relevant research institutes, the official said that in line with international norms and practice, after obtaining the latest census data, relevant data for the years between the two censuses will be revised.
The 2021 China Statistical Abstract published the revised population data of all the provinces, regions and municipalities directly under the central government, which all showed adjustments, compared with the data published previously, the official said.
The population data for the Uygur ethnic group in 2018 published by Xinjiang, which was calculated by some research institutes based on relevant materials and sampling data, had some deviations and therefore needs revising according to the census results, the official explained.
The regional permanent population is 25,852,345, an increase of 18.52 percent compared with the sixth census in 2010.
Among the population of permanent residents in the region, 42.24 percent are Han ethnicity, 44.96 percent are Uygur ethnicity, and 12.8 percent are other ethnic minorities. Specifically, compared with the sixth census, there was an increase of 2,174,000, or 24.86 percent, of Han ethnicity from the seventh census, of which the Han population who had moved from other provinces increased by 1,948,000. The population of ethnic minorities increased by 1,865,000.
“The faster growth rate of the Han population in the region was the result of a large influx of migrant workers. Owing to the sustained social stability and rapid economic development in Xinjiang in recent years, there has been a substantial increase in the number of people who came to Xinjiang to invest and start businesses,” an official from the region said at Monday’s press conference.
Among the population of permanent residents in the region, 42.24 percent are Han ethnicity, 44.96 percent are Uygur ethnicity, and 12.8 percent are other ethnic minorities.