Xinjiang Population Maintains Steady Growth

Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, the population of Xinjiang, particularly that of its ethnic minorities, has grown fast in both size and quality, and life expectancy has seen a substantial increase, according to the white paper Xinjiang Population Dynamics and Data recently released by the State Council Information Office.

Xinjiang’s population stood at 4.33 million in 1949. By the time of the seventh national census in 2020, it had increased to 25.85 million, among which the Han ethnic group numbered 10.92 million, and ethnic minorities 14.93 million, compared with 4.45 million in 1953.

Since the founding of the PRC, the Uygur population has maintained a relatively high growth rate. During the first two decades of the 21st century, it increased at a compound annual growth rate of 1.67 percent, which was much higher than that of the country’s ethnic minority population, which stood at 0.83 percent.

The economic, social, and family status of women of all ethnic groups has improved, giving them more opportunities to obtain secondary and higher education, and take an active part in economic and social life. The number and proportion of women in employment have significantly increased. In 2019 for example, 228,100 women joined the workforce in cities and towns across Xinjiang, accounting for 47.43 percent of the total newly employed in urban areas.