China has started its once-in-a-decade census, an exercise that will form a basis for policy-making in the world’s most populous country. Six million census takers will try to visit some 400 million households over a 10-day period.
The exercise will cost about RMB700 million (US$104.6 million), with 90% of respondents to be asked 18 questions, including details about education and ethnic groups. The results will be released next April.
For the first time, China is counting people based on where they actually live rather than where they are registered under the household registration, or "hukou," system. The results will help measure the degree of China’s urbanization.
Hindustan Times reports census-takers are unlikely to have an easy time in a country with a deep suspicion of government officials and a large floating population of migrant workers who keep irregular hours and may live in temporary accommodation.
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