China’s population is expected to reach 1.39 billion by the end of 2015 with those over 60 years of age reaching 200 million, state media reported, citing a senior government official. Li Bin, director of the National Population and Family Planning Commission, said the government estimates China’s urban population to top 700 million over the next five years, marking the first time the number of urban dwellers would exceed the rural population. Li said population growth would slow after 2015 but the country would still maintain a strong labor supply. China’s population totaled 1.32 billion by year-end 2008 – 2.5 times the population at the time of the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949.
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