Despite China's one-child policy the country saw a net rise of 10 million people in 2003, a government report said.
The report said that the 0.778% growth rate was still a cause for concern and it was likely that the one-child policy would continue until at least the middle of the century.
Most of the population growth is occurring in the countryside with urban centers such as Shanghai recording negative growth.
The favoring of male children over female children has led to a pronounced gender imbalance in many parts of the country and an aging population is expected to become an increasing burden on society.