Population Growth- Impact on the MDGs Baige Zhao, Ph.D. Vice minister National Population & Family Planning Commission, China 5 June 2006, UK Hearing

New Approach of the Chinese Government Shift from population control to human development Shift from simply paying concerns to population quantity to solving the population issue as a whole Strategy: promote economic development, keep the low fertility rate (replacement level), improve population quality in terms of health and education, improve population structure, promote rational population migration, safeguard population safety, and promote the overall development of the human beings.

Concept of Human Development Human development refers to the expansion of people’s capabilities and choices to lead lives they value. Human development advocates for people’s freedom to choose the lives they want, enhancing freedom is ultimately the goal of human development, the means to achieve it, and its guarantee for sustainability.

The supreme goal of human development is achieved through the “two-C” concept of development: the common development of all members of society and the comprehensive development of each individual. Mobilizing public enthusiasm for participating in social and economic advancement—rather than passively accepting development’s results—is therefore a linchpin of the “human- oriented” approach to development.

A society’s achievements in human development are measured by the human development index (HDI), a weighed index of three measures: 1) Life expectancy; 2) Level of education (measured by a combination of literacy rates and combined primary, secondary, and tertiary school enrollment ratios); 3) Level of economic development (measured by GDP per capita). Indicator of Human Development

Changes in China’s Human Development Index (HDI) Source: Based on data from the UNDP, 2003; 2005.

Changes in National, Urban & Rural HDIs, Source: China Human Development Report 2005

Changes in China’s Total Fertility Rate Source: China Population and Family Planning Data Manual 2004

Trends in per Capita Income Changes of Urban and Rural Residents (at variable prices) Source: China Human Development Report 2005

Number of Rural Poor

Public Expenditure on Education (100 Million RMB, Current Prices, ) Source: China Human Development Report 2005

Government Budget on Health expenditure Source: China Human Development Report 2005

Indicators of Human and Social Development in China Items/ Year Human Development Index Life Expectation at Birth MMR (100,000) IMR (‰) Adult Literacy Rate (%) Literacy Rate of Year Old(%) Source: Common Country Assessment 2004, Country Team in China

China’s Millennium Development Goals

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Population growth do has its impact on MDG. China’s population program has helped to achieve the sustainability. When population growth slows down, economy development quickens and HDI improves. Rational population growth enhance the human capital development and HDI improvement. China--- a country with the largest population shifts to a country with the largest human capitals Conclusion