Six million workers will collect information door-to-door in the first census for 10 years. The results are expected to be published by the end of next year.

The census will be conducted in accordance with international practices and circumstances in China, according to Liu Changsong, deputy director of the Fifth National Census Office under the State Council.

China has conducted four national censuses since 1949 but, unlike the current one, the previous four were all done in July. The shift was made for practical reasons. In June and July there are often storms and floods, and it is very hot, which makes it difficult to collect information.

The last censuses were taken in 1953, 1964, 1982 and 1990.

For the first time, China will use internationally accepted methods in the fifth census. For example, door-to-door collectors will use two kinds of forms -- one with basic information and the other with more detailed information.

A randomly-selected 10 percent of the population will be asked to fill the form with detailed information, which covers 49 items.

The remaining 90 percent will just answer the simple one, which covers 19 items.

The detailed questionnaire includes questions such as “Does your household own a separate toilet?” and “Do your family members drink tap water or purified water?''

It is the first time China has included housing statistics in a census. The reason behind this is that housing data is an important measure of living standards. The United Nations recommends collecting such information, and it is compiled in many other countries, said Liu.

Software and equipment developed by the company Tsinghua Unisplendour will be used in the census, which will include the digital input of about 400 million survey forms.

The new equipment will increase efficiency in compiling the finished report.

The fifth census is getting strong support from governments at various levels. The central government will spend 500 million yuan (US$60 million) to help with the work, according to Liu. Local governments will also allocate funds for the census.

About 1.5 billion yuan (US$180 million) was spent on the fourth census. But Liu estimates the funds needed for the fifth census will be much greater.

(China Daily 11/1/2000)