Shifting population has played a decisive part in Beijing's fast population growth these years. In the 1980s, no more than 50,000 people moved to Beijing every year, but the figure has jumped to 436 thousand currently; however, experts believe that population in Beijing will not grow without limit. It might start to drop after 2008.

According to Beijing Evening Post, it is estimated that Beijing's population will grow to some 18 million by 2020.

The population of Beijing in 2005 was 15.38 million, of which 11.807 million were permanent residents and the rest were of the shifting population. Though the population of labor forces will keep growing before 2030, the aging trend of Beijing afterwards will be irreversible.

(Chinanews.cn January 8, 2007)