By Gu Tian’an & Wang Weijin, Institute of Public Administration and Human Resources, DRC

Research Report, No.173, 2020 (Total 5917) 2020-7-7

Abstract: China is a country with a large population of children. The national census is an important source of child population statistics and the basis for a comprehensive and accurate understanding of childhood development. The current economic and social transformation has set forth new requirements for statistical caliber, survey indicators, survey technology, open sharing, development and utilization of China’s child population statistics. High-quality child statistics are needed for optimizing the child policy, improving the child-related public service system, and providing accurate support for migrant and left-behind children. There are still some problems in China’s population census, such as the inaccurate number of children, insufficient indicators of child health and education, failure of revelation in independent survey data , and the inadequate use of new technologies. The seventh population census in 2020 is an important opportunity to fully grasp the current and future demographic pattern of China’s child population. In this census we need to perfect the statistical caliber, add key indicators, strengthen data disclosure, improve scientific and technological support, raise the data quality of China’s child population, and better serve childhood-related tasks including issues such as reform, development and governance.

Keywords: The Seventh National Census, child statistics, national governance