Ningxia Hui |
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I. Basic Data |
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1. Name: Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 2. Area: 66,000 square kilometers 3. Population: 5.62 million (the 2000 population census) 4. Capital: Yinchuan 5. Geography: Situated in the eastern part of the inland northwest, Xingxia is at the Great Bend of the Huanghe River. Located between 104.17° E - 107.38° E longtitude and 35.14° N - 39.23° N latitude, northern Ningxia is surrounded by Inner Mongolia while the southern part is bounded by Gansu Province and on the east by Shanxi Province. The whole region is 2,000 meters above sea level, although generally the southern part is higher than the northern. The climate is characterized by cold weather in the south, warmer weather in the north as well as wet weather in the south and dry weather in the north. 6. Natural Resources: Because of its altitude and cold weather, Ningxia's natural conditions are relatively adverse: in the middle part, there is a large area of dry land and desert. Most of the north is plains; the percentage of forest-covered land is only 4.85%. Soil erosion is commonplace in the region. Thanks to the Huanghe River passing through the Wuyin plain of the North of Ningxia, several sets of ancient irrigation canal built in the Qin and Han Dynasties of about 2,000 years ago are still effective for agriculture. 7. Economy: Located in a remote area of the country, stock raising and agriculture are the main economic activities. In 1997, the gross domestic product was 26.5 billion Yuan, the total gross output value of industry and agriculture, forestry and fishery was 37.169 billion Yuan, and per capita gross domestic product was 4,839 Yuan. The total value of exports and imports for the same year was US$442,920, but the total financial income of the region was 2.82 billion Yuan. The total grain product was 2,527,400 tons. The Great Bend of the Yellow River is famous for its rich and varied products, e.g. several special plants for medicinal use, sheepskin, and precious stones. 8. People's life: At the end of 2000, Ningxia had a labor force of 3,809,000 persons, of whom 2,755,000 were employed: these represented 49.70% of the total population and 72.13% of the total labor force. The average annual wage of each government-employed worker was 8,681 Yuan. The per capita disposable income of urban residents was 4,912 Yuan, while per capita net income of peasants was 1,724 Yuan. The per capita consumption value of urban residents was 4,200.5 Yuan, while the value of rural residents was 1,417.1 Yuan. Per capita housing in cities and towns was 13.8 m2, while in rural areas, it was 18 m2. Hospital beds per 10,000 persons totaled 23.5, and doctors per 10,000 persons 18.0. 9. Education: Education was once quite backward before the establishment of the Autonomous Region in 1958: then it had no university at all. Since then, however, tremendous and continuous progress has been made. Up to 2000, Ningxia has set up five colleges and universities, with 17,163 students enrolled and teaches numbering 1,894 persons; 74 secondary vocational schools with 41,719 students and of 3,532 teachers; 433 middle schools with 318,308 students and 20,145 teachers; 3,267 primary schools with 657,352 pupils and 34,694 teachers. The total enrollment rate of school age children has reached 97.26%. Besides, higher education and vocational education for adults have also progressed significantly. |
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II. Population Situation |
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1. Size and Distribution In the terms of population size, Ningxia is quite small. To the time of the establishment of the People's Republic in 1949, the population was only 1.198 million. After the establishment of the Autonomous Region in 1958, the population boomed very quickly. In 1997, the total population of the region was 5.62 million, becoming the third smallest among the provinces and autonomous regions of the country; only Qinghai Province and Tibet are smaller in population size than Ningxia. The Hui nationality is the largest ethnic group there, except for the Han. The percentage of the Hui population in 1997 was 33.98%. Ningxia has no other sizable ethnic minority; all of them put together constitute only 0.51% of the total. Ningxia's population distribution is uneven geographically, and so are its social and economic development levels. In those better-irrigated areas of the north, having better natural conditions, the land is relatively densely populated. Whereas in dryland areas of the middle and high altitude cold land areas of the south, people are sparcely distributed. In 2000, the population density was 108 persons/sq.km. 2. Population History As mentioned previously, Ningxia experienced a population boom after the establishment of the People's Republic in 1949. The boom can be divided into four stages, from a somewhat very sharp increase to a rather stabilized one. Stage one (1950 - 1959): a boom period for population increase, it was unprecedented in the province's history. It was caused by the in-migration of 523,500 persons throughout the decade, and by very high fertility, upwards of 40 per 1,000 in six years of the decade. As a result, the total population increased significantly from 1,197,500 in 1949 to 2,088,600 in 1959. Stage two (1960 - 1962): the stagnant period. China then was in a time of economic difficulties caused by three years of natural disasters. Ningxia's fertility reduced markedly and a large number of people moved out. Thus, negative growth emerged and the total population decreased to 1,988,100. Stage three (1963 - 1982): a fast growing period. At this time, China was experiencing the "Cultural Revolution" and Ningxia had no fertility control regulations in place. Therefore, Ningxia's population in this period recorded a huge increase that lasted for quite a long time. The average increase rate throughout the period was 3.47%, and the population almost doubled. In 1982, the total number reached 3,930,400. Stage four (1983 - present): a period of stability. The whole region has been covered by the family planning program. Fertility was markedly reduced, although it is still higher than the mean level of the rest of the country. The total population in 2000 was 5.62 million, that is 0.96 million more than the total 4.66 in 1990. Comparison between 2000 and 1990, growth rate was 20.72% and annual growth rate was 1.84%. 3. Population Structure by Sex and Age From the 1950s to the 1990s, the sex ratio of Ningxia's total population experienced three trends: firstly, increase, later, sharp decrease, and eventually slow decrease. The sex ratio increased from 115.55 in 1953 to 117.99 in 1960. In 1970, the ratio decreased to 108.31. Then, the ratio decreased continuously to 105.45 in 1990, which is 0.59 % lower than the mean level for the whole country. In the 1980s and the decades before, obvious variations could be observed between rural and urban areas and parts of the region. For instance, townships have the highest sex ratio, cities a lower ratio, and counties the lowest. The Shizuishan coal mine district once has a high sex ratio of 114.65 in 1982, but it dropped to normal soon after the households registration system was switched. Since 1990, the sex ratio between areas tends to be normal, and the difference between rural and urban areas has gradually faded away. In 1997, the sex ratio of the total population of the region was 105.28. Apart from the figure for 1964 (101.09), Ningxia's sex ratio at birth for five decades was almost within the normal range. Since the 1990s, the ratio stabilized at 105 - 106, except for 1997, when it increased to 109. 4. Fertility Level and Changes The reproduction pattern of Ningxia is now in the course of turning from one characterized by continuous increase to stabilization. In 2000, the birth rate of the whole region was 16.49 per 1,000, and the natural growth rate was 11.92 per 1,000. In 1997, obvious differences can be observed between mountain areas and plain areas: the birth rate of the mountain area was 21.34 per 1,000, the natural growth rate was 15.96 per 1,000, and family planning acceptance rate was 73.80 %, while in plain areas, the birth rate was 14.67 per 1,000, a natural growth rate was 9.72 per 1,000, and the family planning acceptance rate of 90.65%. The year 1997 was the twelfth year of successive fertility peaks. Counties in the southern mountainous part of Ningxia were viewed as the most difficult areas for fertility regulation. Generally, growth rates of minorities are higher than those of the Han majority. Compared to figures for 1996, the population of the Hui and all other minorities respectively increased 2.01% and 5.52 %, while the Han population increased only by 1.18% in the same year. 5. Mortality and Life Expectancy During the past half century, the death rate of Ningxia decreased sharply, from 22.4 per 1,000 in 1952 to 4.57 per 1,000 in 2000. Before the establishment of the People's Republic in 1949, the mortality of Ningxia was even higher than 30 per 1,000, and the infant death rate was higher than 200 per 1,000. Obvious variations can also be observed between districts: the northern part has a lower mortality while the southern part a higher one, and the mortality of rural areas is higher than that of urban areas. The mortality curve of Ningxia presented a J-shape, owing to an obvious postponement of age at death and a great reduction in the infant mortality rate. According to the 1990 population census, the average life expectancy of Ningxia's population was 66.94 years, for males 65.95 and females 68.05. 6. Marriage Status, Family Size and Type Marriage in Ningxia is characterized by a low rate of those who never married, a high rate of marriage, low rate of widowhood, and low rate of divorce. Among the never-married, there are more males than females, more urban inhabitants than rural ones, more plains people than mountain people, and more primary school graduates than illiterates and semi-literates. The spouse rate of Ningxia by age group presents a U-shape curve, caused by higher spousal rates in groups of females under 39 years and males above 40. Hui's spousal rates in general are higher than that of the Han and all other nationalities. Most husbands are older than their wives, and the mean age differential between husbands and wives is 3.87 years. The rate of widowhood increases in higher age groups, with more females than males. As for divorce rates, among male Hans it is higher than among the Hui, but lower than that of other minorities, whereas the divorce rate among female Hans is lower than among their Hui sisters as well as all other minorities. Differentials can also be found between rural and urban areas. Both males and females in urban areas have higher rates than their rural counterparts. In recent years, non-marriage rates of males increased while the rates of females are decreasing which is accompanied by a trend toward gradually postponed age at marriage of females, which can be related to the improvement of women's social status and education. In 1999, among the 3.764 million population in the 15 and above group, unmarried people accounted 22.00%, the first marriage having spouses people accounted 71.52%, the non-first marriages having spouses people accounted 1.51%, the divorced people accounted 0.80%, and the widowed people accounted 4.20%. The size of households is shrinking, and differs by urban and rural area of residence. In 1990, the average size of each household in Ningxia was 4.57 persons, while in 2000 it declined to 3.80 persons; also, the number of nuclear families increased quickly. For instance, in 1990, the nuclear family occupied 75.34% of the total, which increased by 2.73% compared with the figure for 1982. While in 1997, the percentage of nuclear families was 80%. The percentage of two-generation household was 71.8%, and one generation household accounted for 8.2% of the total. Compared with the figure in 1982, single-person households in 1990 decreased by 8.16%, accounting for 2.25% of the total. This can be explained by relating it to the trend toward a decrease in those non-married. Single person households increased a little, to 3.3% in 1997. The percentage of stem family households was rather stable in the 1990s, that is 15.41% in 1990 and 16.7% in 1997. 7. Aging of the Population From 1949 to 1982, the age structure pattern of Ningxia was young. Since carrying out the family planning program in 1982, there were significant age structure changes, although the differential between urban and rural areas still exists. In 1990, the age structure of the population in urban areas entered the "adult pattern", while in rural areas the structure remains as the "children pattern". In 2000, the age structure of Ningxia was as follows: the 0 - 14 age group accounted for 28.38% of the total, the age group 15 - 64 accounted for 67.15%, and the age group 65 and older accounted for 4.47%. The ratio of dependants to providers in the total population was 49.07%, which was higher than 42.5647.09%, the mean level of the country in the same year. The young age dependency ratio to old age dependency was respectively 42.44% and 6.63%. 8. Population Quality Along with a sharp reduction in the rate of illiteracy and semi-literacy, the education level of the Ningxia population rose dramatically. For instance, the illiterate rate was 22.06% in 1990, but it was 13.40% in 2000, down 8.66%. In Ningxia, the difference in education levels can be found by ethnic group. The Hui nationality has the lowest education level, the Han's is higher than Hui, and all other nationalities together are the highest. In 1990, the illiterate rate of all other nationalities was 10.08%, and the mean per capita years of education was 7.3 years. The Han had an illiterate rate of 26.36% and mean years of education was 5.6 years. The illiteracy rate of the Hui was as high as 50.40%, and the mean years of education 3.2 years. Among the Hui population, the percentage of primary school graduates was 31.12%, junior middle school graduates 18.07%, senior middle school graduates 14.21%, and university graduates 12.47%. The ratio of university graduates to illiterates was 2.01. 9. Migration and the Floating Population According to statistics from the government's household registration department, the number of migrants in the region in 1997 was 98,052. It decreased in absolute number by 12,671, or 11.44%, compared with the figure for 1996. Economic activities were reported as the main reason for these migrations; these activities included laboring, business, and so on, all of which accounted for 84% of the total. Other reasons for move out were official business trips, hospitalization, and visiting relatives or friends. Most migrations lasted less than one year. Of the migrants, the percentage of males was 70.95%, much higher than that of females at 29.05%. Migration within the region was 54%, more than the level of inter-provincial migration. The net migration rate was 13.59 per 1,000 in 2000. 10. Population, Resources and the Environment Comparatively speaking, the population and environment of Ningxia is good. There are many rich energy mines and other kinds of non-metal mines. The Huanghe River waters the region's vast farmland and its long period of sunshine is especially good for agricultural crops and stock raising. Because these good conditions are so unevenly distributed and the fact that the poorer the places are, the higher is the human fertility they have. There are great disparities between the southern and northern parts of the region. In the plain area of the north, per capita farmland is relatively larger; therefore, there is more room for development. Moreover, a profitable irrigation project to a great extent makes up for the water shortage caused by low precipitation. But when turning our eyes to the mountainous areas of the south, it seems that the tension between land and the population it supports is becoming more and more serious. That is caused by the following factor: Firstly, it is very difficult to fertilize mountainous land; secondly, natural disasters happen frequently, and thirdly, there is very high human fertility. These factors now have formed a vicious circle. Because it lacks water, and surface water and underground water are far from enough, Ningxia belongs to one of the poorest regions of China. The precipitation in the region is very low and what rainfall there is evaporates quickly all year round. To improve the situation, the Central Government helped Ningxia to get loans from the World Bank so as to build a very large irrigation project, which will greatly improve the ecosystem and natural environment of the dryland areas of Ningxia. An important fact that should be noted here relates to the advantages brought about by these efforts are likely to be counteracted by the high fertility of the region, if it were to continue at high rates annually. |
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III. Family Planning |
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As a remote and mountainous region, Ningxia is backward culturally and economically. It did carry out family planning for quite a long time after 1949, but early marriage, early childbearing, and unchecked birth are quite common. Since implementation of family planning in 1972, Ningxia has experienced four stages: Knowledge Dissemination Stage (1972 - 1978) During this stage, family planning projects focused on knowledge dissemination. Starting from urban areas and the Han nationality living in settled areas, it gradually spread to rural area and those inhabited by Huis. In September 1972, a family planning leading group was set up under the Autonomous Region Government. Then, family planning leading groups were established at each administrative level, e.g. districts, cities, and counties. A slogan was announced in 1975: "Each urban couple is advocated to have two children, in the plains areas each peasant couple is advocated to have 2-3 children, while in mountain areas each peasant couple is advocated to have 3-4 children, all with a three-year interval between births". Transition Stage (1979 - 1985) Within this period, family planning in Ningxia was transformed into a new form: combining the specific practice of Ningxia with the policy of the central government, some detailed regulations were stipulated, organizations were established and strengthened, knowledge dissemination continued, and it was emphasized that people at the grassroots level were the focus of the Project. For instance, in June 1980, the local government stipulated "The Trial Edition of Family Planning Regulations by Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region", which required late marriage, late childbearing, good childbearing and rearing. The regulations were revised in 1982, and since then the family planning regulations of the Region were formed as follows: "For government officials, state employed workers, and urban inhabitants, one couple is advocated to have only one child. For peasants, one couple is advocated to have one, and sometimes two children, whereas for those minorities inhabiting the southern mountainous areas, one couple is advocated to have one or two, or at most three children." Family planning in Ningxia paid great attention to work at the grassroots level, such as training of family planning workers, and so on. Institutional (1986 - 1988) According to the spirit of the Central Government, Ningxia Autonomous Region issued family planning regulations about family planning for minorities: "Temporary Family Planning Regulations of Ningxia Autonomous Region". In eight counties of the southern mountainous area, the family planning project was combined with an aid-the-poor program. In settlements of Hui inhabitants, implementation of family planning became much easier when Muslim clergymen were admitted into local Family Planning Associations, since they usually played an active role in spreading birth control ideals. Improvement (1989 to present) On December 28, 1990, the Sixth People's Congress discussed and approved "Family Planning Provision of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region", which strengthened the differences in regulations between rural and urban, mountainous and plain areas, and nationalities. As a result, family planning was significantly improved. For instance, a few management rules on the floating population were put forward, family planning finance input increased, staff were trained, and contraceptive knowledge was spread further, etc. After great effort over two decades, Ningxia's family planning program has made significant and gratifying progress, which is shown by the following examples.
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