Introduction
China is the third-largest country in the world, and also the most populous. Since the 1980s, China has made tremendous gains in improving living standards, reducing poverty and maintaining strong economic growth.
While the growth of the economy has led to unprecedented wealth for many, this has in turn led to a culture of materialism among the current generation. However, even as many are getting richer, there are still those who are living in poverty.
| Population (2010) 1 | 1.34 billion |
| Major languages2 (number of speakers) |
Mandarin (840 million) |
| Chinese, Yue (52 million) | |
| Chinese, Jinyu (46 million) | |
| Main religions3 (percentage of total population) |
Non-religious (44.36%) |
| Chinese (28.5%) | |
| Buddhist (12.5%) | |
| Christian + Others (14.64%) | |
| Main UPGs4 (Unreached People Groups) |
Han Chinese (36 million) |
| Hakka (33.5 million) | |
| Manchu (13.4 million) |
1. World Population Data Sheet, 2010
2. www.ethnologue.com
3. Operation World 7th Edition, 2010
4. Joshua Project
