The latest statistics from the Beijing Statistic Bureau shows the resident population in Beijing had increased from 1949's 4.201 mln to 14.927 mln in 2004, an increase of 2.6 times in the past 55 years.

Growth of resident population in Beijing can be divided into five periods:

-Period of rapid growth: 1950-1960. The resident population increased by 3.195 mln during the 11 years and hit 7.396 million in 1960.

-Period of fluctuation: 1960-1970, in which Beijing witnessed the slowest growth in resident population. The average annual increase was 45,000 in this period and the population hit 7.834 million in 1970.

-Rise of population growth: 1971-1978. With release of family planning policy that encourages less children and stresses prenatal care, the natural growth rate of population dropped notably. The resident population was 8.715 million in 1978.

-Period of stable growth: 1979-1990. The population in Beijing reached 10.86 mln in 1990 .

-Sharp rise of outsiders: 1991-2004. The resident population hit 14.927 mln in 2004. People from areas outside Beijing amounted to 63% in the increased population.

By People's Daily Online