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The Demographic Masculinization of China

Part of the book series: INED Population Studies ((INPS,volume 1))

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Abstract

China is now among the countries in the world with the highest proportion of men in its population. While this situation is not new, the sex ratio has become even more imbalanced over the past three decades. This atypical trend, a demographic consequence of multiple cultural, social and behavioural factors, puts China among the countries where the demographic situation of women relative to that of men is the most critical.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    For more information on the mortality transition and healthcare system reforms in China, see in particular Peng and Cambois (2002) and Hsiao and Liu (2002).

  2. 2.

    See also Banister (1987), Banister and Hill (2004) and Wang (2003).

  3. 3.

    For more details about the adjustment method used, see Huang (1993).

  4. 4.

    See the website http://www.cpirc.org.cn/

  5. 5.

    World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/globalatlas/DataQuery/ default.asp. Accessed 23 Nov 2006.

  6. 6.

    China’s average alcohol consumption is still far below that of France, the United Kingdom, Germany and the Russian Federation, which have the highest levels in the world (more than 10 l per adult per year).

  7. 7.

    FAO website. Available at http://www.fao.org/english/newsroom/news/2003/26919-en.html

  8. 8.

    While tobacco consumption is decreasing in developed countries, it is increasing significantly in developing countries. According to FAO, in 2010, developing countries accounted for 71 % of total tobacco consumption, up from 66 % in 1998. This growing share results from population growth and rising living standards, while the declining share of developed countries can be attributed partly to increasing awareness of the harmful health effects of tobacco and to prevention campaigns. Furthermore, China represents the biggest share of world demand, with a 37 % estimated share of world consumption in 2010 (data not available by sex).

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  1. Institut national d’études démographiques, 133 boulevard Davout, 75980, Paris Cedex 20, France

    Isabelle Attané

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  1. Isabelle Attané
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Attané, I. (2013). Overview. In: The Demographic Masculinization of China. INED Population Studies, vol 1. Springer, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-00236-1_1

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