The Population Status of Adolescents in China in 2020

Highlights

Adolescence, which takes place during the ages of 10–19 years, marks the beginning of many transitions – from childhood to adulthood, from school to the workplace and into society. Adolescents experience monumental changes in every aspect of their lives – physically, cognitively, emotionally and socially. Understanding the population status of adolescents can assist the government, communities and families to better respond to the specific characteristics and needs of adolescents with appropriate policies, services and support for them to reach their full potential and prepare for the future. The population census is a rich source of foundational data on adolescents, reflecting the key characteristics of sub-groups. Analysis of census data can enhance understanding of the challenges faced by adolescents and help inform more evidence-based decision making to address these challenges towards the realization of their rights. This publication describes and analyses the status of China’s adolescent population, using data from the 2020 National Population Census, previous censuses and population sample surveys.