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China's Population, Cultivated Land and Grain |
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| Year | Population |
Cultivated Land
(Million Mu) |
Per Capita
share (Mu) |
Grain Yield
(Kg per Mu) |
Per Capita
Output (Kg) |
| 1741 | 143,410,000 | 588 | 4.1 | 140 | 574 |
| 1840 | 412,810,000 | 842 | 2.1 | 150 | over 300 |
| Late 1940 | 455,590,000 | 1275 | 2.7 | 110 | around 300 |
| 1952 | 574,820,000 | 1860 | 3.2 | 90 | around 280 |
| 1962 | 672,950,000 | 1820 | 2.7 | 90 | 240 |
| 1979 | 975,420,000 | 1810 | 1.8 | 180 | 340 |
| 1985 | 1,050,440,000 | 1450 | 1.4 | 260 | 365 |
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Here we have several factors interacting. As the population increases from
1741 to 1952 we see a major increase in cultivated land from 588,000,000 Mu (an
acre is roughly six Mu) to 1,800,000,000 Mu as more of China is populated. The
Grain yield per Mu goes down as the population goes up and more marginal land
is used, but technology then comes into play and the yield per Mu goes up from
140 to 260 Kilograms per Mu. On the other hand cultivated land goes down in
1985 as more cultivated land is lost due to road building and additional
housing for the increased population. If China cannot control its population
the food available cannot sustain its people.
Return to Chinese Population Choices Return to the Opening Page |
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