China's Growing Wealth Gap

China's Growing Wealth Gap China's rural-urban wealth gap was the widest last year since the nation launched its economic transformation three decades ago. The average income of urban dwellers nearly doubled between 2001 and 2005. City people are becoming more educated. By contrast in rural areas, incomes have remained stagnant and schools have become more expensive. Rural 5,153 Yuan (755 USD) Urban 17,175 Yuan 100 2009 (2,500 USD) Per Capita Income 100 China is arguably experiencing the most rapid period of urbanization in the history of mankind. Around 300 million people are expected to migrate to the cities between 2005 and 2020. 1,000 Chinese Rural Population (millions) TOTAL 1,225,000,000 600 TOTAL 995,000,000 TOTAL 1,150,000,000 400 200 Chinese Urban Population (millions) 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 Chinese Province Populations Compared to Major Countries Sichuan Nigeria 96 million 107 million Henan Mexico 92 million 85 million Hebei Iran 63 million 61 million Shandong Germany 81 million 84 million Jiangsu 67 million Philippines 67 million Anhui Italy 58 million 56 million Hubei Egypt 58 million 54 million Hunan France 57 million 61 million There are 669 cities in China. More than 100 of them have a population of more than 1 million. In the United States there are only nine cities with a population of more than 1 million.