New fertility changes and characteristics from the sixth population census in China

The release of the sixth population census has provided us with the authoritative information needed to quantitatively analyze the characteristics and changes regarding fertility in China in 2010. The themes of this paper include the fertility levels, fertility pattern, and the influential factors of the changes in fertility. It is revealed that with the fertility levels decreasing, structural factors (e.g., age structure and marital status) are becoming the determinative ones at present and in the future. Although the age-specific marital fertility rate has resulted in an increase of general fertility rate by 9.61% from 2000 to 2010, the age structure and marital status are more and more important among factors which resulted in the changes in fertility level. In the aspect of fertility pattern, the interval between first marriage and first childbearing is enlarging, and the parity is becoming lower. The findings are important to develop an appropriate understanding of its demographics and to scientifically plan and adjust the population policy.