The latest statistics show that the average family size in Shanghai has become smaller, with nuclear families and two-member families predominating.
By November 1 last year, Shanghai had a total of 5.291 million families, with the average family size standing at 2.8 persons.
During the fourth national census, held in 1990, the average family size in Shanghai stood at 3.1 persons.
Pan Jianxin, director of the Municipal Statistics Bureau, attributed the smaller family size to strict implementation of the national family planning policy.
However, a marked improvement in living standards has helped to reduce the family size as well, he added.
Pan predicted that the average family size in Shanghai would become even smaller in the future.
(People’s Daily 04/25/2001)
