Beijing's Population Approaches Zero Growth

The official population of Beijing grew by only 368,000 people in 2014, as government officials claimed credit for keeping the city's growth under control. 

Beijing now has 21.516 million permanent residents, over eight million of which live "outside the city," Caixin Media reported, although it was not specific as to how "outside" was defined.

Officials cited efforts to move industries and government offices out of the city and also to neighboring Hebei province as a way of reducing pollution and traffic in central Beijing.

Other government initiatives include closing large wholesale markets and relocating them outside the city, moving factories, and blocking opportunities for the children of migrant workers to attend school in Beijing, despite the recent announcement that long-term migrants may be able to gain residency in nearby Tongzhou. 

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