High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! At the end of 2008, China's total population was 1.33 billion, with 723 million (54%) and 607 million (46%) residing in the rural and urban areas respectively (not including Hongkong, Macau, Taiwan). The rural population fraction was 64% in 2001 and 74% in 1990. The annual population growth rate was estimated at 0.59% (2006 estimate).About 94% of population lives on approximately 46% of land.Concurrent with the decreasing rural population and increasing urban population, China's main focus of its industry and economic activities has also moved from the rural to urban areas.