Hunan Facts
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Population, Nationalities and Religions
Population
As of the end of 2023, the permanent resident population in Hunan Province was 65.68 million, 360,000 less than the previous year, or a 0.55% year-on-year decrease.
Of the population, 33.638 million were male, deceasing by 0.48% year on year; and, 32.042 million were female, down 0.62% over the previous year. The proportions of males and females to the total population were 51.21% and 48.79%, respectively rising 0.03 percentage points and decreasing 0.03 percentage points year on year. The male-to-female ratio hit 104.98, which was 0.14 percentage points higher than that in 2022.
The population aged between zero and 15 hit 12.374 million, 18.84% in proportion to the total. Those aged between 16-59 reached 38.702 million, 58.93% of the total. The population aged 60 or above hit 14.604 million, accounting for 22.23% of the total. Among the aging population, those aged 65 or above amounted to 10.813 million, accounting for 16.46%.
The urban population reached 40.17 million, accounting for 61.16% of the total, while the rural population was 25.51 million, taking up 38.84%. Compared with 2022, the urbanization rate has increased by 0.85 percentage points, resulting in 340,000 more individuals residing in urban areas and 700,000 less residing in rural areas.
In 2023, 395,000 babies were born around the province, 17,000 less than that in 2022. The birthrate declined to 6.00‰, and the natural growth rate of population dropped 3.08‰.
Nationalities
Autonomous prefecture, counties, or townships are specially set for Tujia, Miao, Dong, Yao, Bai, Hui, Zhuang, and Uyghur ethnic groups who have resided in Hunan for generations. These ethnic minority areas include:
One autonomous prefecture – Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, composed of Longshan, Yongshun, Baojing, Huayuan, Guzhang, Fenghuang, and Luxi counties, and Jishou City;
7 autonomous counties – Tongdao Dong, Jianghua Yao, Chengbu Miao, Xinhuang Dong, Zhijiang Dong, Jingzhou Miao, and Mayang Miao autonomous counties;
3 counties and districts that enjoy related preferential policies for ethnic autonomous areas – Sangzhi County, Yongding District, and Wulingyuan District;
6 counties with more than half of their population being ethnic residents – Suining, Huitong, Yuanling, Jiangyong, Shimen, and Cili counties; and,
84 ethnic townships.
Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn
Hunan is a multiethnic province, where the Han nationality and other 55 ethnic groups reside. According to the 7th nationwide population census in 2020, the population of 55 ethnic groups in Hunan Province amounted to 6.6852 million, accounting for 10.06% of the total. Ethnic people reside in all cities, autonomous prefecture, counties, and districts of Hunan Province. Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Huaihua, and Zhangjiajie have more than one million of ethnic residents each, while Yongzhou, Shaoyang, Changde, and Changsha have more than 100,000 each.
Autonomous prefecture, counties, or townships are specially set for Tujia, Miao, Dong, Yao, Bai, Hui, Zhuang, and Uyghur ethnic groups who have resided in Hunan for generations. These ethnic minority areas include:
One autonomous prefecture – Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, composed of Longshan, Yongshun, Baojing, Huayuan, Guzhang, Fenghuang, and Luxi counties, and Jishou City;
7 autonomous counties – Tongdao Dong, Jianghua Yao, Chengbu Miao, Xinhuang Dong, Zhijiang Dong, Jingzhou Miao, and Mayang Miao autonomous counties;
3 counties and districts that enjoy related preferential policies for ethnic autonomous areas – Sangzhi County, Yongding District, and Wulingyuan District;
6 counties with more than half of their population being ethnic residents – Suining, Huitong, Yuanling, Jiangyong, Shimen, and Cili counties; and,
84 ethnic townships.
For more information about the ethnic groups in Hunan, please refer to National Customs.
Religion
Multiple religions have coexisted in Hunan for a long history, including Buddhism, Taoism, Islamism, Catholicism, and Christianity. There are about 5.4 million religious people, more than 6,200 registered clerical personnel, 255 patriotic religious organizations, three religious colleges and schools, and more than 5,400 lawful religious venues including 6 national key Buddhist temples in Han nationality areas. Among the 36 Dongtian (caves lead to heaven) and 72 Fudi (blessed spots) of Taoism, about 1/6 are located in Hunan.
Updated in April 2024