The National Bureau of Statistics has officially announced that China’s 2025 National 1% Population Sampling Survey will start on November 1, 2025, with door-to-door registration running throughout the month of November (1st–30th).

This survey—often called a “mini census”—will cover about 5 million households, reaching approximately 14 million people across the country. Both family households and collective households (such as dormitories or shared accommodations) will be included.

👥 Who Will Be Surveyed?

The survey includes everyone living in the sampled households at the time of the survey, as well as those whose household registration (hukou) is at that address but who may not currently live there.

🧾 What Information Will Be Collected?

• Enumerators will gather basic information such as:
• Name and ID number
• Gender, age, and ethnicity
• Education level
• Employment, occupation, and industry
• Marital status, births, and deaths
• Migration and housing conditions

The reference point for the data is midnight, November 1, 2025.

📱 How Will It Be Done?

Survey staff will visit homes in person with official tablets or smartphones (PADs) to collect data, or residents may fill out the form online. All enumerators will carry official badges issued by the county-level 1% population survey office — so don’t be alarmed if someone knocks on your door with a government ID and a data-collection device.

📊 Why Is This Important?

China conducts a full national census every ten years, but in between, a smaller survey helps track major demographic changes. Since the 2020 National Census, the population has been shifting—marked by lower birth rates, an aging population, and regional differences in growth and migration.

This year’s 1% survey will provide updated insights into how people live, move, and work, guiding government decisions on public services, housing, education, and healthcare infrastructure.

In short, if someone politely knocks on your door in November with a tablet and an official ID — don’t be surprised. They’re just helping China keep its population data accurate and up-to-date.