The National Population and Family Planning Commission estimates the population will peak in 2033, when there will be 1.5 billion Chinese.

FORBES: China's New Census: The Ancient Country Is Growing Old

The Shanghai Population and Family Planning Committee says that more than a third of the city's population will be over 60 by 2020.

ECONOMIST: Demography

Liu Zhi, director of the municipal commission for population and family planning, told China Daily on Saturday that the city plans to start extensive research into the characteristics of the urban population.

FORBES: Beijing Looks to New Population Controls

Family planning and urbanisation have reduced net population growth from 2.8% a year in the 1980s to 2.1% today.

ECONOMIST: Slow, quick, quick, slow are the dance-steps of reform

In Kenya, for example, as a result of diminished financial support for family planning and increasing fertility, the country's projected population in 2050 is set to reach 83m, from 54m.

ECONOMIST: Population booms, and busts