A Chinese dissident says China’s population may be under 500 million, not 1.4 billion

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Factcheck:
Based on official estimates from the UN, US Census Bureau, and other sources, China’s population is around 1.4 billion as of 2026, with a slight decline projected. Some dissidents like Lei claim it’s under 500 million, citing data inflation and historical events, but this is not supported by mainstream demographic analyses, which suggest possible overstatements but not to that extent. Independent experts estimate closer to 1.3-1.4 billion.

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