Childhood Poverty

4.2 million China children live in absolute poverty and 8.7 million live in disadvantage condition (CHIP). Since the early 90's a number of children living in poverty has declined. China has one of the
highest levels in education and health verses many other countries. Life expectancy during birth is 71 years and 85 percent of the population over 15 years of age is literate.

Recent studies suggest that the health and education reform are reducing poor families ability to make use of these vital services (CHIP).

A study in Beijing which happens to be China richest city found that 75 percent of poor families could not afford education cost for all of their children, such as tuituion fees and stationary cost; whereas 50 percent of poor families in Shanghai had no medical insurance because they could not afford it.