China's herculean efforts to slow the increase of its giant population appear to have worked: the annual birth rate fell from about 35 births per 1,000 in the 1950s to 20 per 1,000 in the 1990s. This bulletin examines the development and consequences of the strict population planning control measures introduced in the 1970s, and strengthened in the early 1980s. Success of these measures has led to a rapid aging of the population, a marriage squeeze, charges of female infanticide, and international approbation and censure. Meanwhile, the huge momentum of the Chinese population base has continued to add 17 million persons annually; and the total is expected to top 1.3 billion by the year 2000. The growing numbers exert considerable pressure on urban areas, as well as the country's labor force, and education and health systems. Although economic development and reforms have improved life for many Chinese, there is a widening gap between residents of rural and urban areas. In addition, industrialization, combined with China's large population, are contributing to a serious deterioration of the country's natural resources. (Ten discussion questions are included, as well as 21 figures/tables/exhibits. Contains 16 references to selected readings and 63 endnotes.) (Author)