About China and Its Church

China Partner is linking ministries and individuals outside China with churches in China and encouraging partnerships with God's mission in China.

Since the first church reopened in Ningbo, China in 1979, churches in China have experienced phenomenal growth.

Our aim is to build bridges of understanding and partnership between the Chinese Church and individuals outside of Mainland China by providing current and accurate information about the Chinese Church.

The church is China is a miracle. There are five key reasons why churches are having a positive and eternal impact on Chinese society. Although controlled by the government, churches in China continue to faithfully serve their Savior knowing that, ultimately, Jesus controls everything. Read more here

The Church in China

The Chinese Constitution guarantees religious freedom since 1981
First church re-opened in Ningbo, China in 1979
The first Theological Seminary re-opened in Nanjing in 1981
In 1950 there were approximately 700,000 Christians in China
As of April 2023, Amity Printing Co. has printed more than 240 million Bibles in China*
There are 22 theological schools in China**
There are 60,000 registered churches and meeting points**
There are 3,700 pastoral personnel of registered churches and 27,000 preachers and lay-workers**
The above figures do not include the many unregistered churches (example: house churches and urban churches) that exist in China today
Many Christians attend both unregistered and registered churches
Bibles and Christian literature can be openly bought in churches, a few existing Christian book stores

*Based on Amity Printing Co. in Nanjing
**Based on the information given by China Christian Council

China as of 2021

Population:

1,455,000,000 people
29% are under the age of 25
65% live in urban areas
One Child policy lifted as of 2016; as of 2021 all married couples can have up to 3 children.

Economy:

World’s largest exporter since 2010
World’s second largest economy since 2021

Society:

91.6% Han Chinese
56 recognized minority groups, largest minority group: Zhuang
99.8% literacy rate
cell phone users: 116 out 100
Internet users: 73% of population – largest internet market of the world

Environment:

Number 1 producer and consumer of electricity in the world
About 56.8% of electricity produced from fossil fuels
Improved air quality since 2011 and dropped out of top 10 most polluted countries

Religion:

22% folk religion
18% Buddhist
5% Christian
52% no religion

* Facts taken from CIA and UNICEF web page

China's Next Generation

Education:

99.9% of Chinese youth (15-24) are literate

[2018]

9 years of education is mandatory by Chinese law since 1986
– six years of primary education, and three years of secondary education
[University of Michigan, “Comparing US and Chinese Public School Systems”]

The gaokao, or college entrance examination…(that students take) at the end of high school is believed to set the course of one’s life. The score determines not just whether a young person will attend a Chinese university, but also which one — a selection, many Chinese say, that has a crucial bearing on career prospects.

[The New York Times, “Test That Can Determine the Course of Life in China Gets a Closer Examination”, June 30, 2012]

ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS OF YOUTH:

47% of Chinese teens have had suicidal thoughts (19% US)
37% of Chinese teens have attempted suicide (14 % US)
58% do not believe spiritual development is necessary for leading a satisfying life
53% are certain that God does not exist
50% approx. report that information on Internet, movies, textbooks has influence over their thoughts and actions
39% indicate that anyone who gets married should anticipate divorce
[Metadigm Group. (2011). Attitudes and behaviors of youth: a quantitative study. Data Report China]

Did you know?

Population:

Chinese Christians can openly live out their faith, attend church and purchase Bibles and other Christian literature.

In 1950 there were approximately 700,000 Christians in China. Today it is estimated that there are more than 80 million Christians.

China has one of the fastest growing churches in the world? For example, in Jiangsu province over 100,000 new believers are baptized each year.

One Bible per second is printed at Amity Printing Press in China – over 240 million total as of April 2023.**

**Based on Amity Printing Co. in Nanjing