BEIJING : Counting the Multitudes

The world’s most populous country begins its fourth census in as many decades Sunday, with nearly 7 million workers trying to count more than 1.1 billion Chinese in 10 days.

A key goal is to try to pin down the so-called floating population, estimated at 60 million, of people who have changed residence without government permission. Most are peasants who have moved to the city. Another goal is to count previously unregistered children. Authorities promise that census data will not be used to punish violators of strict family planning controls, who frequently fail to register babies to avoid stiff fines.

Preliminary census results are due to be released in October.