East and Southeast Asia Programme Country Briefs: China

China’s economic growth has turned it into the second largest economy in the world. The absolute poverty rate has improved—from 65.2% to 10.4% between 1981 and 2004—and China is on track to meet its MDG targets, with improvements in literacy, health and access to water and sanitation sources for rural communities. Important strides have also been made in terms of gender equality. In urban areas, increasing numbers of women pursuing higher education, are in waged employment, or have started small businesses. Women and men are equal before the law and women’s rights are strengthened in legislation, including within marriage, after legal reform starting in the 1950s where abolished the traditional ‘foot-binding’ practice, banned concubines and bride sales, and legalized divorce.