China will launch a sample survey to get a snapshot of the number of disabled people in the country.

The survey, which begins April 1, is the second national sample survey of its kind since 1987, according to the China Disabled Persons' Federation at a press conference on Tuesday.

Some 2.6 million people will be surveyed in 734 counties and cities in the 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities across the nation.

The survey data will then be used to estimate how many disabled people live in China.

The survey team will use World Health Organization 2001 standards and classify the disabled into six categories including mentally and physically disabled, blind and deaf.

According to the first sample survey in 1987, there were 51.64 million disabled persons in China. Current estimates exceed 60 million.

The survey will last from April 1 to late May. Preparations for the survey started a year ago after the State Council issued the "Notice of Second Sample Survey on the Disabled" on September 30, 2004.

(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2006)