The total number of people living in Beijing has reached 15.244 million, according to the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau.

Figures from December show that Beijing had 11.595 million permanent residents, 5.853 million males and 5.741 million females. The permanent residents include 8.495 million urban residents and 3.1 million rural residents.

Beijing has approximately 50,000 newborns each year. Local population increased naturally by 8,000 (the number of newborns minus the number of people whose registered permanent residence has been written off) in 2004.

The registered number of transit population has reached 3.649 million, according to the bureau. 

(Xinhua News Agency January 7, 2005)