The number of Chinese who say they don't want children has dropped dramatically, according to a survey.

The survey by Beijing-based Horizon Research found only 1.5 percent didn't want kids, compared with 4.5 percent in a survey in 2002.

The April survey interviewed 2,180 people in six big cities, such as Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai, and six small towns.

Respondents without kids said they planned to have children at 29 - almost two years later than the average childbearing age.

The survey found 24.8 percent believed children would bring more family happiness.

This ratio in urban areas reached 30.4 percent.

In 2002, most couples thought having a child was a way to carry on the family line and only 17.8 percent saw it as a source of happiness.

Compared with the 2002 survey, more people said they love children or consider them a gift of love and marriage.

(Shanghai Daily July 4, 2006)