Abstract: This paper examines the newly released figure of China′s urbanization rate by the end of 2011(51.27 per cent) from the perspectives of internationally accepted rules and criteria in the urban-rural classification and their changing trend in the context of blurred rural-urban distinction.The paper argues that the criteria adopted in China′s urban statistics are consistent with those accepted in the international practice,and that although there are some problems in China′s urbanization process,they do not constitute a denial to the fact that more than half of China′s population agglomerates in urban areas with internationally recognized urban characteristics.In fact,China′s urban statistics not only do not over-estimate China′s urbanization level,but under-estimate the depth and breadth of China′s urbanization process,because they do not cover a large number of quasi-urban populations who carry significant urban characteristics.Such inadequacy needs to be addressed in the future.

Keywords: China, Urbanization Rate, Rules and Criteria in the Urban-Rural Classification, International Comparison, Blurred Rural-Urban Distinction

摘要： 从迄今国际通行的传统城乡人口划分原则和标准以及当今城乡界限淡化背景下城乡人口划分和统计的演变趋势两个方面,对2011年末中国大陆51.27%的城镇化率数据进行了分析,认为我国现行城镇人口的统计口径基本上符合目前国际上通行的城乡划分原则和标准,不应因为城镇化进程中某些问题的存在而否定我国已有半数以上人口聚居于城镇、且拥有国际公认的城镇人口基本特征的事实。文章还认为,我国现行的城镇化数据不仅没有高估我国的城镇化水平,反而存在着未能涵盖大量具有相当城镇特性、但仍未被纳入常规市镇人口统计的"准城镇人口",从而低估实际城镇化进程的广度和深度的问题,需要在今后的工作中予以进一步改进。

关键词: 中国, 城镇化率, 城乡划分原则和标准, 国际对比, 城乡界限淡化