Final answer:
The population of China is more than 1 billion. It has remained the world's largest despite implementing policies to manage growth and has seen historical fluctuations due to various factors, including economic changes and territorial expansion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The population of China is more than 1 billion people. As of 2010, estimates placed the population at about 1.33 billion, and while China has undergone various policy changes regarding population growth, it remains the most populous country in the world. These policies, such as the one-child policy (now relaxed), have been implemented to manage the teeming population growth. Historically, China's population has seen significant changes. It remained relatively stable for several centuries in ancient times, then experienced substantial growth during the Song Dynasty, and continued to grow over the subsequent dynasties.
As of the early 21st century, despite economic growth, most of the Chinese population does not enjoy a high standard of living, suggesting that the sheer number of people does not necessarily correlate with widespread prosperity. The historical context shows that factors like conquests, expansion of territory, and economic advancements have all contributed to population increases in China.