India, June 15 -- Long-term demographic data from World Development Indicators reveals significant shifts in China's death rate over the past six decades.
Dramatic Early Reductions
In 1960, China recorded a high of 25.43 deaths per 1,000 persons. This figure plummeted to 14.24 by 1961 and continued a steady descent throughout the following years. By the end of the 1970s, the rate had fallen significantly, reaching a low of 6.21 in 1979.
Decades of Relative Stability
From the early 1980s through the late 1990s, mortality figures remained largely consistent.
* The rate hovered between 6.34 and 6.90 during the 1980s.
* Values in the 1990s showed little variance, starting at 6.67 in 1990 and ending at 6.46 in 1999.
* A significant low point...