With a 10 million rise this year, the 1.3 billion barrier is likely to be passed in 2004
The mainland was home to 1.294 billion people this year, a 10 million net rise on last year, a State Population and Family Planning Commission report said.
At the rate of growth now, the 1.3 billion population mark will be passed next year.
Critics said that despite the 'one-child' policy and other population control initiatives, the 0.778 per cent growth rate was still a cause for concern.
'The figure of net-added population demonstrates that China is still in a serious stage of population increase,' said Li Yongping, of Peking University's population institute. 'For the past couple of years, the net increase in people has been from eight million to 15 million - always about 10 million.'
China grew by 8.26 million people last year, a growth rate of 0.645 per cent. This was slower growth than in 2001, which saw a net increase of 8.84 million people, giving a 0.695 per cent net rate of increase.