98 million members of the Communist Party of China (7% of the population)
73 million members of the Communist Youth League (there is overlap in membership with the CPC as the age requirements are 14 to 28 years old for the CYL and over 18 for the CPC, so do not just add the numbers from the CPC and CYL)
114 million members of the Chinese Young Pioneers (ages 6 to 14)
Joining the CPC is about taking on a responsibility to the Party and people, which is different from just believing in the principles of communism as a non-Party member.
The rest of the population can certainly “identify as communist” without being members of the CPC/CYL/CYP, but it depends on how you define it.
In China there are:
Joining the CPC is about taking on a responsibility to the Party and people, which is different from just believing in the principles of communism as a non-Party member.
The rest of the population can certainly “identify as communist” without being members of the CPC/CYL/CYP, but it depends on how you define it.