BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) had 88.758 million members at the end of 2015, according to figures revealed by the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee on Thursday.
Membership increased from 2014 by 1.1 percent, or 965,000. Of the total, 22.278 million, or 25.1 percent, are women, the department said in a communique published ahead of the 95th anniversary of the CPC's founding on July 1.
There are 6.18 million members from ethnic minorities, 7 percent of the total.
Most Party members were recruited between 1979, when China started reform and opening up, and 2012.
People employed in farming, animal husbandry and fishing take up the biggest percentage (about 30 percent) of all members, followed by staff of corporates and government-affiliated agencies.
STUDENTS ARE MAJOR TARGETS
According to the communique, the CPC has now stressed the "quality" of members while limiting the quantity.
More than 22 million residents had applied for Party membership by the end of 2015, while less than 45 percent of the applications were accepted.
Last year, Party authorities approved 1.965 million new candidates, of whom 718,000 are students, accounting for 36.5 percent. The CPC will observe the candidates for an unspecified period before giving them full membership.
The number of student candidates decreased by 0.8 percent year on year.
About 40 percent of the new candidates have a junior college degree or higher.
PARTY ORGANS ARE EVERYWHERE
The number of grassroots Party units increased by 54,000 to 4.413 million, a rise of 1.2 percent compared to 2014, the communique said.
Almost all urban neighborhoods, communities and towns have established Party organs.
Nearly 91 percent of public enterprises have resident Party organs, which supervise operation and participate in decision-making.
Party organs are also in place in half of all private enterprises and 41 percent of social organizations, according to the communique.
Party organs in private enterprises and social organizations usually do not interfere in commercial operations but will watch for malpractice and pass on central instructions.
