Original Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/facts-about-china-2011-9?op=1
Probably the most significant development of the past two decades is the rise of China.
We've reached a point where China's every move can make or break global markets, in many areas with a bigger impact than the U.S. Pretty soon China may be the biggest economy in the world — if it doesn't crash.
We picked out some impressive and some terrifying facts about the Middle Kingdom.
1. Beginning in 2008, China's local government loans exploded from $235 million to $1.6 TRILLION
2. You think America was in a housing bubble? Since 2003 Hong Kong home prices have TRIPLED
3. If he spent his entire yearly income on housing, the average Beijing resident could buy 6 square feet of residential property
4. Around 140 MILLION FARMERS have had their land forcibly seized by the government in the past 17 years
5. 16,810 CHINESE COAL MINERS have died in accidents in the past five years
16,810 CHINESE COAL MINERS have died in accidents in the past five years
6. China consumes 53% of the world's cement... and 48% of the world's iron ore... and 47% of the world's coal... and the majority of just about every major commodity
7. By 2025, China will build enough skyscrapers to fill TEN NEW YORK-SIZED CITIES
8. By some estimates China has 64 MILLION VACANT HOMES, including entire cities that are empty
9. Chinese credit card debt is projected to SURGE BY 600% in five years
10. There are nearly 500 MILLION CHINESE who live on less than two dollars a day
11. China averages 493 mass protests EVERY DAY
12. China's enormous Gobi Desert is the size of Peru and expanding 1,400 square miles per year due to water source depletion, over-foresting, and over-grazing
13. Chinese consume 55,000 cigarettes EVERY SECOND
14. When you buy Chinese stocks, you are basically financing the Chinese government. Seven of Shanghai's top ten stocks are government owned
15. China executes three times as many people as the rest of the world combined
16. China has THE WORLD'S LARGEST MILITARY, with 3.5 million active and reserve personnel. By comparison America has under 3 million people.
So what happens if China crashes?
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