The Peter Zeihan Podcast Series The Fire Hose of Chaos: How Do You Lose 100 Million People?
May 26, 2025
Over 100 million people are reportedly missing in China, but it turns out to be a shocking case of data fraud. The discussion uncovers how government exaggerations have led to a misleading population estimate. As birth rates decline, the implications of these inaccuracies become dire, especially for the Han ethnicity. The episode paints a vivid picture of the chaos stemming from flawed statistics and raises critical questions about future demographic crises.
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China's Population Overcount Fraud
- China's population overcount by 100 million or more is due to widespread government data fraud.
- Key population data points like vaccinations and school attendance were massively falsified for subsidies and payments.
Limited Census Data Points in China
- China's government only recognizes citizens at vaccination, school start, and tax payment points.
- These limited data points make population tracking vulnerable to falsification and overestimation.
Tertiary Education Delays Workforce Census
- China started large-scale tertiary education expansion around 2000, delaying workforce entry until age 21-24.
- The government only had accurate population data when these cohorts reached working age in 2021-24.