Workers of the world China unite! Xinhua reported that approximately 2.64 million people joined the Communist Party last year. That is 160,000 more people than the previous year, according to the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee.

To put that into perspective, that figure represents the entire population of the state of Utah in the United States. More than 19 million people applied to become members of the party, an increase of seven percent over 2005. The Chinese Communist Party now has a total membership of 72.39 million, or roughly the population of Ethiopia. 

In the midst of China’s booming market economy, party membership still opens doors and helps to cultivate influence, and joining the CPC is still widely seen by many as a stepping stone towards high positions in state enterprises.