In 1997, the total population was 23.611 million in Inner Mongolia. In most years before 1985 the birth rates in Inner Mongolia were higher than the national average. Meanwhile, the birth rate increased a little in 1986, due to the echo effect of the last baby boom. The birth rate in 1997 was 15.21 per 1,000, the natural increase rate was 8.25 per 1,000. The mortality rate has been decreasing since the 1950s.
Mortality is higher for males.
Significant differences exist between different areas. Infant and child mortality decreased on a large scale. The mortality of Mongolians has been decreasing also, but is higher than that of the Han people. The minority ethnic groups of Man and Korean people had the lowest mortality in the Autonomous Region. The mortality rate decreased from 45 per 1,000 before 1949 to 6.96 per 1,000 in 1997.