The membership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) had grown to 70.8 million by the end of 2005, according to the latest statistics of the party.

Of the CPC members, 23 percent were below 35 years old, up 0.3 percentage points over the previous year; 19.2 percent were female, up 0.6 percentage points; and 29 percent had received college education, up 1.7 percentage points, according to statistics of the Organization Department of CPC Central Committee.

The CPC is to celebrate its 85th birthday on July 1 this year, and the CPC membership has been growing steadily since the 1st National Congress of the party was held in 1921, representing more than 50 CPC members.

In 2005, the party admitted 2.47 million new members, up 2.4 percent over the previous year. They included 734,000 students, 226,000 workers, 492,000 farmers, herdsmen and fishermen, 200,000 working in government and party departments, 570,000 executive and technicians of other sorts of civilian organizations, 217,000 military personnel and armed policemen, 36,000 self-employed people and professionals with no fixed jobs.

"Percentages of young members, female members and members that have received college education are increasing," said an official with the Organization Department of CPC Central Committee.

"The makeup of party membership has been further improved," said the official.

The statistics also show that the number of CPC grass-roots organizations had grown to 3.52 million by the end of 2005, an increase of 1.2 percent over the previous year.

"Party organizations cover more new economic organizations, new social organizations, urban neighborhood and townships," said the official, adding "The power base of the the party has been further solidified."

CPC organizations have been established in 97.9 percent of the 98,000 private businesses of more than 50 staff members that meet conditions of establishing CPC party organizations, according to the statistics.

According to the CPC Constitution, primary party organizations are formed in enterprises, rural areas, government departments, schools, scientific research institutes, communities, mass organizations, intermediaries, companies of the People's Liberation Army and other basic units, where there are at least three full Party members.