BEIJING, October 23 (RIA Novosti) - The population of the People's Republic of China will reach 1.5 billion people not earlier than 2033, a government official said on Thursday.

China is the world's most populous country, with over 1.3 billion people, or one fifth of the global total. India takes second place, with 1.1 billion.

"In the next few decades the population of China [excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan] will grow on average by 8 million annually, and may reach 1.5 billion by 2033," the China News Service quoted the National Population and Family Planning Commission director, Li Bin, as saying.

The official said China enjoys a favorable demographic situation, "which has created a good atmosphere for the country's fast and fruitful socio-economic development."

However, Li said China would maintain its family planning policies "to maintain low birth rates and control population growth."

China has had a one-child policy since 1979, and is expected to maintain the restriction for at least another 10 years.

Since 2000, China's average life expectancy has risen from 71.4 to 73 years.