Since launching planned parenthood work in 1975 in Guizhou, the birth rate has begun to decrease each year. In the past 6 years, 1.66 million births were prevented. Some 8 years ago, the natural population growth rate in the province was as high as 31/1000. According to statistics, in 1980, of the 87 counties, municipalities and districts in the province, 66 had reduced the natural population growth rate from that of 1979, including 25 which had reduced the rate to 5/1000. During the same period, the natural population growth rate in Guiyang Municipality was reduced to 4.3/1000, while in Zunyi Prefecture, the rate was reduced from 14/1000 in 1979 to 10.9/1000. The population in this prefecture accounted for 1/4 of the total population in the province.