The 1936 Shanghai Census – Three and a Half Million Folk

Every time Shanghai does a population census the numbers get more ridiculous and argued over – 18, 19, 23 million or whatever. In 1936 the city topped out at a then impressive 3,500,000 having added 135,000 odd over the last year. Of course the next year, 1937, the influx would be significantly more as refugees from Japanese attack flooded into the city. Still, in 1936, Shanghai came in fifth globally and looked likely to have more people than Berlin pretty soon. It’s been a while since Shanghai and Berlin competed on the population numbers stakes!!