E/CN.4/1995/91 page 124 Muslims Statistical data on the Muslim community in China Number of Muslims Information provided by the Office of Religious Affairs 17 million: Hui, Uighur, Kazak, Uzbek, Kirgiz, Tajik, Tatar, Dongxiang, Baoian, Salar Geographical distribution Information provided by the CPPCC 18 million including 8.6 million Uighur 7.2 million Hui North-West China, particularly in the provinces or autonomous regions of Xinjiang, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, Yunnan, Henan, Hebei. Few Muslims in the Chinese interior Number of imams 40 000+ 30 000 Number of mosques 26 000 28 000 Number of theological institutes 9 9 including the Chinese National Institute of Islamic Theology in Beijing Number of Muslim associations National Association of Muslims in China, founded 1953 400 in districts, municipalities, provinces and autonomous regions National Association of Muslims in China (1953) Number of pilgrims going to Mecca Major periodical (b) 1949-1994: 20 000 Growing number: now 5 000 to 6 000 per year (approx.) "Muslims in China" "Muslims in China" Special questions (i) Religious workers a. Number The Office of Religious Affairs and the religious representatives emphasized the shortage of religious workers which was due in particular to the effects of the Cultural Revolution. In the case of Tibet, the Commission on Ethnic and Religious Affairs (CERA) stated that in one sense a limit on the number of monks was necessary