How Many Prefabricated Panel Houses Are There in China
China currently has approximately 18.7 million to 45 million prefabricated panel houses in terms of household scale, with specific data subject to fluctuations due to differences in statistical approaches.
According to data released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development in 2025, there are approximately 18.7 million prefabricated panel residential units nationwide, accounting for 7.3% of the total urban residential housing stock and involving approximately 56 million residents. This data, based on the count of residential units in urban areas, reflects the stock scale of prefabricated panel houses in urban housing.
Another set of data indicates that as of the first half of 2025, existing prefabricated panel houses nationwide account for approximately 12% of the total urban residential housing stock, involving 45 million households. The discrepancy between these two sets of data primarily stems from differences in statistical approaches: the former uses "number of units" as the unit of measurement, while the latter uses "number of households," and may also include differences in sample coverage across regions. For example, some prefabricated panel houses in rural areas or urban-rural fringe zones may not be included in urban residential housing statistics, while household counts may place greater emphasis on the independence of residential units.
Underlying Reasons for Data Discrepancies:
- Statistical Scope: The total urban residential housing stock may change due to administrative division adjustments (such as the conversion of counties into districts) or updates to statistical standards (such as whether to include housing with limited property rights).
- Definition of Housing Types: There may be differences in the criteria for defining prefabricated panel houses, such as whether to include houses that use some prefabricated components but are not entirely prefabricated structures.
- Time Points: Data released in 2025 may be based on censuses or sample surveys conducted at different time periods, leading to fluctuations in results.
Policy Background and Current Situation:
Prefabricated panel houses were widely constructed in the 1980s and 1990s due to their high construction efficiency and low cost. However, they suffer from issues such as poor earthquake resistance and relatively short service lives. In recent years, the Chinese government has promoted the demolition or reinforcement of prefabricated panel houses through policies such as shantytown renovations and old residential community upgrades. For example, some cities have included prefabricated panel houses in the scope of dilapidated housing renovations, encouraging residents to relocate or rebuild on-site through financial subsidies.
Future Trends:
With the process of urbanization and the demand for improved housing quality, the proportion of prefabricated panel houses in the housing stock is expected to gradually decline. However, in the short term, they will remain an important component of the urban housing structure. Their renovation needs to balance historical preservation, residents' wishes, and urban renewal efficiency, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach to demolition.
