The numbers making news around China during the week of Dec 31, 2012

$1.9 Billion
Amount that the city of Shenzhen lost by hosting the 26th Summer Universiade. An audit found at least 62 government procurement projects involving 11.32 million yuan had violated procurement laws. Global Times

80 percent
Amount that China’s coral reefs have shrunk over the past 30 years, due to coastal development, pollution and over-fishing. AFP

3.2 percent
Amount the Shanghai Composite climbed in 2012, its first annual advance since 2009. Bloomberg

1,508
Number of North Koreans that defected from their country and entered South Korea during 2012, compared to 2,706 in 2011. This is the first year since 2006 that the number has dropped below 2,000. Yonhap

37 percent
Proportion of Beijing residents that don’t have a local hukou. Wall Street Journal

44 percent
Proportion of people in Beijing that rely on public transit to get around - the highest percentage of any city nationwide. China Daily

74
Number of cities that China will begin releasing real time air pollutions readings (including PM 2.5) in this year. Telegraph

1 billion yuan
Amount a wealthy businessman in Fujian Province paid as dowry for his daughter’s marriage. Beijing Cream

60 kilograms
Amount of meat the average Chinese person eats per year. This is four times more than in 1980, but still less than the 85 kilograms consumed by the average Briton.The Guardian