China's middle class accounts for 11.9 percent in the society according to the China Middle Class Survey released by the Social Sciences Academic Press.

A team on the topic of "China's social changes and the growth of mid-income groups" headed by Zhou Xiaohong, the editor in chief of the book and dean of the social science department of Nanjing University, conducted sample and telephone interviews on citizens in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing and Wuhan, finishing 3,038 questionnaires

The survey shows the leading occupations people consider of middle class are private business owners, management personnel in enterprises and public institutions, civil servants and specialized technicians. As to the economic qualifications the middle class should have 30.6 percent of the surveyed said they are not clear. 21.2 percent think it should be over 500,000 yuan while 19.3 percent believe it should be above 1 million.

According to above standards the team defines Chinese middle class as: over 5,000 yuan monthly income; working as management personnel or technician in public institutions, civil servant, technician in enterprises, manager, private business owner; university or above education.

By People's Daily Online