The drop in recruits is a result of the new CPC's guidelines for recruiting members, which require all localities and organizations to enlist new Party members in a "prudent" and "balanced" manner.

The figures suggested an emphasis on youth and education, with 1.7 million new members aged under 35. A total of 37.755 million members, or 43 percent of the total, have college degrees or advanced degrees, up 1.4 percentage points.

The Party has 21.672 million female members as of the end of 2014, up 0.4 percentage points. 

The coverage rate of grassroots Party units has increased, especially in the newly-emerging sectors. More than 99 percent of grassroots in city sub-districts, villages and communities have CPC units, and 1.579 million non-public enterprises have CPC units, accounting for 53.1 percent of the total.