The number of vulnerable children, including orphans, in China has been increasing, according to the China Child Welfare Policy Report.

The figure provided by the Ministry of Civil Affairs shows that 628,000 orphans were registered in the country in 2012, a sharp rise on figures for 2011, the report said.

The number of children under 6 years old without access to education is 3.07 million and more than 60 percent of them are in rural areas, the report said.

More girls are missing out on school than boys, the reports said.

Meanwhile, 2.8 million children are not receiving the compulsory education they are entitled to, the report added.

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