Social undertakings in the province are developed in an all around way．Zhej iang enj oys the highest level of comprehensive social development among all the provinces and autonomous regions in China，just behind Beijing，Shanghai and Tianjing， the three municipa¨ties under the direct jurisdiction of the central government，and ranks the 5th and 7th respectively in terms of regional innovation capacity and comprehensive SCientific and technological strength in the country．
Zhejiang is the first province that makes universal the 1 5一year education from kindergarten to high schoo1．The gross enrollment ratio at institutions of higher education rises to 36％．There are 77 universities and colleges in the province． including those under construction．with a total attendance of 720．000．The province has 92 public libraries and 71 museums．The coverage of television and radio service in the Province is 989 8．4％and 98．8％ respectively．The numbers of mobile phone and Internet subscribers in the province reach 30．12 million and 6．5 million respectively.
Culture，health care，sports，family planning，environment protection and other social endeavors have been improved．The ecological de2eneration has been basically curbed．The province has 14．230 medical institutions，among which 2.795 are hospitals and clinics with a total capacity of 138，300 beds．Every 1，000 people in Zhejiang have 1．89 doctors and 2．77 beds．Zhejiang is well ahead of the average level of the country in terms of all the above mentioned indicators．
People’S living conditions are getting better．90％of urban families have their own apartments or houses．The average housing space of urban and rural residents iS 26．4 and 55．6 square meters respectively． Every 1 00 families own 1 1 cars on average．The consumption structure has significantly changed，with a larger proportion allocated to transportation，telecommunication，culture，education，entertainment， service．1eisure tourism and other areas to realize personal development and live a fuller 1ife．The social security system of Zhejiang iS improving gradually．By far，the old—age insurance of enterprise employees has covered 9．644 million people while unemployment insurance has been made available to 5．044 million people and medical insurance to 7．306 million people．The basic cost of living allowances for laid—Off enterprise employees and basic pension benefits for retired enterprise employees are paid out in full and on time．Zhejiang has one of the highest level of old—age pension and coverage of employees’ medical insurance．Zhejiang iS also one of the earliest in China in initiating an integrated system of basic cost of living allowances for both rural and urban residents.
