BEIJING -- Over 56 percent of China's population lived in cities in 2015, as the country's urbanization continues apace, a report showed on Tuesday.

The number of people registered as permanent residents in cities expanded from 170 million in 1978 to 750 million in 2014, according to the report compiled by the National Development and Reform Commission, the country's top economic planning body.

In the same period, the number of cities leapt from 193 to 653. Chinese cities covered about 49,000 square km in 2015, up from 7,000 square km in 1981, commission spokesperson Zhao Chenxin said.

China is aiming to bring its urbanization rate to 60 percent by 2020, helping 100 million migrant workers settle in cities over the next five years.