BEIJING - The number of Communist Party of China (CPC) members surpassed 82.6 million in 2011, up 2.9 percent year on year, official figures showed.

Last year, some 3.16 million out of 21.6 million applicants were accepted to join the CPC, according to a statement released Saturday by the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee -- one day ahead of the Party's 91st founding anniversary.

"The Party has been drawing more members from the forefront of work and production, and the scope and quality of Party members are both increasing," the statement said.

Female Party members numbered 19.25 million, accounting for 23.3 percent of the total. Members of ethnic minorities amounted to 5.56 million, with a share of 6.7 percent, the statement said.

Party members younger than 35 years of age took up 25 percent of the total, while those holding college or advanced degrees accounted for 38.6 percent.

Student Party members reached 2.77 million and another 15.18 million members retired last year, the statement said.