Is a social security number an ID number

In China, the social security number (social insurance number) is usually the same as an individual's ID card number. According to the Social Insurance Law and related regulations, since 2011, China's social insurance numbers have been harmonized with citizens' identity numbers (i.e., ID card numbers). This means that an individual's social security number is his or her 18-digit ID number.

This practice aims to simplify administrative processes, improve the efficiency of the social security system, and ensure the accuracy and consistency of an individual's social security information. By using a unified ID number as the social security number, an individual's social security records can be easily tracked and consolidated across different social security systems, including pension insurance, medical insurance, unemployment insurance, workers' compensation insurance, and maternity insurance.