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Population density: China vs East Timor compared

Updated on by Georank team

China has a population density of 387 people per square mile compared to 250.2 people in East Timor. China has 73,316 sq ft of land per person vs 114,650 sq ft in East Timor. China and East Timor rank 67th and 98th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. China has 17.3% of the world's population and 6.3% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.02% of the population and 0.01% of the land area for East Timor, making the population density in China 54.6% higher than in East Timor.

Population density by year

China
East Timor

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
China East Timor
2026 387 250.2
2025 388 247.1
2024 389 244
2023 389 241.1
2022 390 238.5
2021 390 235.2
2020 389 231
2019 388 226.6
2018 387 222.2
2017 385 218
2016 383 213.9
2015 381 209.9
2014 378 205.9
2013 376 201.8
2012 374 197.7
2011 371 193.4
2010 369 188.9
2009 367 184.4
2008 365 179.8
2007 364 175
2006 362 170.1
2005 360 165.2
2004 358 161.8
2003 355 159.7
2002 353 153.1
2001 351 141.5
2000 348 129.8
1999 346 145.4
1998 343 164.2
1997 339 159.8
1996 336 155.4
1995 332 151.2
1994 329 147.1
1993 325 143.1
1992 321 139.2
1991 317 135.6
1990 313 132.4
1989 309 129.7
1988 304 127.3
1987 299.1 125.1
1986 294.3 123.2
1985 290 121.3
1984 286 119.6
1983 282.3 118
1982 278.3 116.5
1981 274.2 115
1980 270.7 113.2
1979 267.3 111.2
1978 263.8 109.5
1977 260.3 107.7
1976 256.8 105.8
1975 252.8 104.2
1974 248.4 102.9
1973 243.3 101.5
1972 237.8 99.8
1971 232 98.1
1970 225.8 96.3
1969 219.6 94.6
1968 213.7 93
1967 208.2 91.4
1966 202.9 89.8
1965 197.3 88.3
1964 192.7 86.9
1963 188.2 85.4
1962 183.7 84.1
1961 182.2 82.8

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/china/east-timor | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in China increased by 6.98%, compared to a 47.1% growth in East Timor.

In 2006, China ranked 57th by population density and is 67th now. East Timor was 109th in 2006 and ranks 98th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

China
East Timor
1x
Year Urban population
China East Timor
2024 65.9% 28.7%
2023 65.5% 28.6%
2022 65.2% 28.6%
2021 64.7% 28.8%
2020 63.5% 29%
2019 62.7% 29.1%
2018 61.5% 29.2%
2017 60.2% 29.4%
2016 58.8% 29.4%
2015 57.3% 29.5%
2014 55.8% 29.5%
2013 54.5% 29.6%
2012 53.1% 29.6%
2011 51.8% 29.6%
2010 49.2% 29.6%
2009 48.3% 29.4%
2008 47% 28.8%
2007 45.9% 28%
2006 44.3% 27.1%
2005 43% 26.3%
2004 41.8% 25.7%
2003 40.5% 25.3%
2002 39.1% 24.9%
2001 37.7% 24.5%
2000 36.4% 24.1%
1999 34.8% 23.8%
1998 33.4% 23.5%
1997 31.9% 23.2%
1996 30.5% 22.9%
1995 29% 22.6%
1994 28.5% 22.3%
1993 28% 22%
1992 27.5% 21.7%
1991 26.9% 21.3%
1990 26.2% 21%
1989 26.2% 20.6%
1988 25.8% 20.3%
1987 25.3% 19.8%
1986 24.5% 19.4%
1985 23.7% 19%
1984 23% 18.5%
1983 21.6% 18.1%
1982 20.6% 17.6%
1981 20.2% 17.1%
1980 19.4% 16.6%
1979 19% 16.2%
1978 17.9% 15.7%
1977 17.6% 15.2%
1976 17.4% 14.7%
1975 17.3% 14.3%
1974 17.2% 13.8%
1973 17.2% 13.4%
1972 17.1% 13%
1971 17.3% 12.6%
1970 17.4% 12.2%
1969 17.5% 11.8%
1968 17.6% 11.5%
1967 17.7% 11.2%
1966 17.9% 10.9%
1965 18% 10.7%
1964 18.3% 10.5%
1963 16.8% 10.3%
1962 17.3% 10.2%
1961 19.3% 10.1%
1960 19.7% 10.1%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/china/east-timor | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 41.8% to 65.9% in China and from 25.7% to 28.7% in East Timor.

Densely populated cities

China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/china/east-timor | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2020–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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