The latest officially reported population of Brunei was 462,721 in 2024 vs 1,408,975,000 people in China in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Brunei's population is 470,884 people compared to 1,402,578,808 in China.
Population statistics:
- China's population is 2,979 times bigger than Brunei's.
- Brunei is ranked the 170th most populous country in the world, while China is the 2nd.
- The countries together account for 16.9% of the world: 0.006% for Brunei vs 16.9% for China.
- For the last 10 years, Brunei has had an average growth rate of +1.08% per year vs +0.3% in China.
- Since 2006, the population of Brunei has increased from 365K people to 471K (29.1% growth), while China has grown from 1.31B to 1.4B (6.98% growth).
Brunei vs China: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Brunei
|
China
|
|
| 2100 | 467,416 | 633,320,628 |
| 2099 | 468,955 | 643,959,697 |
| 2098 | 470,474 | 654,691,595 |
| 2097 | 471,886 | 665,517,335 |
| 2096 | 473,386 | 676,438,150 |
| 2095 | 474,822 | 687,457,915 |
| 2094 | 476,324 | 698,589,897 |
| 2093 | 477,804 | 709,852,629 |
| 2092 | 479,320 | 721,251,520 |
| 2091 | 480,794 | 732,791,748 |
| 2090 | 482,320 | 744,501,355 |
| 2089 | 483,944 | 756,404,299 |
| 2088 | 485,580 | 768,478,316 |
| 2087 | 487,128 | 780,707,622 |
| 2086 | 488,625 | 793,081,006 |
| 2085 | 490,259 | 805,608,315 |
| 2084 | 491,848 | 818,268,277 |
| 2083 | 493,523 | 830,972,107 |
| 2082 | 495,200 | 843,721,746 |
| 2081 | 496,840 | 856,534,631 |
| 2080 | 498,434 | 869,351,919 |
| 2079 | 500,007 | 882,146,959 |
| 2078 | 501,497 | 894,889,246 |
| 2077 | 503,086 | 907,592,919 |
| 2076 | 504,597 | 920,280,380 |
| 2075 | 506,394 | 932,956,157 |
| 2074 | 508,080 | 945,631,173 |
| 2073 | 509,613 | 958,352,980 |
| 2072 | 511,047 | 971,115,895 |
| 2071 | 512,261 | 983,938,054 |
| 2070 | 513,446 | 996,853,418 |
| 2069 | 514,716 | 1,009,905,851 |
| 2068 | 516,037 | 1,023,081,790 |
| 2067 | 517,358 | 1,036,420,010 |
| 2066 | 518,464 | 1,049,887,382 |
| 2065 | 519,443 | 1,063,477,623 |
| 2064 | 520,281 | 1,077,206,695 |
| 2063 | 520,990 | 1,090,982,303 |
| 2062 | 521,488 | 1,104,833,556 |
| 2061 | 522,004 | 1,118,682,849 |
| 2060 | 522,425 | 1,132,504,136 |
| 2059 | 522,802 | 1,146,199,736 |
| 2058 | 523,135 | 1,159,714,746 |
| 2057 | 523,377 | 1,172,963,523 |
| 2056 | 523,422 | 1,185,938,083 |
| 2055 | 523,432 | 1,198,550,408 |
| 2054 | 523,252 | 1,210,749,681 |
| 2053 | 523,048 | 1,222,500,569 |
| 2052 | 522,679 | 1,233,808,926 |
| 2051 | 522,034 | 1,244,584,333 |
| 2050 | 521,243 | 1,254,824,040 |
| 2049 | 520,307 | 1,264,598,914 |
| 2048 | 519,256 | 1,273,885,471 |
| 2047 | 518,107 | 1,282,701,271 |
| 2046 | 516,871 | 1,291,133,690 |
| 2045 | 515,363 | 1,299,154,327 |
| 2044 | 513,945 | 1,306,805,350 |
| 2043 | 512,420 | 1,314,176,710 |
| 2042 | 510,764 | 1,321,319,298 |
| 2041 | 508,923 | 1,328,219,755 |
| 2040 | 507,093 | 1,334,857,481 |
| 2039 | 505,089 | 1,341,265,381 |
| 2038 | 502,784 | 1,347,407,165 |
| 2037 | 500,639 | 1,353,377,505 |
| 2036 | 498,469 | 1,359,133,287 |
| 2035 | 496,091 | 1,364,651,508 |
| 2034 | 493,656 | 1,369,940,557 |
| 2033 | 491,157 | 1,375,003,005 |
| 2032 | 488,666 | 1,379,784,204 |
| 2031 | 485,865 | 1,384,301,522 |
| 2030 | 482,904 | 1,388,520,533 |
| 2029 | 479,937 | 1,392,490,007 |
| 2028 | 476,756 | 1,396,163,778 |
| 2027 | 473,357 | 1,399,515,824 |
| 2026 | 469,968 | 1,402,578,808 |
| 2025 | 466,440 | 1,405,826,385 |
| 2024 | 462,721 | 1,408,975,000 |
| 2023 | 458,949 | 1,410,710,000 |
| 2022 | 455,370 | 1,412,175,000 |
| 2021 | 451,721 | 1,412,360,000 |
| 2020 | 447,404 | 1,411,100,000 |
| 2019 | 442,680 | 1,407,745,000 |
| 2018 | 437,810 | 1,402,760,000 |
| 2017 | 432,772 | 1,396,215,000 |
| 2016 | 427,564 | 1,387,790,000 |
| 2015 | 422,212 | 1,379,860,000 |
| 2014 | 416,750 | 1,371,860,000 |
| 2013 | 411,202 | 1,363,240,000 |
| 2012 | 405,557 | 1,354,190,000 |
| 2011 | 399,389 | 1,345,035,000 |
| 2010 | 392,332 | 1,337,705,000 |
| 2009 | 384,952 | 1,331,260,000 |
| 2008 | 377,793 | 1,324,655,000 |
| 2007 | 370,873 | 1,317,885,000 |
| 2006 | 364,663 | 1,311,020,000 |
| 2005 | 358,916 | 1,303,720,000 |
| 2004 | 352,911 | 1,296,075,000 |
| 2003 | 346,637 | 1,288,400,000 |
| 2002 | 340,099 | 1,280,400,000 |
| 2001 | 333,345 | 1,271,850,000 |
| 2000 | 326,424 | 1,262,645,000 |
| 1999 | 319,411 | 1,252,735,000 |
| 1998 | 312,385 | 1,241,935,000 |
| 1997 | 305,341 | 1,230,075,000 |
| 1996 | 298,276 | 1,217,550,000 |
| 1995 | 291,195 | 1,204,855,000 |
| 1994 | 284,091 | 1,191,835,000 |
| 1993 | 276,971 | 1,178,440,000 |
| 1992 | 269,839 | 1,164,970,000 |
| 1991 | 262,596 | 1,150,780,000 |
| 1990 | 255,292 | 1,135,185,000 |
| 1989 | 248,064 | 1,118,650,000 |
| 1988 | 240,913 | 1,101,630,000 |
| 1987 | 233,860 | 1,084,035,000 |
| 1986 | 226,495 | 1,066,790,000 |
| 1985 | 218,919 | 1,051,040,000 |
| 1984 | 211,661 | 1,036,825,000 |
| 1983 | 204,741 | 1,023,310,000 |
| 1982 | 198,165 | 1,008,630,000 |
| 1981 | 191,977 | 993,885,000 |
| 1980 | 186,111 | 981,235,000 |
| 1979 | 180,422 | 969,005,000 |
| 1978 | 174,884 | 956,165,000 |
| 1977 | 169,277 | 943,455,000 |
| 1976 | 163,607 | 930,685,000 |
| 1975 | 158,070 | 916,395,000 |
| 1974 | 152,656 | 900,350,000 |
| 1973 | 147,369 | 881,940,000 |
| 1972 | 142,189 | 862,030,000 |
| 1971 | 137,921 | 841,105,000 |
| 1970 | 135,138 | 818,315,000 |
| 1969 | 131,446 | 796,025,000 |
| 1968 | 126,222 | 774,510,000 |
| 1967 | 121,017 | 754,550,000 |
| 1966 | 115,874 | 735,400,000 |
| 1965 | 110,838 | 715,185,000 |
| 1964 | 105,922 | 698,355,000 |
| 1963 | 101,159 | 682,335,000 |
| 1962 | 96,719 | 665,770,000 |
| 1961 | 92,517 | 660,330,000 |
| 1960 | 88,347 | 667,070,000 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/brunei/china | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Brunei increased by 62,901 people (a 17.2% growth), while China gained 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Brunei gained 43,320 people (a 10.1% growth), while China's population increased by 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth).
Brunei was ranked 169th most populous country in 2006 and is 170th in 2026. China was ranked 1st in 2006 and ranked 2nd now.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Brunei's population will grow by 10.7% to 521,243 people with a rank change from 170th to 171st. The population of China will decrease by 10.5% to 1,254,824,040 people and will still be ranked 2nd.
Brunei is projected to reach its peak in 2055 at 523K people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 633M people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Brunei
|
China
|
|
| 2100 | -0.33% | -1.65% |
| 2099 | -0.32% | -1.64% |
| 2098 | -0.3% | -1.63% |
| 2097 | -0.32% | -1.61% |
| 2096 | -0.3% | -1.6% |
| 2095 | -0.32% | -1.59% |
| 2094 | -0.31% | -1.59% |
| 2093 | -0.32% | -1.58% |
| 2092 | -0.31% | -1.57% |
| 2091 | -0.32% | -1.57% |
| 2090 | -0.34% | -1.57% |
| 2089 | -0.34% | -1.57% |
| 2088 | -0.32% | -1.57% |
| 2087 | -0.31% | -1.56% |
| 2086 | -0.33% | -1.56% |
| 2085 | -0.32% | -1.55% |
| 2084 | -0.34% | -1.53% |
| 2083 | -0.34% | -1.51% |
| 2082 | -0.33% | -1.5% |
| 2081 | -0.32% | -1.47% |
| 2080 | -0.31% | -1.45% |
| 2079 | -0.3% | -1.42% |
| 2078 | -0.32% | -1.4% |
| 2077 | -0.3% | -1.38% |
| 2076 | -0.35% | -1.36% |
| 2075 | -0.33% | -1.34% |
| 2074 | -0.3% | -1.33% |
| 2073 | -0.28% | -1.31% |
| 2072 | -0.24% | -1.3% |
| 2071 | -0.23% | -1.3% |
| 2070 | -0.25% | -1.29% |
| 2069 | -0.26% | -1.29% |
| 2068 | -0.26% | -1.29% |
| 2067 | -0.21% | -1.28% |
| 2066 | -0.19% | -1.28% |
| 2065 | -0.16% | -1.27% |
| 2064 | -0.14% | -1.26% |
| 2063 | -0.1% | -1.25% |
| 2062 | -0.1% | -1.24% |
| 2061 | -0.08% | -1.22% |
| 2060 | -0.07% | -1.19% |
| 2059 | -0.06% | -1.17% |
| 2058 | -0.05% | -1.13% |
| 2057 | -0.009% | -1.09% |
| 2056 | -0.002% | -1.05% |
| 2055 | 0.03% | -1.01% |
| 2054 | 0.04% | -0.96% |
| 2053 | 0.07% | -0.92% |
| 2052 | 0.12% | -0.87% |
| 2051 | 0.15% | -0.82% |
| 2050 | 0.18% | -0.77% |
| 2049 | 0.2% | -0.73% |
| 2048 | 0.22% | -0.69% |
| 2047 | 0.24% | -0.65% |
| 2046 | 0.29% | -0.62% |
| 2045 | 0.28% | -0.59% |
| 2044 | 0.3% | -0.56% |
| 2043 | 0.32% | -0.54% |
| 2042 | 0.36% | -0.52% |
| 2041 | 0.36% | -0.5% |
| 2040 | 0.4% | -0.48% |
| 2039 | 0.46% | -0.46% |
| 2038 | 0.43% | -0.44% |
| 2037 | 0.44% | -0.42% |
| 2036 | 0.48% | -0.4% |
| 2035 | 0.49% | -0.39% |
| 2034 | 0.51% | -0.37% |
| 2033 | 0.51% | -0.35% |
| 2032 | 0.58% | -0.33% |
| 2031 | 0.61% | -0.3% |
| 2030 | 0.62% | -0.29% |
| 2029 | 0.67% | -0.26% |
| 2028 | 0.72% | -0.24% |
| 2027 | 0.72% | -0.22% |
| 2026 | 0.76% | -0.23% |
| 2025 | 0.8% | -0.22% |
| 2024 | 0.82% | -0.12% |
| 2023 | 0.79% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 0.81% | -0.01% |
| 2021 | 0.96% | 0.09% |
| 2020 | 1.07% | 0.24% |
| 2019 | 1.11% | 0.36% |
| 2018 | 1.16% | 0.47% |
| 2017 | 1.22% | 0.61% |
| 2016 | 1.27% | 0.57% |
| 2015 | 1.31% | 0.58% |
| 2014 | 1.35% | 0.63% |
| 2013 | 1.39% | 0.67% |
| 2012 | 1.54% | 0.68% |
| 2011 | 1.8% | 0.55% |
| 2010 | 1.92% | 0.48% |
| 2009 | 1.89% | 0.5% |
| 2008 | 1.87% | 0.51% |
| 2007 | 1.7% | 0.52% |
| 2006 | 1.6% | 0.56% |
| 2005 | 1.7% | 0.59% |
| 2004 | 1.81% | 0.6% |
| 2003 | 1.92% | 0.62% |
| 2002 | 2.03% | 0.67% |
| 2001 | 2.12% | 0.73% |
| 2000 | 2.2% | 0.79% |
| 1999 | 2.25% | 0.87% |
| 1998 | 2.31% | 0.96% |
| 1997 | 2.37% | 1.03% |
| 1996 | 2.43% | 1.05% |
| 1995 | 2.5% | 1.09% |
| 1994 | 2.57% | 1.14% |
| 1993 | 2.64% | 1.16% |
| 1992 | 2.76% | 1.23% |
| 1991 | 2.86% | 1.37% |
| 1990 | 2.91% | 1.48% |
| 1989 | 2.97% | 1.54% |
| 1988 | 3.02% | 1.62% |
| 1987 | 3.25% | 1.62% |
| 1986 | 3.46% | 1.5% |
| 1985 | 3.43% | 1.37% |
| 1984 | 3.38% | 1.32% |
| 1983 | 3.32% | 1.46% |
| 1982 | 3.22% | 1.48% |
| 1981 | 3.15% | 1.29% |
| 1980 | 3.15% | 1.26% |
| 1979 | 3.17% | 1.34% |
| 1978 | 3.31% | 1.35% |
| 1977 | 3.47% | 1.37% |
| 1976 | 3.5% | 1.56% |
| 1975 | 3.55% | 1.78% |
| 1974 | 3.59% | 2.09% |
| 1973 | 3.64% | 2.31% |
| 1972 | 3.09% | 2.49% |
| 1971 | 2.06% | 2.78% |
| 1970 | 2.81% | 2.8% |
| 1969 | 4.14% | 2.78% |
| 1968 | 4.3% | 2.65% |
| 1967 | 4.44% | 2.6% |
| 1966 | 4.54% | 2.83% |
| 1965 | 4.64% | 2.41% |
| 1964 | 4.71% | 2.35% |
| 1963 | 4.59% | 2.49% |
| 1962 | 4.54% | 0.82% |
| 1961 | 4.72% | -1.01% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/brunei/china | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Brunei grew by 0.82%, while China's population declined by 0.12%.
Live population counters
|
Brunei
|
China
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
470884
|
1402578808
|
| Population rank | 170/197 | 2/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.006% | 16.9% |
| One net population change |
2.32 hours
|
18.2 seconds
|
| One birth every |
1.4 hours
|
3.5 seconds
|
| One death every |
3.65 hours
|
2.84 seconds
|
| Daily growth/decline | +10 | -4,753 |
| Annual growth/decline | +3,772 | -1,735,000 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.82% | -0.12% |
| Population growth rate rank | 114/197 | 173/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.08 years
|
1.97 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | +0 | -268,126 |
| Net migration rank | 77/196 | 189/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 119,933 | 1,638,718 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 124/195 | 43/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 25.9% | 0.1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 21/195 | 192/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Brunei
|
China
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 0 | - | -268,126 |
| 2024 | - | 0 | - | -318,992 |
| 2023 | 3,837 | 0 | -2,087,851 | -567,724 |
| 2022 | 3,319 | 0 | -847,305 | -293,846 |
| 2021 | 3,985 | 0 | 480,203 | -379,749 |
| 2020 | 4,188 | 462 | 2,046,095 | -91,577 |
| 2019 | 4,335 | 456 | 4,673,713 | -656,091 |
| 2018 | 4,502 | 450 | 5,302,433 | -198,206 |
| 2017 | 4,685 | 440 | 7,790,880 | -94,625 |
| 2016 | 4,876 | 415 | 9,062,269 | -153,056 |
| 2015 | 5,060 | 356 | 6,788,911 | -646,941 |
| 2014 | 5,206 | 303 | 9,205,180 | -371,108 |
| 2013 | 5,302 | 285 | 8,043,116 | -188,951 |
| 2012 | 5,349 | 346 | 10,075,174 | -58,864 |
| 2011 | 5,242 | 1,399 | 8,245,065 | -416,189 |
| 2010 | 5,003 | 2,479 | 6,407,607 | -184,144 |
| 2009 | 4,789 | 2,489 | 6,483,236 | -177,135 |
| 2008 | 4,624 | 2,409 | 6,729,247 | -764,370 |
| 2007 | 4,521 | 2,291 | 6,813,465 | -1,042,019 |
| 2006 | 4,590 | 1,030 | 6,922,185 | -759,559 |
| 2005 | 4,703 | 1,163 | 7,678,911 | -103,701 |
| 2004 | 4,874 | 1,261 | 7,607,960 | -770,977 |
| 2003 | 5,034 | 1,383 | 7,743,284 | -613,223 |
| 2002 | 5,169 | 1,499 | 8,258,580 | -761,291 |
| 2001 | 5,275 | 1,569 | 8,839,358 | -176,419 |
| 2000 | 5,331 | 1,660 | 9,570,849 | -62,622 |
| 1999 | 5,388 | 1,639 | 10,247,372 | -96,102 |
| 1998 | 5,466 | 1,566 | 11,351,286 | -40,472 |
| 1997 | 5,518 | 1,533 | 12,374,554 | -279,251 |
| 1996 | 5,606 | 1,464 | 12,686,872 | -250,750 |
| 1995 | 5,750 | 1,348 | 12,711,220 | -365,986 |
| 1994 | 5,907 | 1,206 | 13,360,470 | -723,641 |
| 1993 | 6,045 | 1,082 | 13,493,138 | -373,316 |
| 1992 | 6,169 | 969 | 13,548,601 | -142,985 |
| 1991 | 6,259 | 1,087 | 14,937,124 | -544,650 |
| 1990 | 6,265 | 992 | 16,335,313 | -11,187 |
| 1989 | 6,202 | 1,002 | 16,824,495 | -313,476 |
| 1988 | 6,135 | 962 | 17,328,640 | -282,194 |
| 1987 | 6,017 | 994 | 18,005,821 | -169,170 |
| 1986 | 5,826 | 1,897 | 16,609,920 | -79,190 |
| 1985 | 5,620 | 1,808 | 14,987,830 | -60,929 |
| 1984 | 5,373 | 1,722 | 13,561,671 | -51,961 |
| 1983 | 5,138 | 1,602 | 13,599,789 | -43,756 |
| 1982 | 4,931 | 1,475 | 15,815,318 | -36,181 |
| 1981 | 4,839 | 1,124 | 14,461,027 | -28,016 |
| 1980 | 4,775 | 995 | 11,647,260 | -20,129 |
| 1979 | 4,717 | 899 | 11,250,148 | -13,704 |
| 1978 | 4,668 | 791 | 11,473,980 | -9,916 |
| 1977 | 4,594 | 1,157 | 11,378,068 | -15,323 |
| 1976 | 4,518 | 1,080 | 11,782,472 | -55,109 |
| 1975 | 4,431 | 1,047 | 14,378,237 | -115,173 |
| 1974 | 4,334 | 1,011 | 15,738,118 | -175,239 |
| 1973 | 4,216 | 1,007 | 18,423,727 | -214,997 |
| 1972 | 4,085 | 1,053 | 19,102,585 | -215,650 |
| 1971 | 3,880 | -476 | 19,622,980 | -180,153 |
| 1970 | 3,694 | -1,538 | 21,137,076 | -126,510 |
| 1969 | 3,618 | 1,608 | 20,760,332 | -72,836 |
| 1968 | 3,551 | 1,677 | 21,206,083 | -37,290 |
| 1967 | 3,477 | 1,703 | 19,263,662 | 1,246,654 |
| 1966 | 3,403 | 1,697 | 19,282,187 | 4,165 |
| 1965 | 3,326 | 1,655 | 20,296,950 | -130,900 |
| 1964 | 3,264 | 1,595 | 19,302,532 | -1,250,441 |
| 1963 | 3,195 | 1,469 | 22,742,225 | -31,383 |
| 1962 | 3,128 | 1,088 | 17,969,132 | -31,305 |
| 1961 | 3,175 | 1,014 | 2,496,047 | -25,578 |
| 1960 | 3,168 | 982 | -3,048,510 | -16,927 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/brunei/china | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 93.9% of the population change in Brunei is from natural causes (a gain of 43,993 people) and 6.15% is from migration (a gain of 2,882 people). In China 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 42,414,528 people) and 7.53% is from migration (a loss of 3,452,923 people).
As of 2024, 119,933 residents or 25.9% of the population were not native-born in Brunei, compared to 1,638,718 people or 0.1% in China.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Brunei and China
|
Brunei
|
China
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 75.8 years | 79 years |
| Average age | 33.9 years | 40.5 years |
| Median age | 33.2 years | 40.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 53.1:46.9 | 50.9:49.1 |
| Fertility rate | 1.75 births per woman | 1 births per woman |
| Population density | 231 ppl/mi² | 387 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/brunei/china | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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