The current population of China is 1,402,578,808 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 1,408,975,000 in 2024.
- Since 2006, population has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth in 20 years).
- China is ranked 2/197 by population and was ranked 1st in 2006.
- The UN estimates that China's population is going to decline by -10.5% to 1.25B people by 2050.
- For the last 20 years, China has had an average growth rate of 0.35% per year.
- China accounts for 16.9% of the world's population.
- China's population peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and has been in decline since.
China population and growth rate by year
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | 633,320,628 | -1.65% |
| 2099 | 643,959,697 | -1.64% |
| 2098 | 654,691,595 | -1.63% |
| 2097 | 665,517,335 | -1.61% |
| 2096 | 676,438,150 | -1.6% |
| 2095 | 687,457,915 | -1.59% |
| 2094 | 698,589,897 | -1.59% |
| 2093 | 709,852,629 | -1.58% |
| 2092 | 721,251,520 | -1.57% |
| 2091 | 732,791,748 | -1.57% |
| 2090 | 744,501,355 | -1.57% |
| 2089 | 756,404,299 | -1.57% |
| 2088 | 768,478,316 | -1.57% |
| 2087 | 780,707,622 | -1.56% |
| 2086 | 793,081,006 | -1.56% |
| 2085 | 805,608,315 | -1.55% |
| 2084 | 818,268,277 | -1.53% |
| 2083 | 830,972,107 | -1.51% |
| 2082 | 843,721,746 | -1.5% |
| 2081 | 856,534,631 | -1.47% |
| 2080 | 869,351,919 | -1.45% |
| 2079 | 882,146,959 | -1.42% |
| 2078 | 894,889,246 | -1.4% |
| 2077 | 907,592,919 | -1.38% |
| 2076 | 920,280,380 | -1.36% |
| 2075 | 932,956,157 | -1.34% |
| 2074 | 945,631,173 | -1.33% |
| 2073 | 958,352,980 | -1.31% |
| 2072 | 971,115,895 | -1.3% |
| 2071 | 983,938,054 | -1.3% |
| 2070 | 996,853,418 | -1.29% |
| 2069 | 1,009,905,851 | -1.29% |
| 2068 | 1,023,081,790 | -1.29% |
| 2067 | 1,036,420,010 | -1.28% |
| 2066 | 1,049,887,382 | -1.28% |
| 2065 | 1,063,477,623 | -1.27% |
| 2064 | 1,077,206,695 | -1.26% |
| 2063 | 1,090,982,303 | -1.25% |
| 2062 | 1,104,833,556 | -1.24% |
| 2061 | 1,118,682,849 | -1.22% |
| 2060 | 1,132,504,136 | -1.19% |
| 2059 | 1,146,199,736 | -1.17% |
| 2058 | 1,159,714,746 | -1.13% |
| 2057 | 1,172,963,523 | -1.09% |
| 2056 | 1,185,938,083 | -1.05% |
| 2055 | 1,198,550,408 | -1.01% |
| 2054 | 1,210,749,681 | -0.96% |
| 2053 | 1,222,500,569 | -0.92% |
| 2052 | 1,233,808,926 | -0.87% |
| 2051 | 1,244,584,333 | -0.82% |
| 2050 | 1,254,824,040 | -0.77% |
| 2049 | 1,264,598,914 | -0.73% |
| 2048 | 1,273,885,471 | -0.69% |
| 2047 | 1,282,701,271 | -0.65% |
| 2046 | 1,291,133,690 | -0.62% |
| 2045 | 1,299,154,327 | -0.59% |
| 2044 | 1,306,805,350 | -0.56% |
| 2043 | 1,314,176,710 | -0.54% |
| 2042 | 1,321,319,298 | -0.52% |
| 2041 | 1,328,219,755 | -0.5% |
| 2040 | 1,334,857,481 | -0.48% |
| 2039 | 1,341,265,381 | -0.46% |
| 2038 | 1,347,407,165 | -0.44% |
| 2037 | 1,353,377,505 | -0.42% |
| 2036 | 1,359,133,287 | -0.4% |
| 2035 | 1,364,651,508 | -0.39% |
| 2034 | 1,369,940,557 | -0.37% |
| 2033 | 1,375,003,005 | -0.35% |
| 2032 | 1,379,784,204 | -0.33% |
| 2031 | 1,384,301,522 | -0.3% |
| 2030 | 1,388,520,533 | -0.29% |
| 2029 | 1,392,490,007 | -0.26% |
| 2028 | 1,396,163,778 | -0.24% |
| 2027 | 1,399,515,824 | -0.22% |
| 2026 | 1,402,578,808 | -0.23% |
| 2025 | 1,405,826,385 | -0.22% |
| 2024 | 1,408,975,000 | -0.12% |
| 2023 | 1,410,710,000 | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 1,412,175,000 | -0.01% |
| 2021 | 1,412,360,000 | 0.09% |
| 2020 | 1,411,100,000 | 0.24% |
| 2019 | 1,407,745,000 | 0.36% |
| 2018 | 1,402,760,000 | 0.47% |
| 2017 | 1,396,215,000 | 0.61% |
| 2016 | 1,387,790,000 | 0.57% |
| 2015 | 1,379,860,000 | 0.58% |
| 2014 | 1,371,860,000 | 0.63% |
| 2013 | 1,363,240,000 | 0.67% |
| 2012 | 1,354,190,000 | 0.68% |
| 2011 | 1,345,035,000 | 0.55% |
| 2010 | 1,337,705,000 | 0.48% |
| 2009 | 1,331,260,000 | 0.5% |
| 2008 | 1,324,655,000 | 0.51% |
| 2007 | 1,317,885,000 | 0.52% |
| 2006 | 1,311,020,000 | 0.56% |
| 2005 | 1,303,720,000 | 0.59% |
| 2004 | 1,296,075,000 | 0.6% |
| 2003 | 1,288,400,000 | 0.62% |
| 2002 | 1,280,400,000 | 0.67% |
| 2001 | 1,271,850,000 | 0.73% |
| 2000 | 1,262,645,000 | 0.79% |
| 1999 | 1,252,735,000 | 0.87% |
| 1998 | 1,241,935,000 | 0.96% |
| 1997 | 1,230,075,000 | 1.03% |
| 1996 | 1,217,550,000 | 1.05% |
| 1995 | 1,204,855,000 | 1.09% |
| 1994 | 1,191,835,000 | 1.14% |
| 1993 | 1,178,440,000 | 1.16% |
| 1992 | 1,164,970,000 | 1.23% |
| 1991 | 1,150,780,000 | 1.37% |
| 1990 | 1,135,185,000 | 1.48% |
| 1989 | 1,118,650,000 | 1.54% |
| 1988 | 1,101,630,000 | 1.62% |
| 1987 | 1,084,035,000 | 1.62% |
| 1986 | 1,066,790,000 | 1.5% |
| 1985 | 1,051,040,000 | 1.37% |
| 1984 | 1,036,825,000 | 1.32% |
| 1983 | 1,023,310,000 | 1.46% |
| 1982 | 1,008,630,000 | 1.48% |
| 1981 | 993,885,000 | 1.29% |
| 1980 | 981,235,000 | 1.26% |
| 1979 | 969,005,000 | 1.34% |
| 1978 | 956,165,000 | 1.35% |
| 1977 | 943,455,000 | 1.37% |
| 1976 | 930,685,000 | 1.56% |
| 1975 | 916,395,000 | 1.78% |
| 1974 | 900,350,000 | 2.09% |
| 1973 | 881,940,000 | 2.31% |
| 1972 | 862,030,000 | 2.49% |
| 1971 | 841,105,000 | 2.78% |
| 1970 | 818,315,000 | 2.8% |
| 1969 | 796,025,000 | 2.78% |
| 1968 | 774,510,000 | 2.65% |
| 1967 | 754,550,000 | 2.6% |
| 1966 | 735,400,000 | 2.83% |
| 1965 | 715,185,000 | 2.41% |
| 1964 | 698,355,000 | 2.35% |
| 1963 | 682,335,000 | 2.49% |
| 1962 | 665,770,000 | 0.82% |
| 1961 | 660,330,000 | -1.01% |
| 1960 | 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/china | CC BY 
China has a population of 1.4B as of 2026, compared to 1.39B in 2016, 1.31B in 2006, and 1.22B in 1996.
Over the past 10 years, the population has had a trend to increase by an average of 0.11% per year. China is ranked 155th out of 197 countries by a 10-year average growth rate.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 20 years (in 2046) China will have 1,291,133,690 people (-7.95% decline) and still will be ranked 2nd.
By the year 2100, China's population is projected to decline by 54.8% from its current level to 633M people.
Natural change and net migration by year
| Year | Population change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Natural | Net migration | |
| 2025 | - | - | -268,126 |
| 2024 | - | - | -318,992 |
| 2023 | -2,655,575 | -2,087,851 | -567,724 |
| 2022 | -1,141,151 | -847,305 | -293,846 |
| 2021 | 100,454 | 480,203 | -379,749 |
| 2020 | 1,954,518 | 2,046,095 | -91,577 |
| 2019 | 4,017,622 | 4,673,713 | -656,091 |
| 2018 | 5,104,227 | 5,302,433 | -198,206 |
| 2017 | 7,696,255 | 7,790,880 | -94,625 |
| 2016 | 8,909,213 | 9,062,269 | -153,056 |
| 2015 | 6,141,970 | 6,788,911 | -646,941 |
| 2014 | 8,834,072 | 9,205,180 | -371,108 |
| 2013 | 7,854,165 | 8,043,116 | -188,951 |
| 2012 | 10,016,310 | 10,075,174 | -58,864 |
| 2011 | 7,828,876 | 8,245,065 | -416,189 |
| 2010 | 6,223,463 | 6,407,607 | -184,144 |
| 2009 | 6,306,101 | 6,483,236 | -177,135 |
| 2008 | 5,964,877 | 6,729,247 | -764,370 |
| 2007 | 5,771,446 | 6,813,465 | -1,042,019 |
| 2006 | 6,162,626 | 6,922,185 | -759,559 |
| 2005 | 7,575,210 | 7,678,911 | -103,701 |
| 2004 | 6,836,983 | 7,607,960 | -770,977 |
| 2003 | 7,130,061 | 7,743,284 | -613,223 |
| 2002 | 7,497,289 | 8,258,580 | -761,291 |
| 2001 | 8,662,939 | 8,839,358 | -176,419 |
| 2000 | 9,508,227 | 9,570,849 | -62,622 |
| 1999 | 10,151,270 | 10,247,372 | -96,102 |
| 1998 | 11,310,814 | 11,351,286 | -40,472 |
| 1997 | 12,095,303 | 12,374,554 | -279,251 |
| 1996 | 12,436,122 | 12,686,872 | -250,750 |
| 1995 | 12,345,234 | 12,711,220 | -365,986 |
| 1994 | 12,636,829 | 13,360,470 | -723,641 |
| 1993 | 13,119,822 | 13,493,138 | -373,316 |
| 1992 | 13,405,616 | 13,548,601 | -142,985 |
| 1991 | 14,392,474 | 14,937,124 | -544,650 |
| 1990 | 16,324,126 | 16,335,313 | -11,187 |
| 1989 | 16,511,019 | 16,824,495 | -313,476 |
| 1988 | 17,046,446 | 17,328,640 | -282,194 |
| 1987 | 17,836,651 | 18,005,821 | -169,170 |
| 1986 | 16,530,730 | 16,609,920 | -79,190 |
| 1985 | 14,926,901 | 14,987,830 | -60,929 |
| 1984 | 13,509,710 | 13,561,671 | -51,961 |
| 1983 | 13,556,033 | 13,599,789 | -43,756 |
| 1982 | 15,779,137 | 15,815,318 | -36,181 |
| 1981 | 14,433,011 | 14,461,027 | -28,016 |
| 1980 | 11,627,131 | 11,647,260 | -20,129 |
| 1979 | 11,236,444 | 11,250,148 | -13,704 |
| 1978 | 11,464,064 | 11,473,980 | -9,916 |
| 1977 | 11,362,745 | 11,378,068 | -15,323 |
| 1976 | 11,727,363 | 11,782,472 | -55,109 |
| 1975 | 14,263,064 | 14,378,237 | -115,173 |
| 1974 | 15,562,879 | 15,738,118 | -175,239 |
| 1973 | 18,208,730 | 18,423,727 | -214,997 |
| 1972 | 18,886,935 | 19,102,585 | -215,650 |
| 1971 | 19,442,827 | 19,622,980 | -180,153 |
| 1970 | 21,010,566 | 21,137,076 | -126,510 |
| 1969 | 20,687,496 | 20,760,332 | -72,836 |
| 1968 | 21,168,793 | 21,206,083 | -37,290 |
| 1967 | 20,510,316 | 19,263,662 | 1,246,654 |
| 1966 | 19,286,352 | 19,282,187 | 4,165 |
| 1965 | 20,166,050 | 20,296,950 | -130,900 |
| 1964 | 18,052,091 | 19,302,532 | -1,250,441 |
| 1963 | 22,710,842 | 22,742,225 | -31,383 |
| 1962 | 17,937,827 | 17,969,132 | -31,305 |
| 1961 | 2,470,469 | 2,496,047 | -25,578 |
| 1960 | -3,065,437 | -3,048,510 | -16,927 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/china | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 92.5% of the population change in China 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, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 1,010,008 and 0.1% in 2010.
China population clock
China
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
1402578808
|
2/197 |
| Percent of world population | 16.9% | 2/197 |
| One net population change |
18.2 seconds
|
197/197 |
| One birth every |
3.5 seconds
|
2/196 |
| One death every |
2.84 seconds
|
1/196 |
| Daily growth/decline | -4,753 | 197/197 |
| Annual growth/decline | -1,735,000 | 197/197 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -0.12% | 173/197 |
| One migration net change every |
1.97 minutes
|
189/196 |
| Annual migration change | -268,126 | 189/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 1,638,718 | 43/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.1% | 192/195 |
Largest cities by population
Compare countries by 7 more topics
China population statistics
|
China
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 79 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 40.5 years | 33.8 years |
| Median age | 40.6 years | 31.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 50.9:49.1 | 50.3:49.7 |
| Fertility rate | 1 births per woman | 2.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 387 ppl/mi² | 144 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/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)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.