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Population in China compared to Denmark: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 5,976,992 people in Denmark in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 6,032,403 in Denmark.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 232.5 times bigger than Denmark's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Denmark is the 114th.
  • The countries together account for 17% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.07% for Denmark.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +0.57% in Denmark.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Denmark has grown from 5.44M to 6.03M (10.9% growth).

China vs Denmark: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Denmark
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Denmark
2100 633,320,628 5,879,692
2099 643,959,697 5,887,324
2098 654,691,595 5,894,688
2097 665,517,335 5,902,451
2096 676,438,150 5,909,729
2095 687,457,915 5,917,219
2094 698,589,897 5,925,288
2093 709,852,629 5,933,241
2092 721,251,520 5,941,337
2091 732,791,748 5,949,626
2090 744,501,355 5,958,205
2089 756,404,299 5,966,645
2088 768,478,316 5,974,290
2087 780,707,622 5,982,321
2086 793,081,006 5,989,976
2085 805,608,315 5,997,455
2084 818,268,277 6,004,175
2083 830,972,107 6,010,595
2082 843,721,746 6,016,013
2081 856,534,631 6,020,048
2080 869,351,919 6,023,906
2079 882,146,959 6,027,570
2078 894,889,246 6,030,553
2077 907,592,919 6,033,561
2076 920,280,380 6,037,007
2075 932,956,157 6,039,523
2074 945,631,173 6,041,944
2073 958,352,980 6,044,803
2072 971,115,895 6,046,641
2071 983,938,054 6,048,624
2070 996,853,418 6,051,078
2069 1,009,905,851 6,053,869
2068 1,023,081,790 6,056,924
2067 1,036,420,010 6,060,476
2066 1,049,887,382 6,064,191
2065 1,063,477,623 6,069,049
2064 1,077,206,695 6,073,904
2063 1,090,982,303 6,078,625
2062 1,104,833,556 6,083,792
2061 1,118,682,849 6,088,815
2060 1,132,504,136 6,094,310
2059 1,146,199,736 6,099,236
2058 1,159,714,746 6,103,864
2057 1,172,963,523 6,108,995
2056 1,185,938,083 6,114,524
2055 1,198,550,408 6,120,037
2054 1,210,749,681 6,124,581
2053 1,222,500,569 6,129,266
2052 1,233,808,926 6,132,944
2051 1,244,584,333 6,136,666
2050 1,254,824,040 6,139,893
2049 1,264,598,914 6,142,477
2048 1,273,885,471 6,144,414
2047 1,282,701,271 6,146,231
2046 1,291,133,690 6,147,918
2045 1,299,154,327 6,148,320
2044 1,306,805,350 6,149,066
2043 1,314,176,710 6,149,226
2042 1,321,319,298 6,149,216
2041 1,328,219,755 6,148,827
2040 1,334,857,481 6,147,418
2039 1,341,265,381 6,145,884
2038 1,347,407,165 6,142,758
2037 1,353,377,505 6,139,788
2036 1,359,133,287 6,135,708
2035 1,364,651,508 6,130,764
2034 1,369,940,557 6,124,513
2033 1,375,003,005 6,117,467
2032 1,379,784,204 6,110,061
2031 1,384,301,522 6,100,566
2030 1,388,520,533 6,090,119
2029 1,392,490,007 6,077,752
2028 1,396,163,778 6,063,214
2027 1,399,515,824 6,046,188
2026 1,402,578,808 6,027,292
2025 1,405,826,385 6,004,069
2024 1,408,975,000 5,976,992
2023 1,410,710,000 5,946,952
2022 1,412,175,000 5,903,037
2021 1,412,360,000 5,856,733
2020 1,411,100,000 5,831,404
2019 1,407,745,000 5,814,422
2018 1,402,760,000 5,793,636
2017 1,396,215,000 5,764,980
2016 1,387,790,000 5,728,010
2015 1,379,860,000 5,683,483
2014 1,371,860,000 5,643,475
2013 1,363,240,000 5,614,932
2012 1,354,190,000 5,591,572
2011 1,345,035,000 5,570,572
2010 1,337,705,000 5,547,683
2009 1,331,260,000 5,523,095
2008 1,324,655,000 5,493,621
2007 1,317,885,000 5,461,438
2006 1,311,020,000 5,437,272
2005 1,303,720,000 5,419,432
2004 1,296,075,000 5,404,523
2003 1,288,400,000 5,390,574
2002 1,280,400,000 5,375,931
2001 1,271,850,000 5,358,783
2000 1,262,645,000 5,339,616
1999 1,252,735,000 5,321,799
1998 1,241,935,000 5,304,219
1997 1,230,075,000 5,284,991
1996 1,217,550,000 5,263,074
1995 1,204,855,000 5,233,373
1994 1,191,835,000 5,206,180
1993 1,178,440,000 5,188,628
1992 1,164,970,000 5,171,370
1991 1,150,780,000 5,154,298
1990 1,135,185,000 5,140,939
1989 1,118,650,000 5,132,594
1988 1,101,630,000 5,129,516
1987 1,084,035,000 5,127,024
1986 1,066,790,000 5,120,534
1985 1,051,040,000 5,113,691
1984 1,036,825,000 5,111,619
1983 1,023,310,000 5,114,297
1982 1,008,630,000 5,117,810
1981 993,885,000 5,121,572
1980 981,235,000 5,123,027
1979 969,005,000 5,116,801
1978 956,165,000 5,104,248
1977 943,455,000 5,088,419
1976 930,685,000 5,072,596
1975 916,395,000 5,059,862
1974 900,350,000 5,045,297
1973 881,940,000 5,021,861
1972 862,030,000 4,991,596
1971 841,105,000 4,963,126
1970 818,315,000 4,928,757
1969 796,025,000 4,891,860
1968 774,510,000 4,864,883
1967 754,550,000 4,835,354
1966 735,400,000 4,797,381
1965 715,185,000 4,759,012
1964 698,355,000 4,722,072
1963 682,335,000 4,684,483
1962 665,770,000 4,647,727
1961 660,330,000 4,611,687
1960 667,070,000 4,579,603

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/denmark | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Denmark gained 290,738 people (a 5.35% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Denmark's population increased by 304,393 people (a 5.31% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Denmark was ranked 108th in 2006 and ranked 114th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) China's population will shrink by 10.5% to 1,254,824,040 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of Denmark will increase by 1.78% to 6,139,893 people and rank change from 114th to 120th.

Denmark is projected to reach its peak in 2043 at 6.15M 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

China
Factual

Projection
Denmark
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Denmark
2100 -1.65% -0.13%
2099 -1.64% -0.12%
2098 -1.63% -0.13%
2097 -1.61% -0.12%
2096 -1.6% -0.13%
2095 -1.59% -0.14%
2094 -1.59% -0.13%
2093 -1.58% -0.14%
2092 -1.57% -0.14%
2091 -1.57% -0.14%
2090 -1.57% -0.14%
2089 -1.57% -0.13%
2088 -1.57% -0.13%
2087 -1.56% -0.13%
2086 -1.56% -0.12%
2085 -1.55% -0.11%
2084 -1.53% -0.11%
2083 -1.51% -0.09%
2082 -1.5% -0.07%
2081 -1.47% -0.06%
2080 -1.45% -0.06%
2079 -1.42% -0.05%
2078 -1.4% -0.05%
2077 -1.38% -0.06%
2076 -1.36% -0.04%
2075 -1.34% -0.04%
2074 -1.33% -0.05%
2073 -1.31% -0.03%
2072 -1.3% -0.03%
2071 -1.3% -0.04%
2070 -1.29% -0.05%
2069 -1.29% -0.05%
2068 -1.29% -0.06%
2067 -1.28% -0.06%
2066 -1.28% -0.08%
2065 -1.27% -0.08%
2064 -1.26% -0.08%
2063 -1.25% -0.08%
2062 -1.24% -0.08%
2061 -1.22% -0.09%
2060 -1.19% -0.08%
2059 -1.17% -0.08%
2058 -1.13% -0.08%
2057 -1.09% -0.09%
2056 -1.05% -0.09%
2055 -1.01% -0.07%
2054 -0.96% -0.08%
2053 -0.92% -0.06%
2052 -0.87% -0.06%
2051 -0.82% -0.05%
2050 -0.77% -0.04%
2049 -0.73% -0.03%
2048 -0.69% -0.03%
2047 -0.65% -0.03%
2046 -0.62% -0.007%
2045 -0.59% -0.01%
2044 -0.56% -0.003%
2043 -0.54% 0%
2042 -0.52% 0.006%
2041 -0.5% 0.02%
2040 -0.48% 0.02%
2039 -0.46% 0.05%
2038 -0.44% 0.05%
2037 -0.42% 0.07%
2036 -0.4% 0.08%
2035 -0.39% 0.1%
2034 -0.37% 0.12%
2033 -0.35% 0.12%
2032 -0.33% 0.16%
2031 -0.3% 0.17%
2030 -0.29% 0.2%
2029 -0.26% 0.24%
2028 -0.24% 0.28%
2027 -0.22% 0.31%
2026 -0.23% 0.39%
2025 -0.22% 0.45%
2024 -0.12% 0.51%
2023 -0.1% 0.74%
2022 -0.01% 0.79%
2021 0.09% 0.43%
2020 0.24% 0.29%
2019 0.36% 0.36%
2018 0.47% 0.5%
2017 0.61% 0.65%
2016 0.57% 0.78%
2015 0.58% 0.71%
2014 0.63% 0.51%
2013 0.67% 0.42%
2012 0.68% 0.38%
2011 0.55% 0.41%
2010 0.48% 0.45%
2009 0.5% 0.54%
2008 0.51% 0.59%
2007 0.52% 0.44%
2006 0.56% 0.33%
2005 0.59% 0.28%
2004 0.6% 0.26%
2003 0.62% 0.27%
2002 0.67% 0.32%
2001 0.73% 0.36%
2000 0.79% 0.33%
1999 0.87% 0.33%
1998 0.96% 0.36%
1997 1.03% 0.42%
1996 1.05% 0.57%
1995 1.09% 0.52%
1994 1.14% 0.34%
1993 1.16% 0.33%
1992 1.23% 0.33%
1991 1.37% 0.26%
1990 1.48% 0.16%
1989 1.54% 0.06%
1988 1.62% 0.05%
1987 1.62% 0.13%
1986 1.5% 0.13%
1985 1.37% 0.04%
1984 1.32% -0.05%
1983 1.46% -0.07%
1982 1.48% -0.07%
1981 1.29% -0.03%
1980 1.26% 0.12%
1979 1.34% 0.25%
1978 1.35% 0.31%
1977 1.37% 0.31%
1976 1.56% 0.25%
1975 1.78% 0.29%
1974 2.09% 0.47%
1973 2.31% 0.61%
1972 2.49% 0.57%
1971 2.78% 0.7%
1970 2.8% 0.75%
1969 2.78% 0.55%
1968 2.65% 0.61%
1967 2.6% 0.79%
1966 2.83% 0.81%
1965 2.41% 0.78%
1964 2.35% 0.8%
1963 2.49% 0.79%
1962 0.82% 0.78%
1961 -1.01% 0.7%

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/china/denmark | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Denmark's population grew by 0.51%.

Live population counters

China Denmark
Current population
1402578808
6032403
Population rank 2/197 114/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.07%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
17.5 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
9.11 minutes
One death every
2.84 seconds
9.02 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +82
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +30,040
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +0.51%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 132/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
23.8 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 +22,103
Net migration rank 189/196 32/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 847,475
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 65/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 14.2%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 46/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Denmark
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Denmark
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 22,103
2024 - -318,992 - 25,639
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 -595 31,006
2022 -847,305 -293,846 -1,180 60,219
2021 480,203 -379,749 5,857 26,887
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 5,831 10,851
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 6,977 9,488
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 6,373 18,919
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 8,071 24,561
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 9,165 33,391
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 5,683 42,284
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 5,644 27,242
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 3,931 21,359
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 5,592 16,871
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 6,685 13,495
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 8,876 17,533
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 8,285 15,551
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 10,438 25,775
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 8,192 20,560
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 9,787 10,491
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 9,755 6,887
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 9,188 5,166
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 7,007 7,228
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 5,376 9,629
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 6,967 12,192
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 9,078 10,441
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 6,919 9,520
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 7,956 11,098
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 7,927 12,269
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 6,842 17,534
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 6,280 28,958
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 8,850 10,766
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 4,670 11,411
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 6,722 11,937
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 4,639 10,827
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 2,056 8,667
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 2,053 3,720
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 0 677
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 -1,538 6,338
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 -2,561 11,463
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 -4,603 9,957
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 -5,623 4,325
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 -6,649 1,952
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 -2,559 235
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 -3,073 -1,741
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 1,537 803
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 4,605 5,808
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 9,187 5,678
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 11,703 5,548
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 11,667 3,182
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 20,746 -10,672
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 19,676 -437
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 21,092 7,107
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 24,958 7,053
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 26,801 -1,159
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 22,673 20,947
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 23,481 6,687
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 27,243 -3,557
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 33,363 1,623
1966 19,282,187 4,165 38,858 2,011
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 37,596 -2,098
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 36,832 1,333
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 36,539 594
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 32,070 3,900
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 33,205 3,012
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 32,515 -4,047

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/china/denmark | 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). In Denmark 15.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 51,826 people) and 84.6% is from migration (a gain of 284,848 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 847,475 people or 14.2% in Denmark.

Biggest cities by population

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
Denmark
City Population
Copenhagen 667K
Aarhus 291K
Odense 185K
Aalborg 122K
Frederiksberg 106K
Gentofte 75.8K
Esbjerg 71.6K
Randers 64.5K
Horsens 64.4K
Kolding 63.6K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

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/denmark | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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