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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,406,585,000 in 2025 vs 3,607,003 people in Eritrea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,403,335,670 people compared to 3,722,489 in Eritrea.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 377 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Eritrea is the 131st.
  • The countries together account for 16.9% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.04% for Eritrea.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.23% per year vs +1.4% in Eritrea.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (7.04% growth), while Eritrea has grown from 2.7M to 3.72M (37.7% growth).

China vs Eritrea: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Eritrea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Eritrea
2100 633,662,382 8,522,007
2099 644,307,192 8,497,228
2098 655,044,881 8,474,268
2097 665,876,462 8,451,733
2096 676,803,171 8,429,569
2095 687,828,883 8,403,309
2094 698,966,872 8,377,316
2093 710,235,681 8,351,585
2092 721,640,723 8,316,183
2091 733,187,178 8,285,983
2090 744,903,105 8,250,998
2089 756,812,472 8,216,946
2088 768,893,004 8,179,696
2087 781,128,909 8,143,016
2086 793,508,970 8,100,028
2085 806,043,039 8,053,737
2084 818,709,832 8,006,588
2083 831,420,518 7,963,231
2082 844,177,036 7,918,571
2081 856,996,835 7,878,525
2080 869,821,040 7,822,491
2079 882,622,985 7,772,358
2078 895,372,147 7,718,520
2077 908,082,676 7,662,894
2076 920,776,984 7,607,491
2075 933,459,600 7,545,398
2074 946,141,456 7,490,761
2073 958,870,128 7,426,955
2072 971,639,931 7,364,831
2071 984,469,009 7,302,386
2070 997,391,342 7,237,419
2069 1,010,450,818 7,171,047
2068 1,023,633,867 7,100,633
2067 1,036,979,285 7,032,045
2066 1,050,453,924 6,958,496
2065 1,064,051,499 6,890,246
2064 1,077,787,979 6,820,756
2063 1,091,571,021 6,739,056
2062 1,105,429,748 6,665,261
2061 1,119,286,514 6,586,585
2060 1,133,115,260 6,506,537
2059 1,146,818,251 6,427,830
2058 1,160,340,554 6,348,527
2057 1,173,596,480 6,270,841
2056 1,186,578,041 6,199,452
2055 1,199,197,172 6,119,360
2054 1,211,403,028 6,044,997
2053 1,223,160,257 5,962,464
2052 1,234,474,716 5,877,006
2051 1,245,255,938 5,796,079
2050 1,255,501,171 5,715,974
2049 1,265,281,319 5,637,011
2048 1,274,572,888 5,554,665
2047 1,283,393,445 5,473,222
2046 1,291,830,414 5,391,902
2045 1,299,855,379 5,305,072
2044 1,307,510,531 5,220,319
2043 1,314,885,869 5,136,101
2042 1,322,032,311 5,048,602
2041 1,328,936,491 4,964,690
2040 1,335,577,799 4,875,172
2039 1,341,989,157 4,786,431
2038 1,348,134,255 4,697,052
2037 1,354,107,817 4,603,709
2036 1,359,866,705 4,510,757
2035 1,365,387,904 4,424,170
2034 1,370,679,807 4,336,556
2033 1,375,744,986 4,251,927
2032 1,380,528,766 4,168,824
2031 1,385,048,521 4,087,276
2030 1,389,269,809 4,002,343
2029 1,393,241,425 3,921,145
2028 1,396,917,178 3,839,994
2027 1,400,271,033 3,759,928
2026 1,403,335,670 3,682,948
2025 1,406,585,000 3,607,003
2024 1,408,975,000 3,535,603
2023 1,410,710,000 3,470,390
2022 1,412,175,000 3,409,447
2021 1,412,360,000 3,350,183
2020 1,411,100,000 3,291,271
2019 1,407,745,000 3,240,194
2018 1,402,760,000 3,192,760
2017 1,396,215,000 3,150,347
2016 1,387,790,000 3,124,698
2015 1,379,860,000 3,105,546
2014 1,371,860,000 3,095,173
2013 1,363,240,000 3,074,360
2012 1,354,190,000 3,036,988
2011 1,345,035,000 2,998,485
2010 1,337,705,000 2,945,186
2009 1,331,260,000 2,887,885
2008 1,324,655,000 2,816,327
2007 1,317,885,000 2,743,222
2006 1,311,020,000 2,703,502
2005 1,303,720,000 2,661,215
2004 1,296,075,000 2,598,284
2003 1,288,400,000 2,493,903
2002 1,280,400,000 2,392,978
2001 1,271,850,000 2,312,079
2000 1,262,645,000 2,247,031
1999 1,252,735,000 2,212,780
1998 1,241,935,000 2,180,419
1997 1,230,075,000 2,152,135
1996 1,217,550,000 2,128,464
1995 1,204,855,000 2,025,267
1994 1,191,835,000 1,913,915
1993 1,178,440,000 1,856,006
1992 1,164,970,000 1,798,748
1991 1,150,780,000 1,919,571
1990 1,135,185,000 2,032,737
1989 1,118,650,000 1,987,017
1988 1,101,630,000 1,938,255
1987 1,084,035,000 1,888,669
1986 1,066,790,000 1,845,164
1985 1,051,040,000 1,807,816
1984 1,036,825,000 1,771,730
1983 1,023,310,000 1,736,160
1982 1,008,630,000 1,695,461
1981 993,885,000 1,649,939
1980 981,235,000 1,605,797
1979 969,005,000 1,563,332
1978 956,165,000 1,522,378
1977 943,455,000 1,482,565
1976 930,685,000 1,443,807
1975 916,395,000 1,408,210
1974 900,350,000 1,375,688
1973 881,940,000 1,342,669
1972 862,030,000 1,309,235
1971 841,105,000 1,276,154
1970 818,315,000 1,243,453
1969 796,025,000 1,212,005
1968 774,510,000 1,181,737
1967 754,550,000 1,152,339
1966 735,400,000 1,124,957
1965 715,185,000 1,098,335
1964 698,355,000 1,071,287
1963 682,335,000 1,045,092
1962 665,770,000 1,019,788
1961 660,330,000 995,573
1960 667,070,000 972,547

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/china/eritrea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Eritrea gained 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% growth), while Eritrea's population increased by 597,791 people (a 19.1% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Eritrea was ranked 135th in 2006 and ranked 131st now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) China's population will shrink by 10.5% to 1,255,501,171 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of Eritrea will increase by 53.6% to 5,715,974 people and rank change from 131st to 123rd.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.52M people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 634M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Eritrea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Eritrea
2100 -1.65% 0.29%
2099 -1.64% 0.27%
2098 -1.63% 0.27%
2097 -1.61% 0.26%
2096 -1.6% 0.31%
2095 -1.59% 0.31%
2094 -1.59% 0.31%
2093 -1.58% 0.43%
2092 -1.57% 0.36%
2091 -1.57% 0.42%
2090 -1.57% 0.41%
2089 -1.57% 0.46%
2088 -1.57% 0.45%
2087 -1.56% 0.53%
2086 -1.56% 0.57%
2085 -1.55% 0.59%
2084 -1.53% 0.54%
2083 -1.51% 0.56%
2082 -1.5% 0.51%
2081 -1.47% 0.72%
2080 -1.45% 0.65%
2079 -1.42% 0.7%
2078 -1.4% 0.73%
2077 -1.38% 0.73%
2076 -1.36% 0.82%
2075 -1.34% 0.73%
2074 -1.33% 0.86%
2073 -1.31% 0.84%
2072 -1.3% 0.86%
2071 -1.3% 0.9%
2070 -1.29% 0.93%
2069 -1.29% 0.99%
2068 -1.29% 0.98%
2067 -1.28% 1.06%
2066 -1.28% 0.99%
2065 -1.27% 1.02%
2064 -1.26% 1.21%
2063 -1.25% 1.11%
2062 -1.24% 1.19%
2061 -1.22% 1.23%
2060 -1.19% 1.22%
2059 -1.17% 1.25%
2058 -1.13% 1.24%
2057 -1.09% 1.15%
2056 -1.05% 1.31%
2055 -1.01% 1.23%
2054 -0.96% 1.38%
2053 -0.92% 1.45%
2052 -0.87% 1.4%
2051 -0.82% 1.4%
2050 -0.77% 1.4%
2049 -0.73% 1.48%
2048 -0.69% 1.49%
2047 -0.65% 1.51%
2046 -0.62% 1.64%
2045 -0.59% 1.62%
2044 -0.56% 1.64%
2043 -0.54% 1.73%
2042 -0.52% 1.69%
2041 -0.5% 1.84%
2040 -0.48% 1.85%
2039 -0.46% 1.9%
2038 -0.44% 2.03%
2037 -0.42% 2.06%
2036 -0.4% 1.96%
2035 -0.39% 2.02%
2034 -0.37% 1.99%
2033 -0.35% 1.99%
2032 -0.33% 2%
2031 -0.3% 2.12%
2030 -0.29% 2.07%
2029 -0.26% 2.11%
2028 -0.24% 2.13%
2027 -0.22% 2.09%
2026 -0.23% 2.11%
2025 -0.17% 2.02%
2024 -0.12% 1.88%
2023 -0.1% 1.79%
2022 -0.01% 1.77%
2021 0.09% 1.79%
2020 0.24% 1.58%
2019 0.36% 1.49%
2018 0.47% 1.35%
2017 0.61% 0.82%
2016 0.57% 0.62%
2015 0.58% 0.34%
2014 0.63% 0.68%
2013 0.67% 1.23%
2012 0.68% 1.28%
2011 0.55% 1.81%
2010 0.48% 1.98%
2009 0.5% 2.54%
2008 0.51% 2.66%
2007 0.52% 1.47%
2006 0.56% 1.59%
2005 0.59% 2.42%
2004 0.6% 4.19%
2003 0.62% 4.22%
2002 0.67% 3.5%
2001 0.73% 2.89%
2000 0.79% 1.55%
1999 0.87% 1.48%
1998 0.96% 1.31%
1997 1.03% 1.11%
1996 1.05% 5.1%
1995 1.09% 5.82%
1994 1.14% 3.12%
1993 1.16% 3.18%
1992 1.23% -6.29%
1991 1.37% -5.57%
1990 1.48% 2.3%
1989 1.54% 2.52%
1988 1.62% 2.63%
1987 1.62% 2.36%
1986 1.5% 2.07%
1985 1.37% 2.04%
1984 1.32% 2.05%
1983 1.46% 2.4%
1982 1.48% 2.76%
1981 1.29% 2.75%
1980 1.26% 2.72%
1979 1.34% 2.69%
1978 1.35% 2.69%
1977 1.37% 2.68%
1976 1.56% 2.53%
1975 1.78% 2.36%
1974 2.09% 2.46%
1973 2.31% 2.55%
1972 2.49% 2.59%
1971 2.78% 2.63%
1970 2.8% 2.59%
1969 2.78% 2.56%
1968 2.65% 2.55%
1967 2.6% 2.43%
1966 2.83% 2.42%
1965 2.41% 2.52%
1964 2.35% 2.51%
1963 2.49% 2.48%
1962 0.82% 2.43%
1961 -1.01% 2.37%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/china/eritrea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of China declined by 0.17%, while Eritrea's population grew by 2.02%.

Live population counters

China Eritrea
Current population
1403335670
3722489
Population rank 2/197 131/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.04%
One net population change
13.2 seconds
7.38 minutes
One birth every
3.31 seconds
5.18 minutes
One death every
2.88 seconds
24.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline -6,548 +196
Annual growth/decline -2,390,000 +71,400
Annual growth/decline rate -0.17% +2.02%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 49/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
1.31 hours
Annual migration change -268,126 -6,698
Net migration rank 189/196 122/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 12,512
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 176/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 178/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Eritrea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Eritrea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - -6,698
2024 -1,394,886 -318,992 80,343 -12,696
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 78,073 -15,284
2022 -847,305 -293,846 76,221 -17,134
2021 480,203 -379,749 74,394 -14,966
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 73,362 -14,967
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 73,572 -29,818
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 72,511 -21,403
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 72,291 -38,579
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 73,002 -55,431
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 73,682 -52,965
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 75,729 -75,696
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 75,562 -33,974
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 76,416 -43,269
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 76,806 -32,949
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 76,098 -13,361
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 76,206 -24,348
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 73,391 17,855
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 73,101 -18,131
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 74,470 -49,998
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 72,930 -12,835
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 72,147 -6,374
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 66,291 76,703
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 65,436 -6,574
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 61,180 41,760
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 60,274 -33,133
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 45,120 -3,769
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 55,332 -31,951
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 63,953 -30,768
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 66,557 -52,421
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 56,157 136,105
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 56,288 -25,841
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 51,679 33,688
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 51,443 -22,293
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 57,741 -328,546
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 56,903 -12,425
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 54,299 -7,330
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 54,163 -3,612
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 52,229 -3,613
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 39,470 -1,073
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 37,362 -1,073
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 35,101 772
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 33,420 1,853
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 44,146 1,985
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 42,924 1,985
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 41,392 1,985
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 39,577 1,985
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 38,353 1,985
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 37,295 1,985
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 36,250 1,985
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 30,971 1,985
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 30,111 1,985
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 31,969 1,985
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 30,951 1,953
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 31,490 1,758
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 30,686 1,480
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 29,535 1,199
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 28,777 1,013
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 27,992 1,004
1966 19,282,187 4,165 24,713 1,063
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 26,285 1,188
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 25,327 1,300
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 24,393 1,368
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 23,478 1,364
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 22,351 1,235
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 21,424 1,045

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/china/eritrea | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 90.3% of the population change in China is from natural causes (a gain of 31,814,462 people) and 9.66% is from migration (a loss of 3,400,807 people). In Eritrea 73.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 747,451 people) and 26.8% is from migration (a loss of 273,243 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 12,512 people or 0.4% in Eritrea.

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
Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/china/eritrea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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