Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 3,535,603 people in Eritrea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 3,700,586 in Eritrea.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 379 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Eritrea is the 130th.
  • The countries together account for 17% 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 +0.3% per year vs +1.28% in Eritrea.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Eritrea has grown from 2.7M to 3.7M (36.9% growth).

China vs Eritrea: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Eritrea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Eritrea
2100 633,320,628 8,514,681
2099 643,959,697 8,489,924
2098 654,691,595 8,466,983
2097 665,517,335 8,444,468
2096 676,438,150 8,422,323
2095 687,457,915 8,396,086
2094 698,589,897 8,370,114
2093 709,852,629 8,344,405
2092 721,251,520 8,309,034
2091 732,791,748 8,278,860
2090 744,501,355 8,243,905
2089 756,404,299 8,209,883
2088 768,478,316 8,172,664
2087 780,707,622 8,136,016
2086 793,081,006 8,093,065
2085 805,608,315 8,046,814
2084 818,268,277 7,999,706
2083 830,972,107 7,956,385
2082 843,721,746 7,911,764
2081 856,534,631 7,871,753
2080 869,351,919 7,815,766
2079 882,146,959 7,765,677
2078 894,889,246 7,711,886
2077 907,592,919 7,656,307
2076 920,280,380 7,600,951
2075 932,956,157 7,538,912
2074 945,631,173 7,484,322
2073 958,352,980 7,420,571
2072 971,115,895 7,358,500
2071 983,938,054 7,296,109
2070 996,853,418 7,231,198
2069 1,009,905,851 7,164,883
2068 1,023,081,790 7,094,530
2067 1,036,420,010 7,026,000
2066 1,049,887,382 6,952,514
2065 1,063,477,623 6,884,323
2064 1,077,206,695 6,814,893
2063 1,090,982,303 6,733,263
2062 1,104,833,556 6,659,531
2061 1,118,682,849 6,580,923
2060 1,132,504,136 6,500,944
2059 1,146,199,736 6,422,305
2058 1,159,714,746 6,343,070
2057 1,172,963,523 6,265,450
2056 1,185,938,083 6,194,123
2055 1,198,550,408 6,114,099
2054 1,210,749,681 6,039,801
2053 1,222,500,569 5,957,339
2052 1,233,808,926 5,871,954
2051 1,244,584,333 5,791,096
2050 1,254,824,040 5,711,061
2049 1,264,598,914 5,632,165
2048 1,273,885,471 5,549,890
2047 1,282,701,271 5,468,518
2046 1,291,133,690 5,387,267
2045 1,299,154,327 5,300,511
2044 1,306,805,350 5,215,831
2043 1,314,176,710 5,131,686
2042 1,321,319,298 5,044,262
2041 1,328,219,755 4,960,422
2040 1,334,857,481 4,870,981
2039 1,341,265,381 4,782,316
2038 1,347,407,165 4,693,015
2037 1,353,377,505 4,599,752
2036 1,359,133,287 4,506,879
2035 1,364,651,508 4,420,367
2034 1,369,940,557 4,332,828
2033 1,375,003,005 4,248,272
2032 1,379,784,204 4,165,241
2031 1,384,301,522 4,083,762
2030 1,388,520,533 3,998,903
2029 1,392,490,007 3,917,775
2028 1,396,163,778 3,836,693
2027 1,399,515,824 3,756,696
2026 1,402,578,808 3,679,782
2025 1,405,826,385 3,603,902
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Eritrea's population increased by 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Eritrea was ranked 135th in 2006 and ranked 130th 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 Eritrea will increase by 54.3% to 5,711,061 people and rank change from 130th to 123rd.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M 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
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 -0.22% 1.93%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Eritrea's population grew by 1.88%.

Live population counters

China Eritrea
Current population
1402578808
3700586
Population rank 2/197 130/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.04%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
8.06 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
5.31 minutes
One death every
2.84 seconds
25 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +179
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +65,213
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +1.88%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 58/197
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 - -318,992 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/china/eritrea | 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 Eritrea 68.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 742,837 people) and 31.2% is from migration (a loss of 336,243 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 (1960–2024, 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/eritrea | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. 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.