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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,406,585,000 in 2025 vs 135,472,051 people in Ethiopia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,403,335,670 people compared to 140,722,974 in Ethiopia.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 9.97 times bigger than Ethiopia's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Ethiopia is the 10th.
  • The countries together account for 18.6% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 1.69% for Ethiopia.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.23% per year vs +2.69% in Ethiopia.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (7.04% growth), while Ethiopia has grown from 80.7M to 141M (74.4% growth).

China vs Ethiopia: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Ethiopia
2100 633,662,382 371,078,260
2099 644,307,192 369,338,252
2098 655,044,881 367,513,542
2097 665,876,462 365,567,496
2096 676,803,171 363,536,294
2095 687,828,883 361,596,042
2094 698,966,872 359,531,317
2093 710,235,681 357,460,480
2092 721,640,723 355,389,829
2091 733,187,178 353,218,632
2090 744,903,105 350,960,021
2089 756,812,472 348,751,618
2088 768,893,004 346,517,326
2087 781,128,909 344,162,324
2086 793,508,970 341,671,994
2085 806,043,039 339,167,930
2084 818,709,832 336,649,520
2083 831,420,518 334,083,247
2082 844,177,036 331,401,460
2081 856,996,835 328,715,487
2080 869,821,040 326,013,981
2079 882,622,985 323,282,865
2078 895,372,147 320,422,535
2077 908,082,676 317,492,915
2076 920,776,984 314,518,328
2075 933,459,600 311,487,723
2074 946,141,456 308,416,133
2073 958,870,128 305,383,505
2072 971,639,931 302,258,564
2071 984,469,009 299,119,280
2070 997,391,342 295,963,235
2069 1,010,450,818 292,756,723
2068 1,023,633,867 289,522,748
2067 1,036,979,285 286,191,689
2066 1,050,453,924 282,905,709
2065 1,064,051,499 279,576,283
2064 1,077,787,979 276,197,958
2063 1,091,571,021 272,782,685
2062 1,105,429,748 269,340,926
2061 1,119,286,514 265,803,351
2060 1,133,115,260 262,269,354
2059 1,146,818,251 258,692,767
2058 1,160,340,554 255,205,644
2057 1,173,596,480 251,656,356
2056 1,186,578,041 248,002,497
2055 1,199,197,172 244,426,069
2054 1,211,403,028 240,794,405
2053 1,223,160,257 237,155,110
2052 1,234,474,716 233,479,314
2051 1,245,255,938 229,733,593
2050 1,255,501,171 226,055,085
2049 1,265,281,319 222,351,471
2048 1,274,572,888 218,627,197
2047 1,283,393,445 214,883,954
2046 1,291,830,414 211,161,780
2045 1,299,855,379 207,461,987
2044 1,307,510,531 203,749,820
2043 1,314,885,869 200,035,613
2042 1,322,032,311 196,351,202
2041 1,328,936,491 192,689,672
2040 1,335,577,799 189,023,384
2039 1,341,989,157 185,365,776
2038 1,348,134,255 181,733,067
2037 1,354,107,817 178,124,993
2036 1,359,866,705 174,515,366
2035 1,365,387,904 170,904,339
2034 1,370,679,807 167,316,305
2033 1,375,744,986 163,763,376
2032 1,380,528,766 160,167,364
2031 1,385,048,521 156,590,018
2030 1,389,269,809 153,023,174
2029 1,393,241,425 149,461,578
2028 1,396,917,178 145,944,350
2027 1,400,271,033 142,419,893
2026 1,403,335,670 138,930,724
2025 1,406,585,000 135,472,051
2024 1,408,975,000 132,059,767
2023 1,410,710,000 128,691,692
2022 1,412,175,000 125,384,287
2021 1,412,360,000 122,138,588
2020 1,411,100,000 118,917,671
2019 1,407,745,000 115,737,383
2018 1,402,760,000 112,664,152
2017 1,396,215,000 109,666,481
2016 1,387,790,000 106,718,162
2015 1,379,860,000 103,867,135
2014 1,371,860,000 101,115,610
2013 1,363,240,000 98,438,751
2012 1,354,190,000 95,798,767
2011 1,345,035,000 93,149,970
2010 1,337,705,000 90,538,514
2009 1,331,260,000 88,007,636
2008 1,324,655,000 85,543,668
2007 1,317,885,000 83,103,217
2006 1,311,020,000 80,703,490
2005 1,303,720,000 78,367,470
2004 1,296,075,000 76,077,206
2003 1,288,400,000 73,832,663
2002 1,280,400,000 71,635,517
2001 1,271,850,000 69,487,762
2000 1,262,645,000 67,411,494
1999 1,252,735,000 65,374,561
1998 1,241,935,000 63,363,524
1997 1,230,075,000 61,404,539
1996 1,217,550,000 59,467,635
1995 1,204,855,000 57,537,335
1994 1,191,835,000 55,611,508
1993 1,178,440,000 53,708,891
1992 1,164,970,000 51,853,747
1991 1,150,780,000 49,717,198
1990 1,135,185,000 47,609,755
1989 1,118,650,000 45,879,690
1988 1,101,630,000 44,150,825
1987 1,084,035,000 42,460,039
1986 1,066,790,000 41,037,656
1985 1,051,040,000 39,842,136
1984 1,036,825,000 38,735,722
1983 1,023,310,000 37,740,817
1982 1,008,630,000 36,701,290
1981 993,885,000 35,304,012
1980 981,235,000 34,428,514
1979 969,005,000 34,238,652
1978 956,165,000 33,734,592
1977 943,455,000 33,167,272
1976 930,685,000 32,534,418
1975 916,395,000 31,723,252
1974 900,350,000 30,957,273
1973 881,940,000 30,166,785
1972 862,030,000 29,374,608
1971 841,105,000 28,600,106
1970 818,315,000 27,829,128
1969 796,025,000 27,072,571
1968 774,510,000 26,337,930
1967 754,550,000 25,620,276
1966 735,400,000 24,952,689
1965 715,185,000 24,310,612
1964 698,355,000 23,666,548
1963 682,335,000 23,051,637
1962 665,770,000 22,465,126
1961 660,330,000 21,906,102
1960 667,070,000 21,376,693

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/ethiopia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Ethiopia gained 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% growth), while Ethiopia's population increased by 34,004,812 people (a 31.9% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Ethiopia was ranked 16th in 2006 and ranked 10th 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 Ethiopia will increase by 60.6% to 226,055,085 people and rank change from 10th to 7th.

Ethiopia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 371M 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
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Ethiopia
2100 -1.65% 0.47%
2099 -1.64% 0.5%
2098 -1.63% 0.53%
2097 -1.61% 0.56%
2096 -1.6% 0.54%
2095 -1.59% 0.57%
2094 -1.59% 0.58%
2093 -1.58% 0.58%
2092 -1.57% 0.61%
2091 -1.57% 0.64%
2090 -1.57% 0.63%
2089 -1.57% 0.64%
2088 -1.57% 0.68%
2087 -1.56% 0.73%
2086 -1.56% 0.74%
2085 -1.55% 0.75%
2084 -1.53% 0.77%
2083 -1.51% 0.81%
2082 -1.5% 0.82%
2081 -1.47% 0.83%
2080 -1.45% 0.84%
2079 -1.42% 0.89%
2078 -1.4% 0.92%
2077 -1.38% 0.95%
2076 -1.36% 0.97%
2075 -1.34% 1%
2074 -1.33% 0.99%
2073 -1.31% 1.03%
2072 -1.3% 1.05%
2071 -1.3% 1.07%
2070 -1.29% 1.1%
2069 -1.29% 1.12%
2068 -1.29% 1.16%
2067 -1.28% 1.16%
2066 -1.28% 1.19%
2065 -1.27% 1.22%
2064 -1.26% 1.25%
2063 -1.25% 1.28%
2062 -1.24% 1.33%
2061 -1.22% 1.35%
2060 -1.19% 1.38%
2059 -1.17% 1.37%
2058 -1.13% 1.41%
2057 -1.09% 1.47%
2056 -1.05% 1.46%
2055 -1.01% 1.51%
2054 -0.96% 1.53%
2053 -0.92% 1.57%
2052 -0.87% 1.63%
2051 -0.82% 1.63%
2050 -0.77% 1.67%
2049 -0.73% 1.7%
2048 -0.69% 1.74%
2047 -0.65% 1.76%
2046 -0.62% 1.78%
2045 -0.59% 1.82%
2044 -0.56% 1.86%
2043 -0.54% 1.88%
2042 -0.52% 1.9%
2041 -0.5% 1.94%
2040 -0.48% 1.97%
2039 -0.46% 2%
2038 -0.44% 2.03%
2037 -0.42% 2.07%
2036 -0.4% 2.11%
2035 -0.39% 2.14%
2034 -0.37% 2.17%
2033 -0.35% 2.25%
2032 -0.33% 2.28%
2031 -0.3% 2.33%
2030 -0.29% 2.38%
2029 -0.26% 2.41%
2028 -0.24% 2.47%
2027 -0.22% 2.51%
2026 -0.23% 2.55%
2025 -0.17% 2.58%
2024 -0.12% 2.62%
2023 -0.1% 2.64%
2022 -0.01% 2.66%
2021 0.09% 2.71%
2020 0.24% 2.75%
2019 0.36% 2.73%
2018 0.47% 2.73%
2017 0.61% 2.76%
2016 0.57% 2.74%
2015 0.58% 2.72%
2014 0.63% 2.72%
2013 0.67% 2.76%
2012 0.68% 2.84%
2011 0.55% 2.88%
2010 0.48% 2.88%
2009 0.5% 2.88%
2008 0.51% 2.94%
2007 0.52% 2.97%
2006 0.56% 2.98%
2005 0.59% 3.01%
2004 0.6% 3.04%
2003 0.62% 3.07%
2002 0.67% 3.09%
2001 0.73% 3.08%
2000 0.79% 3.12%
1999 0.87% 3.17%
1998 0.96% 3.19%
1997 1.03% 3.26%
1996 1.05% 3.35%
1995 1.09% 3.46%
1994 1.14% 3.54%
1993 1.16% 3.58%
1992 1.23% 4.3%
1991 1.37% 4.43%
1990 1.48% 3.77%
1989 1.54% 3.92%
1988 1.62% 3.98%
1987 1.62% 3.47%
1986 1.5% 3%
1985 1.37% 2.86%
1984 1.32% 2.64%
1983 1.46% 2.83%
1982 1.48% 3.96%
1981 1.29% 2.54%
1980 1.26% 0.55%
1979 1.34% 1.49%
1978 1.35% 1.71%
1977 1.37% 1.95%
1976 1.56% 2.56%
1975 1.78% 2.47%
1974 2.09% 2.62%
1973 2.31% 2.7%
1972 2.49% 2.71%
1971 2.78% 2.77%
1970 2.8% 2.79%
1969 2.78% 2.79%
1968 2.65% 2.8%
1967 2.6% 2.68%
1966 2.83% 2.64%
1965 2.41% 2.72%
1964 2.35% 2.67%
1963 2.49% 2.61%
1962 0.82% 2.55%
1961 -1.01% 2.48%

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/ethiopia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of China declined by 0.17%, while Ethiopia's population grew by 2.58%.

Live population counters

China Ethiopia
Current population
1403335670
140722974
Population rank 2/197 10/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 1.69%
One net population change
13.2 seconds
9.27 seconds
One birth every
3.31 seconds
7.59 seconds
One death every
2.88 seconds
40.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline -6,548 +9,349
Annual growth/decline -2,390,000 +3,412,284
Annual growth/decline rate -0.17% +2.58%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 24/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
21.9 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 +24,054
Net migration rank 189/196 31/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 1,168,455
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 53/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 157/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Ethiopia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 24,054
2024 -1,394,886 -318,992 3,379,409 30,069
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 3,338,649 -11,996
2022 -847,305 -293,846 3,300,114 -11,996
2021 480,203 -379,749 3,204,673 -1,377
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 3,199,718 38,866
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 3,132,780 -10,807
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 3,015,231 9,302
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 2,899,143 71,766
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 2,809,889 115,823
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 2,713,529 62,785
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 2,623,647 103,122
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 2,546,020 80,955
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 2,533,398 119,517
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 2,527,811 116,793
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 2,498,048 80,213
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 2,467,118 16,315
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 2,465,283 -20,780
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 2,436,753 -381
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 2,393,585 -30,512
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 2,353,375 -44,421
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 2,296,999 -25,430
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 2,231,223 -13,744
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 2,189,683 -12,925
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 2,137,791 -19,063
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 2,083,622 -49,891
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 2,010,987 29,142
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 1,984,989 -3,011
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 1,945,112 -9,119
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 1,896,364 41,456
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 1,831,068 91,727
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 1,788,133 140,715
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 1,734,851 141,545
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 1,673,839 160,106
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 1,579,416 859,737
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 1,479,663 296,014
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 1,441,769 242,614
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 1,393,356 379,966
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 1,356,853 251,387
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 1,050,277 186,227
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 997,050 157,476
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 920,670 137,632
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 863,472 68,022
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 1,080,853 66,702
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 1,018,838 628,135
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 1,007,516 -903,529
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 987,203 -711,455
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 943,388 -210,991
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 929,381 -527,133
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 899,577 -36,125
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 801,425 -42,540
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 777,306 -4,232
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 807,535 347
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 779,808 -3,375
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 787,047 -14,510
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 760,821 8,589
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 736,428 7,258
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 715,602 9,992
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 695,283 14,437
1966 19,282,187 4,165 616,281 9,160
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 642,359 16,348
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 618,667 10,749
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 590,998 9,418
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 563,650 8,960
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 538,518 6,938
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 511,694 1,696

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/ethiopia | 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 Ethiopia 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 30,993,135 people) and 0.93% is from migration (a gain of 292,435 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 1,168,455 people or 0.9% in Ethiopia.

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
Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K

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/ethiopia | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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