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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,406,585,000 in 2025 vs 68,720,337 people in France in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,403,335,670 people compared to 68,871,753 in France.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 20.4 times bigger than France's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while France is the 23rd.
  • The countries together account for 17.7% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.83% for France.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.23% per year vs +0.32% in France.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (7.04% growth), while France has grown from 63.6M to 68.9M (8.25% growth).

China vs France: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
France
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China France
2100 633,662,382 70,675,442
2099 644,307,192 70,692,029
2098 655,044,881 70,701,942
2097 665,876,462 70,707,028
2096 676,803,171 70,713,643
2095 687,828,883 70,707,277
2094 698,966,872 70,691,394
2093 710,235,681 70,665,663
2092 721,640,723 70,643,058
2091 733,187,178 70,615,655
2090 744,903,105 70,582,877
2089 756,812,472 70,549,228
2088 768,893,004 70,510,136
2087 781,128,909 70,470,494
2086 793,508,970 70,427,922
2085 806,043,039 70,390,427
2084 818,709,832 70,348,036
2083 831,420,518 70,296,271
2082 844,177,036 70,255,426
2081 856,996,835 70,210,373
2080 869,821,040 70,169,003
2079 882,622,985 70,127,568
2078 895,372,147 70,087,269
2077 908,082,676 70,045,257
2076 920,776,984 70,001,871
2075 933,459,600 69,959,255
2074 946,141,456 69,924,120
2073 958,870,128 69,892,712
2072 971,639,931 69,866,697
2071 984,469,009 69,838,818
2070 997,391,342 69,826,471
2069 1,010,450,818 69,816,539
2068 1,023,633,867 69,818,570
2067 1,036,979,285 69,826,386
2066 1,050,453,924 69,835,591
2065 1,064,051,499 69,856,319
2064 1,077,787,979 69,880,666
2063 1,091,571,021 69,910,009
2062 1,105,429,748 69,948,667
2061 1,119,286,514 69,988,307
2060 1,133,115,260 70,030,670
2059 1,146,818,251 70,076,337
2058 1,160,340,554 70,119,195
2057 1,173,596,480 70,164,701
2056 1,186,578,041 70,208,938
2055 1,199,197,172 70,258,544
2054 1,211,403,028 70,298,466
2053 1,223,160,257 70,332,664
2052 1,234,474,716 70,357,980
2051 1,245,255,938 70,383,190
2050 1,255,501,171 70,398,057
2049 1,265,281,319 70,407,335
2048 1,274,572,888 70,406,135
2047 1,283,393,445 70,394,515
2046 1,291,830,414 70,376,409
2045 1,299,855,379 70,345,569
2044 1,307,510,531 70,306,509
2043 1,314,885,869 70,260,348
2042 1,322,032,311 70,199,353
2041 1,328,936,491 70,133,877
2040 1,335,577,799 70,067,958
2039 1,341,989,157 69,998,706
2038 1,348,134,255 69,920,456
2037 1,354,107,817 69,831,930
2036 1,359,866,705 69,743,406
2035 1,365,387,904 69,651,629
2034 1,370,679,807 69,558,099
2033 1,375,744,986 69,468,319
2032 1,380,528,766 69,377,856
2031 1,385,048,521 69,288,525
2030 1,389,269,809 69,197,981
2029 1,393,241,425 69,104,114
2028 1,396,917,178 69,012,886
2027 1,400,271,033 68,917,613
2026 1,403,335,670 68,823,318
2025 1,406,585,000 68,720,337
2024 1,408,975,000 68,551,653
2023 1,410,710,000 68,372,286
2022 1,412,175,000 68,184,457
2021 1,412,360,000 67,842,811
2020 1,411,100,000 67,601,110
2019 1,407,745,000 67,382,061
2018 1,402,760,000 67,158,348
2017 1,396,215,000 66,918,020
2016 1,387,790,000 66,724,104
2015 1,379,860,000 66,548,272
2014 1,371,860,000 66,312,067
2013 1,363,240,000 65,997,932
2012 1,354,190,000 65,657,659
2011 1,345,035,000 65,340,830
2010 1,337,705,000 65,026,211
2009 1,331,260,000 64,706,436
2008 1,324,655,000 64,375,116
2007 1,317,885,000 64,016,890
2006 1,311,020,000 63,622,342
2005 1,303,720,000 63,180,854
2004 1,296,075,000 62,707,588
2003 1,288,400,000 62,249,855
2002 1,280,400,000 61,812,142
2001 1,271,850,000 61,364,377
2000 1,262,645,000 60,918,661
1999 1,252,735,000 60,501,986
1998 1,241,935,000 60,190,684
1997 1,230,075,000 59,968,066
1996 1,217,550,000 59,754,504
1995 1,204,855,000 59,541,294
1994 1,191,835,000 59,324,863
1993 1,178,440,000 59,103,094
1992 1,164,970,000 58,846,584
1991 1,150,780,000 58,554,242
1990 1,135,185,000 58,261,012
1989 1,118,650,000 57,943,062
1988 1,101,630,000 57,598,186
1987 1,084,035,000 57,266,167
1986 1,066,790,000 56,956,002
1985 1,051,040,000 56,665,619
1984 1,036,825,000 56,383,085
1983 1,023,310,000 56,108,330
1982 1,008,630,000 55,806,789
1981 993,885,000 55,603,353
1980 981,235,000 55,274,184
1979 969,005,000 54,979,851
1978 956,165,000 54,734,030
1977 943,455,000 54,486,467
1976 930,685,000 54,232,383
1975 916,395,000 54,002,853
1974 900,350,000 53,746,571
1973 881,940,000 53,392,161
1972 862,030,000 52,962,356
1971 841,105,000 52,499,553
1970 818,315,000 52,007,169
1969 796,025,000 51,536,014
1968 774,510,000 51,112,980
1967 754,550,000 50,722,791
1966 735,400,000 50,311,637
1965 715,185,000 49,877,725
1964 698,355,000 49,401,492
1963 682,335,000 48,877,567
1962 665,770,000 48,389,516
1961 660,330,000 47,905,982
1960 667,070,000 47,412,964

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/france | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while France gained 3,101,762 people (a 4.88% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% growth), while France's population increased by 2,147,649 people (a 3.22% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. France was ranked 20th in 2006 and ranked 23rd 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 France will increase by 2.22% to 70,398,057 people and rank change from 23rd to 30th.

France is projected to reach its peak in 2096 at 70.7M 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
France
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China France
2100 -1.65% -0.02%
2099 -1.64% -0.01%
2098 -1.63% -0.007%
2097 -1.61% -0.009%
2096 -1.6% 0.009%
2095 -1.59% 0.02%
2094 -1.59% 0.04%
2093 -1.58% 0.03%
2092 -1.57% 0.04%
2091 -1.57% 0.05%
2090 -1.57% 0.05%
2089 -1.57% 0.06%
2088 -1.57% 0.06%
2087 -1.56% 0.06%
2086 -1.56% 0.05%
2085 -1.55% 0.06%
2084 -1.53% 0.07%
2083 -1.51% 0.06%
2082 -1.5% 0.06%
2081 -1.47% 0.06%
2080 -1.45% 0.06%
2079 -1.42% 0.06%
2078 -1.4% 0.06%
2077 -1.38% 0.06%
2076 -1.36% 0.06%
2075 -1.34% 0.05%
2074 -1.33% 0.04%
2073 -1.31% 0.04%
2072 -1.3% 0.04%
2071 -1.3% 0.02%
2070 -1.29% 0.01%
2069 -1.29% -0.003%
2068 -1.29% -0.01%
2067 -1.28% -0.01%
2066 -1.28% -0.03%
2065 -1.27% -0.03%
2064 -1.26% -0.04%
2063 -1.25% -0.06%
2062 -1.24% -0.06%
2061 -1.22% -0.06%
2060 -1.19% -0.07%
2059 -1.17% -0.06%
2058 -1.13% -0.06%
2057 -1.09% -0.06%
2056 -1.05% -0.07%
2055 -1.01% -0.06%
2054 -0.96% -0.05%
2053 -0.92% -0.04%
2052 -0.87% -0.04%
2051 -0.82% -0.02%
2050 -0.77% -0.01%
2049 -0.73% 0.002%
2048 -0.69% 0.02%
2047 -0.65% 0.03%
2046 -0.62% 0.04%
2045 -0.59% 0.06%
2044 -0.56% 0.07%
2043 -0.54% 0.09%
2042 -0.52% 0.09%
2041 -0.5% 0.09%
2040 -0.48% 0.1%
2039 -0.46% 0.11%
2038 -0.44% 0.13%
2037 -0.42% 0.13%
2036 -0.4% 0.13%
2035 -0.39% 0.13%
2034 -0.37% 0.13%
2033 -0.35% 0.13%
2032 -0.33% 0.13%
2031 -0.3% 0.13%
2030 -0.29% 0.14%
2029 -0.26% 0.13%
2028 -0.24% 0.14%
2027 -0.22% 0.14%
2026 -0.23% 0.15%
2025 -0.17% 0.25%
2024 -0.12% 0.26%
2023 -0.1% 0.28%
2022 -0.01% 0.5%
2021 0.09% 0.36%
2020 0.24% 0.33%
2019 0.36% 0.33%
2018 0.47% 0.36%
2017 0.61% 0.29%
2016 0.57% 0.26%
2015 0.58% 0.36%
2014 0.63% 0.48%
2013 0.67% 0.52%
2012 0.68% 0.48%
2011 0.55% 0.48%
2010 0.48% 0.49%
2009 0.5% 0.51%
2008 0.51% 0.56%
2007 0.52% 0.62%
2006 0.56% 0.7%
2005 0.59% 0.75%
2004 0.6% 0.74%
2003 0.62% 0.71%
2002 0.67% 0.73%
2001 0.73% 0.73%
2000 0.79% 0.69%
1999 0.87% 0.52%
1998 0.96% 0.37%
1997 1.03% 0.36%
1996 1.05% 0.36%
1995 1.09% 0.36%
1994 1.14% 0.38%
1993 1.16% 0.44%
1992 1.23% 0.5%
1991 1.37% 0.5%
1990 1.48% 0.55%
1989 1.54% 0.6%
1988 1.62% 0.58%
1987 1.62% 0.54%
1986 1.5% 0.51%
1985 1.37% 0.5%
1984 1.32% 0.49%
1983 1.46% 0.54%
1982 1.48% 0.37%
1981 1.29% 0.6%
1980 1.26% 0.54%
1979 1.34% 0.45%
1978 1.35% 0.45%
1977 1.37% 0.47%
1976 1.56% 0.43%
1975 1.78% 0.48%
1974 2.09% 0.66%
1973 2.31% 0.81%
1972 2.49% 0.88%
1971 2.78% 0.95%
1970 2.8% 0.91%
1969 2.78% 0.83%
1968 2.65% 0.77%
1967 2.6% 0.82%
1966 2.83% 0.87%
1965 2.41% 0.96%
1964 2.35% 1.07%
1963 2.49% 1.01%
1962 0.82% 1.01%
1961 -1.01% 1.04%

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/france | CC BY

In 2025, the population of China declined by 0.17%, while France's population grew by 0.25%.

Live population counters

China France
Current population
1403335670
68871753
Population rank 2/197 23/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.83%
One net population change
13.2 seconds
3.12 minutes
One birth every
3.31 seconds
47.4 seconds
One death every
2.88 seconds
48.9 seconds
Daily growth/decline -6,548 +462
Annual growth/decline -2,390,000 +168,684
Annual growth/decline rate -0.17% +0.25%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 149/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
5.75 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 +91,737
Net migration rank 189/196 18/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 9,186,757
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 5/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 13.8%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 49/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
France
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China France
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 91,737
2024 -1,394,886 -318,992 20,566 90,527
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 34,186 91,862
2022 -847,305 -293,846 54,547 179,377
2021 480,203 -379,749 74,627 131,465
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 67,602 145,593
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 141,503 71,972
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 147,749 132,925
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 160,604 102,984
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 193,500 15,548
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 206,300 -345
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 265,248 52,342
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 244,192 116,297
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 256,065 103,287
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 280,966 70,178
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 286,116 52,644
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 278,238 58,032
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 283,250 79,528
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 288,076 91,973
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 305,387 132,512
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 271,677 191,417
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 282,185 200,629
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 230,325 195,616
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 253,430 191,373
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 263,867 179,476
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 268,042 171,637
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 229,907 169,448
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 222,705 20,216
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 215,885 -15,255
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 221,092 -21,463
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 220,303 -17,128
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 201,704 -4,232
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 224,592 16,892
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 229,502 61,964
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 234,216 35,201
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 238,870 43,323
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 243,361 82,052
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 247,672 69,935
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 251,971 59,890
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 250,606 51,642
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 249,328 66,149
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 248,086 76,175
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 235,655 88,166
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 234,389 81,084
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 222,414 69,365
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 210,042 54,718
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 208,923 34,295
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 213,462 18,692
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 217,946 44,918
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 227,776 59,515
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 248,413 16,139
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 268,733 26,203
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 282,979 103,910
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 296,589 101,223
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 309,747 144,321
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 322,444 182,941
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 329,831 160,403
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 337,346 113,115
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 339,843 63,018
1966 19,282,187 4,165 352,181 96,097
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 354,132 82,879
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 360,631 163,039
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 361,694 190,925
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 358,082 141,634
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 354,504 128,618
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 346,115 143,032

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/france | 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 France 53.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,101,184 people) and 46.6% is from migration (a gain of 961,908 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 9,186,757 people or 13.8% in France.

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
France
City Population
Paris 2.1M
Marseille 886K
Lyon 519K
Toulouse 515K
Nice 358K
Nantes 328K
Montpellier 310K
Strasbourg 294K
Bordeaux 268K
Lille 238K

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/france | 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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