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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 83,516,593 people in Germany in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 82,575,542 in Germany.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 17 times bigger than Germany's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Germany is the 19th.
  • The countries together account for 17.9% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 1% for Germany.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +0.32% in Germany.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Germany has grown from 82.4M to 82.6M (0.24% growth).

China vs Germany: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Germany
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Germany
2100 633,320,628 69,929,981
2099 643,959,697 69,956,854
2098 654,691,595 69,973,838
2097 665,517,335 70,015,834
2096 676,438,150 70,046,713
2095 687,457,915 70,067,131
2094 698,589,897 70,085,911
2093 709,852,629 70,106,718
2092 721,251,520 70,132,132
2091 732,791,748 70,178,440
2090 744,501,355 70,240,137
2089 756,404,299 70,294,005
2088 768,478,316 70,352,443
2087 780,707,622 70,434,814
2086 793,081,006 70,532,124
2085 805,608,315 70,627,602
2084 818,268,277 70,722,960
2083 830,972,107 70,829,392
2082 843,721,746 70,932,273
2081 856,534,631 71,045,881
2080 869,351,919 71,171,519
2079 882,146,959 71,305,544
2078 894,889,246 71,445,484
2077 907,592,919 71,601,117
2076 920,280,380 71,757,525
2075 932,956,157 71,891,567
2074 945,631,173 72,046,795
2073 958,352,980 72,206,145
2072 971,115,895 72,356,324
2071 983,938,054 72,517,749
2070 996,853,418 72,664,462
2069 1,009,905,851 72,828,330
2068 1,023,081,790 72,993,859
2067 1,036,420,010 73,178,408
2066 1,049,887,382 73,370,207
2065 1,063,477,623 73,561,648
2064 1,077,206,695 73,762,096
2063 1,090,982,303 73,971,537
2062 1,104,833,556 74,198,775
2061 1,118,682,849 74,426,082
2060 1,132,504,136 74,678,280
2059 1,146,199,736 74,932,496
2058 1,159,714,746 75,206,278
2057 1,172,963,523 75,482,742
2056 1,185,938,083 75,756,281
2055 1,198,550,408 76,041,477
2054 1,210,749,681 76,325,196
2053 1,222,500,569 76,595,801
2052 1,233,808,926 76,839,962
2051 1,244,584,333 77,084,029
2050 1,254,824,040 77,325,459
2049 1,264,598,914 77,569,721
2048 1,273,885,471 77,818,888
2047 1,282,701,271 78,049,343
2046 1,291,133,690 78,272,834
2045 1,299,154,327 78,497,690
2044 1,306,805,350 78,722,126
2043 1,314,176,710 78,936,540
2042 1,321,319,298 79,130,312
2041 1,328,219,755 79,324,161
2040 1,334,857,481 79,536,735
2039 1,341,265,381 79,754,631
2038 1,347,407,165 79,978,474
2037 1,353,377,505 80,194,225
2036 1,359,133,287 80,425,162
2035 1,364,651,508 80,640,951
2034 1,369,940,557 80,844,719
2033 1,375,003,005 81,069,119
2032 1,379,784,204 81,286,326
2031 1,384,301,522 81,520,272
2030 1,388,520,533 81,736,996
2029 1,392,490,007 81,963,002
2028 1,396,163,778 82,178,048
2027 1,399,515,824 82,384,302
2026 1,402,578,808 82,575,542
2025 1,405,826,385 83,233,941
2024 1,408,975,000 83,516,593
2023 1,410,710,000 83,287,273
2022 1,412,175,000 83,177,813
2021 1,412,360,000 83,196,078
2020 1,411,100,000 83,160,871
2019 1,407,745,000 83,092,962
2018 1,402,760,000 82,905,782
2017 1,396,215,000 82,657,002
2016 1,387,790,000 82,348,669
2015 1,379,860,000 81,686,611
2014 1,371,860,000 80,982,500
2013 1,363,240,000 80,645,605
2012 1,354,190,000 80,425,823
2011 1,345,035,000 80,274,983
2010 1,337,705,000 81,776,930
2009 1,331,260,000 81,902,307
2008 1,324,655,000 82,110,097
2007 1,317,885,000 82,266,372
2006 1,311,020,000 82,376,451
2005 1,303,720,000 82,469,422
2004 1,296,075,000 82,516,260
2003 1,288,400,000 82,534,176
2002 1,280,400,000 82,488,495
2001 1,271,850,000 82,349,925
2000 1,262,645,000 82,211,508
1999 1,252,735,000 82,100,243
1998 1,241,935,000 82,047,195
1997 1,230,075,000 82,034,771
1996 1,217,550,000 81,914,831
1995 1,204,855,000 81,678,051
1994 1,191,835,000 81,438,348
1993 1,178,440,000 81,156,363
1992 1,164,970,000 80,624,598
1991 1,150,780,000 80,013,896
1990 1,135,185,000 79,433,029
1989 1,118,650,000 78,751,283
1988 1,101,630,000 78,144,619
1987 1,084,035,000 77,839,920
1986 1,066,790,000 77,720,436
1985 1,051,040,000 77,684,873
1984 1,036,825,000 77,858,685
1983 1,023,310,000 78,128,282
1982 1,008,630,000 78,333,366
1981 993,885,000 78,407,907
1980 981,235,000 78,288,576
1979 969,005,000 78,126,350
1978 956,165,000 78,091,820
1977 943,455,000 78,159,814
1976 930,685,000 78,336,950
1975 916,395,000 78,673,554
1974 900,350,000 78,967,433
1973 881,940,000 78,936,666
1972 862,030,000 78,688,452
1971 841,105,000 78,312,842
1970 818,315,000 78,169,289
1969 796,025,000 77,909,682
1968 774,510,000 77,294,314
1967 754,550,000 76,951,336
1966 735,400,000 76,600,311
1965 715,185,000 75,963,695
1964 698,355,000 75,318,337
1963 682,335,000 74,714,353
1962 665,770,000 74,025,784
1961 660,330,000 73,377,632
1960 667,070,000 72,814,900

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/germany | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Germany lost 27,782 people (a 0.03% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Germany's population increased by 226,873 people (a 0.28% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Germany was ranked 14th in 2006 and ranked 19th 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 Germany will decrease by 6.36% to 77,325,459 people and rank change from 19th to 25th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 34.4% of the population in China and 13.1% in Germany.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Germany
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Germany
2100 -1.65% -0.04%
2099 -1.64% -0.02%
2098 -1.63% -0.06%
2097 -1.61% -0.04%
2096 -1.6% -0.03%
2095 -1.59% -0.03%
2094 -1.59% -0.03%
2093 -1.58% -0.04%
2092 -1.57% -0.07%
2091 -1.57% -0.09%
2090 -1.57% -0.08%
2089 -1.57% -0.08%
2088 -1.57% -0.12%
2087 -1.56% -0.14%
2086 -1.56% -0.14%
2085 -1.55% -0.13%
2084 -1.53% -0.15%
2083 -1.51% -0.15%
2082 -1.5% -0.16%
2081 -1.47% -0.18%
2080 -1.45% -0.19%
2079 -1.42% -0.2%
2078 -1.4% -0.22%
2077 -1.38% -0.22%
2076 -1.36% -0.19%
2075 -1.34% -0.22%
2074 -1.33% -0.22%
2073 -1.31% -0.21%
2072 -1.3% -0.22%
2071 -1.3% -0.2%
2070 -1.29% -0.23%
2069 -1.29% -0.23%
2068 -1.29% -0.25%
2067 -1.28% -0.26%
2066 -1.28% -0.26%
2065 -1.27% -0.27%
2064 -1.26% -0.28%
2063 -1.25% -0.31%
2062 -1.24% -0.31%
2061 -1.22% -0.34%
2060 -1.19% -0.34%
2059 -1.17% -0.36%
2058 -1.13% -0.37%
2057 -1.09% -0.36%
2056 -1.05% -0.38%
2055 -1.01% -0.37%
2054 -0.96% -0.35%
2053 -0.92% -0.32%
2052 -0.87% -0.32%
2051 -0.82% -0.31%
2050 -0.77% -0.31%
2049 -0.73% -0.32%
2048 -0.69% -0.3%
2047 -0.65% -0.29%
2046 -0.62% -0.29%
2045 -0.59% -0.29%
2044 -0.56% -0.27%
2043 -0.54% -0.24%
2042 -0.52% -0.24%
2041 -0.5% -0.27%
2040 -0.48% -0.27%
2039 -0.46% -0.28%
2038 -0.44% -0.27%
2037 -0.42% -0.29%
2036 -0.4% -0.27%
2035 -0.39% -0.25%
2034 -0.37% -0.28%
2033 -0.35% -0.27%
2032 -0.33% -0.29%
2031 -0.3% -0.27%
2030 -0.29% -0.28%
2029 -0.26% -0.26%
2028 -0.24% -0.25%
2027 -0.22% -0.23%
2026 -0.23% -0.79%
2025 -0.22% -0.34%
2024 -0.12% 0.28%
2023 -0.1% 0.13%
2022 -0.01% -0.02%
2021 0.09% 0.04%
2020 0.24% 0.08%
2019 0.36% 0.23%
2018 0.47% 0.3%
2017 0.61% 0.37%
2016 0.57% 0.81%
2015 0.58% 0.87%
2014 0.63% 0.42%
2013 0.67% 0.27%
2012 0.68% 0.19%
2011 0.55% -1.84%
2010 0.48% -0.15%
2009 0.5% -0.25%
2008 0.51% -0.19%
2007 0.52% -0.13%
2006 0.56% -0.11%
2005 0.59% -0.06%
2004 0.6% -0.02%
2003 0.62% 0.06%
2002 0.67% 0.17%
2001 0.73% 0.17%
2000 0.79% 0.14%
1999 0.87% 0.06%
1998 0.96% 0.02%
1997 1.03% 0.15%
1996 1.05% 0.29%
1995 1.09% 0.29%
1994 1.14% 0.35%
1993 1.16% 0.66%
1992 1.23% 0.76%
1991 1.37% 0.73%
1990 1.48% 0.87%
1989 1.54% 0.78%
1988 1.62% 0.39%
1987 1.62% 0.15%
1986 1.5% 0.05%
1985 1.37% -0.22%
1984 1.32% -0.35%
1983 1.46% -0.26%
1982 1.48% -0.1%
1981 1.29% 0.15%
1980 1.26% 0.21%
1979 1.34% 0.04%
1978 1.35% -0.09%
1977 1.37% -0.23%
1976 1.56% -0.43%
1975 1.78% -0.37%
1974 2.09% 0.04%
1973 2.31% 0.32%
1972 2.49% 0.48%
1971 2.78% 0.18%
1970 2.8% 0.33%
1969 2.78% 0.8%
1968 2.65% 0.45%
1967 2.6% 0.46%
1966 2.83% 0.84%
1965 2.41% 0.86%
1964 2.35% 0.81%
1963 2.49% 0.93%
1962 0.82% 0.88%
1961 -1.01% 0.77%

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/germany | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Germany's population grew by 0.28%.

Live population counters

China Germany
Current population
1402578808
82575542
Population rank 2/197 19/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 1%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
2.29 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
45.6 seconds
One death every
2.84 seconds
30.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +628
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +229,320
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +0.28%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 151/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
1.58 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 -334,072
Net migration rank 189/196 192/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 16,750,084
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 2/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 19.8%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 31/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Germany
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Germany
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - -334,072
2024 - -318,992 - 36,954
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 -333,149 609,553
2022 -847,305 -293,846 -324,394 981,552
2021 480,203 -379,749 -224,629 310,264
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 -216,218 203,468
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 -157,877 319,082
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 -165,812 403,908
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 -148,783 452,988
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 -123,523 517,480
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 -187,879 1,175,283
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 -153,866 592,338
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 -209,679 462,384
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 -193,022 199,143
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 -184,632 295,282
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 -179,909 130,116
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 -188,375 46,533
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 -164,220 -23,341
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 -148,080 -24,772
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 -148,278 -489,056
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 -148,445 81,351
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 -107,271 81,735
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 -140,309 142,009
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 -123,733 218,795
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 -98,820 272,875
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 -73,990 174,594
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 -73,890 219,280
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 -65,637 -754,469
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 -49,221 93,281
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 -90,107 281,280
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 -114,349 398,077
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 -114,013 315,585
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 -105,503 462,096
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 -80,625 811,606
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 -80,014 602,638
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 -15,887 679,702
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 -23,625 761,002
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 -7,815 515,962
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 -31,136 174,272
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 -77,721 212,822
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 -116,527 103,556
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 -109,002 -150,771
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 -109,380 -81,349
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 -78,333 -58,121
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 -94,090 130,713
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 -86,117 324,203
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 -125,002 237,705
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 -140,566 117,167
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 -125,055 33,881
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 -164,508 -79,761
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 -212,418 -207,740
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 -150,038 -15,126
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 -149,980 386,881
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 -62,950 336,015
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 46,988 450,328
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 70,352 -273,498
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 155,820 584,017
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 239,612 293,307
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 353,977 -174,155
1966 19,282,187 4,165 405,982 134,107
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 410,204 338,258
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 482,038 69,825
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 455,757 205,976
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 436,752 276,505
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 462,279 27,534
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 385,919 212,666

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/germany | 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 Germany 26.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 2,036,130 people) and 73.2% is from migration (a gain of 5,565,916 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 16,750,084 people or 19.8% in Germany.

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
Germany
City Population
Berlin 3.78M
Hamburg 1.91M
Munich 1.51M
Cologne 1.09M
Frankfurt 776K
Stuttgart 633K
Dusseldorf 631K
Leipzig 620K
Dortmund 595K
Essen 587K

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/germany | 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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