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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,406,585,000 in 2025 vs 10,413,962 people in Greece in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,403,335,670 people compared to 10,371,575 in Greece.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 135.3 times bigger than Greece's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Greece is the 94th.
  • The countries together account for 17% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.12% for Greece.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.23% per year vs -0.41% in Greece.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (7.04% growth), while Greece has declined from 11M to 10.4M (5.89% decline).

China vs Greece: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Greece
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Greece
2100 633,662,382 6,583,798
2099 644,307,192 6,626,788
2098 655,044,881 6,669,448
2097 665,876,462 6,712,148
2096 676,803,171 6,754,327
2095 687,828,883 6,795,603
2094 698,966,872 6,836,072
2093 710,235,681 6,875,572
2092 721,640,723 6,914,370
2091 733,187,178 6,952,243
2090 744,903,105 6,990,331
2089 756,812,472 7,028,964
2088 768,893,004 7,066,683
2087 781,128,909 7,103,695
2086 793,508,970 7,141,616
2085 806,043,039 7,180,403
2084 818,709,832 7,219,180
2083 831,420,518 7,257,814
2082 844,177,036 7,298,443
2081 856,996,835 7,340,066
2080 869,821,040 7,383,894
2079 882,622,985 7,429,047
2078 895,372,147 7,475,929
2077 908,082,676 7,525,653
2076 920,776,984 7,576,476
2075 933,459,600 7,629,016
2074 946,141,456 7,684,147
2073 958,870,128 7,742,105
2072 971,639,931 7,802,307
2071 984,469,009 7,863,855
2070 997,391,342 7,927,670
2069 1,010,450,818 7,993,717
2068 1,023,633,867 8,061,488
2067 1,036,979,285 8,129,716
2066 1,050,453,924 8,198,001
2065 1,064,051,499 8,265,902
2064 1,077,787,979 8,334,739
2063 1,091,571,021 8,404,367
2062 1,105,429,748 8,473,829
2061 1,119,286,514 8,543,564
2060 1,133,115,260 8,612,080
2059 1,146,818,251 8,681,422
2058 1,160,340,554 8,749,623
2057 1,173,596,480 8,817,088
2056 1,186,578,041 8,882,878
2055 1,199,197,172 8,947,611
2054 1,211,403,028 9,010,135
2053 1,223,160,257 9,070,133
2052 1,234,474,716 9,129,136
2051 1,245,255,938 9,186,935
2050 1,255,501,171 9,242,128
2049 1,265,281,319 9,297,265
2048 1,274,572,888 9,349,392
2047 1,283,393,445 9,400,970
2046 1,291,830,414 9,448,620
2045 1,299,855,379 9,495,447
2044 1,307,510,531 9,542,082
2043 1,314,885,869 9,587,391
2042 1,322,032,311 9,631,428
2041 1,328,936,491 9,676,515
2040 1,335,577,799 9,721,977
2039 1,341,989,157 9,767,381
2038 1,348,134,255 9,813,639
2037 1,354,107,817 9,860,147
2036 1,359,866,705 9,906,540
2035 1,365,387,904 9,953,900
2034 1,370,679,807 10,000,716
2033 1,375,744,986 10,047,814
2032 1,380,528,766 10,096,329
2031 1,385,048,521 10,142,892
2030 1,389,269,809 10,189,114
2029 1,393,241,425 10,235,303
2028 1,396,917,178 10,281,352
2027 1,400,271,033 10,326,692
2026 1,403,335,670 10,371,575
2025 1,406,585,000 10,413,962
2024 1,408,975,000 10,405,134
2023 1,410,710,000 10,407,351
2022 1,412,175,000 10,437,805
2021 1,412,360,000 10,570,130
2020 1,411,100,000 10,698,599
2019 1,407,745,000 10,721,582
2018 1,402,760,000 10,732,882
2017 1,396,215,000 10,754,679
2016 1,387,790,000 10,775,971
2015 1,379,860,000 10,820,883
2014 1,371,860,000 10,892,413
2013 1,363,240,000 10,965,211
2012 1,354,190,000 11,045,011
2011 1,345,035,000 11,104,899
2010 1,337,705,000 11,121,341
2009 1,331,260,000 11,107,017
2008 1,324,655,000 11,077,841
2007 1,317,885,000 11,048,473
2006 1,311,020,000 11,020,362
2005 1,303,720,000 10,987,314
2004 1,296,075,000 10,955,141
2003 1,288,400,000 10,928,070
2002 1,280,400,000 10,902,022
2001 1,271,850,000 10,862,132
2000 1,262,645,000 10,805,808
1999 1,252,735,000 10,761,698
1998 1,241,935,000 10,720,509
1997 1,230,075,000 10,661,259
1996 1,217,550,000 10,608,800
1995 1,204,855,000 10,562,153
1994 1,191,835,000 10,512,922
1993 1,178,440,000 10,460,415
1992 1,164,970,000 10,399,061
1991 1,150,780,000 10,319,927
1990 1,135,185,000 10,196,792
1989 1,118,650,000 10,089,498
1988 1,101,630,000 10,036,983
1987 1,084,035,000 10,000,595
1986 1,066,790,000 9,967,213
1985 1,051,040,000 9,934,300
1984 1,036,825,000 9,895,801
1983 1,023,310,000 9,846,627
1982 1,008,630,000 9,789,513
1981 993,885,000 9,729,350
1980 981,235,000 9,642,505
1979 969,005,000 9,548,258
1978 956,165,000 9,429,959
1977 943,455,000 9,308,479
1976 930,685,000 9,188,150
1975 916,395,000 9,046,541
1974 900,350,000 8,962,022
1973 881,940,000 8,929,086
1972 862,030,000 8,888,628
1971 841,105,000 8,831,036
1970 818,315,000 8,792,806
1969 796,025,000 8,772,764
1968 774,510,000 8,740,765
1967 754,550,000 8,684,088
1966 735,400,000 8,613,651
1965 715,185,000 8,550,333
1964 698,355,000 8,510,429
1963 682,335,000 8,479,625
1962 665,770,000 8,448,233
1961 660,330,000 8,398,050
1960 667,070,000 8,331,725

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/greece | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Greece lost 244,391 people (a 2.22% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% growth), while Greece's population decreased by 404,396 people (a 3.75% decline).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Greece was ranked 74th in 2006 and ranked 94th 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 Greece will decrease by 10.9% to 9,242,128 people and rank change from 94th to 106th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 34.4% of the population in China and 26.9% in Greece.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Greece
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Greece
2100 -1.65% -0.65%
2099 -1.64% -0.64%
2098 -1.63% -0.64%
2097 -1.61% -0.62%
2096 -1.6% -0.61%
2095 -1.59% -0.59%
2094 -1.59% -0.57%
2093 -1.58% -0.56%
2092 -1.57% -0.54%
2091 -1.57% -0.54%
2090 -1.57% -0.55%
2089 -1.57% -0.53%
2088 -1.57% -0.52%
2087 -1.56% -0.53%
2086 -1.56% -0.54%
2085 -1.55% -0.54%
2084 -1.53% -0.53%
2083 -1.51% -0.56%
2082 -1.5% -0.57%
2081 -1.47% -0.59%
2080 -1.45% -0.61%
2079 -1.42% -0.63%
2078 -1.4% -0.66%
2077 -1.38% -0.67%
2076 -1.36% -0.69%
2075 -1.34% -0.72%
2074 -1.33% -0.75%
2073 -1.31% -0.77%
2072 -1.3% -0.78%
2071 -1.3% -0.8%
2070 -1.29% -0.83%
2069 -1.29% -0.84%
2068 -1.29% -0.84%
2067 -1.28% -0.83%
2066 -1.28% -0.82%
2065 -1.27% -0.83%
2064 -1.26% -0.83%
2063 -1.25% -0.82%
2062 -1.24% -0.82%
2061 -1.22% -0.8%
2060 -1.19% -0.8%
2059 -1.17% -0.78%
2058 -1.13% -0.77%
2057 -1.09% -0.74%
2056 -1.05% -0.72%
2055 -1.01% -0.69%
2054 -0.96% -0.66%
2053 -0.92% -0.65%
2052 -0.87% -0.63%
2051 -0.82% -0.6%
2050 -0.77% -0.59%
2049 -0.73% -0.56%
2048 -0.69% -0.55%
2047 -0.65% -0.5%
2046 -0.62% -0.49%
2045 -0.59% -0.49%
2044 -0.56% -0.47%
2043 -0.54% -0.46%
2042 -0.52% -0.47%
2041 -0.5% -0.47%
2040 -0.48% -0.46%
2039 -0.46% -0.47%
2038 -0.44% -0.47%
2037 -0.42% -0.47%
2036 -0.4% -0.48%
2035 -0.39% -0.47%
2034 -0.37% -0.47%
2033 -0.35% -0.48%
2032 -0.33% -0.46%
2031 -0.3% -0.45%
2030 -0.29% -0.45%
2029 -0.26% -0.45%
2028 -0.24% -0.44%
2027 -0.22% -0.43%
2026 -0.23% -0.41%
2025 -0.17% 0.08%
2024 -0.12% -0.02%
2023 -0.1% -0.29%
2022 -0.01% -1.25%
2021 0.09% -1.2%
2020 0.24% -0.21%
2019 0.36% -0.11%
2018 0.47% -0.2%
2017 0.61% -0.2%
2016 0.57% -0.42%
2015 0.58% -0.66%
2014 0.63% -0.66%
2013 0.67% -0.72%
2012 0.68% -0.54%
2011 0.55% -0.15%
2010 0.48% 0.13%
2009 0.5% 0.26%
2008 0.51% 0.27%
2007 0.52% 0.26%
2006 0.56% 0.3%
2005 0.59% 0.29%
2004 0.6% 0.25%
2003 0.62% 0.24%
2002 0.67% 0.37%
2001 0.73% 0.52%
2000 0.79% 0.41%
1999 0.87% 0.38%
1998 0.96% 0.56%
1997 1.03% 0.49%
1996 1.05% 0.44%
1995 1.09% 0.47%
1994 1.14% 0.5%
1993 1.16% 0.59%
1992 1.23% 0.77%
1991 1.37% 1.21%
1990 1.48% 1.06%
1989 1.54% 0.52%
1988 1.62% 0.36%
1987 1.62% 0.33%
1986 1.5% 0.33%
1985 1.37% 0.39%
1984 1.32% 0.5%
1983 1.46% 0.58%
1982 1.48% 0.62%
1981 1.29% 0.9%
1980 1.26% 0.99%
1979 1.34% 1.25%
1978 1.35% 1.31%
1977 1.37% 1.31%
1976 1.56% 1.57%
1975 1.78% 0.94%
1974 2.09% 0.37%
1973 2.31% 0.46%
1972 2.49% 0.65%
1971 2.78% 0.43%
1970 2.8% 0.23%
1969 2.78% 0.37%
1968 2.65% 0.65%
1967 2.6% 0.82%
1966 2.83% 0.74%
1965 2.41% 0.47%
1964 2.35% 0.36%
1963 2.49% 0.37%
1962 0.82% 0.6%
1961 -1.01% 0.8%

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/greece | CC BY

In 2025, the population of China declined by 0.17%, while Greece's population grew by 0.08%.

Live population counters

China Greece
Current population
1403335670
10371575
Population rank 2/197 94/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.12%
One net population change
13.2 seconds
59.7 minutes
One birth every
3.31 seconds
7.65 minutes
One death every
2.88 seconds
4.17 minutes
Daily growth/decline -6,548 +24
Annual growth/decline -2,390,000 +8,828
Annual growth/decline rate -0.17% +0.08%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 154/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
31.7 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 +16,636
Net migration rank 189/196 37/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 1,423,964
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 46/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 14.2%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 47/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Greece
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Greece
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 16,636
2024 -1,394,886 -318,992 -57,229 -122,772
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 -56,200 -159,430
2022 -847,305 -293,846 -63,671 -53,997
2021 480,203 -379,749 -58,135 -160,277
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 -46,004 6,353
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 -41,814 36,762
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 -33,272 17,938
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 -36,566 10,483
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 -25,862 10,484
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 -29,216 -43,462
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 -20,696 -46,678
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 -17,545 -59,323
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 -16,568 -65,364
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 -4,441 -31,786
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 5,560 2,001
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 8,886 18,182
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 11,077 27,081
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 2,210 25,400
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 6,612 27,621
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 2,197 33,297
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 0 29,039
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 -1,093 25,323
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 0 25,692
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 0 60,387
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 -1,081 54,661
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 -2,153 49,930
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 -2,144 47,856
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 2,133 45,671
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 0 43,444
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 1,056 42,674
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 6,307 42,897
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 4,185 39,829
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 6,239 41,000
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 6,192 37,917
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 8,157 26,294
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 9,080 18,862
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 15,055 20,557
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 10,001 19,005
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 20,931 19,064
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 22,849 16,093
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 37,604 19,767
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 42,341 18,655
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 50,906 19,675
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 54,484 25,061
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 60,748 47,460
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 65,882 72,184
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 64,124 60,775
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 59,574 19,193
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 65,236 89,601
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 61,516 61,265
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 68,111 -22,590
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 59,824 -42,387
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 64,887 -3,589
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 67,116 -12,747
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 71,222 -54,166
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 82,464 -118,544
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 87,408 -429
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 91,183 -55,853
1966 19,282,187 4,165 86,998 21,206
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 83,793 -81,576
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 83,402 -76,678
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 81,404 -77,345
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 85,327 -74,972
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 86,500 -61,102
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 96,648 -15,996

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/greece | 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 Greece 49.5% is from natural causes (a loss of 447,969 people) and 50.5% is from migration (a loss of 457,918 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 1,423,964 people or 14.2% in Greece.

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
Greece
City Population
Athens 643K
Crete 623K
Thessaloniki 310K
Patras 174K
Piraeus 168K
Larissa 146K
Heraklion 145K
Volos 85.8K
Ioannina 64.9K
Chalcis 64.5K

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/greece | 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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