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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 10,405,134 people in Greece in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 10,181,414 in Greece.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 137.8 times bigger than Greece's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Greece is the 96th.
  • 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 +0.3% per year vs -0.47% in Greece.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Greece has declined from 11M to 10.2M (7.61% decline).

China vs Greece: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Greece
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Greece
2100 633,320,628 6,463,085
2099 643,959,697 6,505,287
2098 654,691,595 6,547,164
2097 665,517,335 6,589,081
2096 676,438,150 6,630,487
2095 687,457,915 6,671,006
2094 698,589,897 6,710,734
2093 709,852,629 6,749,510
2092 721,251,520 6,787,596
2091 732,791,748 6,824,775
2090 744,501,355 6,862,164
2089 756,404,299 6,900,089
2088 768,478,316 6,937,116
2087 780,707,622 6,973,450
2086 793,081,006 7,010,676
2085 805,608,315 7,048,751
2084 818,268,277 7,086,818
2083 830,972,107 7,124,743
2082 843,721,746 7,164,627
2081 856,534,631 7,205,487
2080 869,351,919 7,248,512
2079 882,146,959 7,292,836
2078 894,889,246 7,338,859
2077 907,592,919 7,387,671
2076 920,280,380 7,437,562
2075 932,956,157 7,489,139
2074 945,631,173 7,543,259
2073 958,352,980 7,600,155
2072 971,115,895 7,659,253
2071 983,938,054 7,719,672
2070 996,853,418 7,782,317
2069 1,009,905,851 7,847,153
2068 1,023,081,790 7,913,682
2067 1,036,420,010 7,980,659
2066 1,049,887,382 8,047,692
2065 1,063,477,623 8,114,348
2064 1,077,206,695 8,181,923
2063 1,090,982,303 8,250,274
2062 1,104,833,556 8,318,463
2061 1,118,682,849 8,386,919
2060 1,132,504,136 8,454,179
2059 1,146,199,736 8,522,250
2058 1,159,714,746 8,589,200
2057 1,172,963,523 8,655,428
2056 1,185,938,083 8,720,012
2055 1,198,550,408 8,783,558
2054 1,210,749,681 8,844,935
2053 1,222,500,569 8,903,834
2052 1,233,808,926 8,961,755
2051 1,244,584,333 9,018,494
2050 1,254,824,040 9,072,676
2049 1,264,598,914 9,126,801
2048 1,273,885,471 9,177,973
2047 1,282,701,271 9,228,605
2046 1,291,133,690 9,275,381
2045 1,299,154,327 9,321,349
2044 1,306,805,350 9,367,130
2043 1,314,176,710 9,411,608
2042 1,321,319,298 9,454,837
2041 1,328,219,755 9,499,098
2040 1,334,857,481 9,543,726
2039 1,341,265,381 9,588,298
2038 1,347,407,165 9,633,708
2037 1,353,377,505 9,679,362
2036 1,359,133,287 9,724,905
2035 1,364,651,508 9,771,397
2034 1,369,940,557 9,817,355
2033 1,375,003,005 9,863,589
2032 1,379,784,204 9,911,215
2031 1,384,301,522 9,956,924
2030 1,388,520,533 10,002,298
2029 1,392,490,007 10,047,641
2028 1,396,163,778 10,092,845
2027 1,399,515,824 10,137,354
2026 1,402,578,808 10,181,414
2025 1,405,826,385 10,223,023
2024 1,408,975,000 10,405,134
2023 1,410,710,000 10,407,351
2022 1,412,175,000 10,436,882
2021 1,412,360,000 10,569,207
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Greece's population decreased by 594,557 people (a 5.52% decline).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Greece was ranked 74th in 2006 and ranked 96th 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 Greece will decrease by 10.9% to 9,072,676 people and rank change from 96th 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 -0.22% -1.75%
2024 -0.12% -0.02%
2023 -0.1% -0.28%
2022 -0.01% -1.25%
2021 0.09% -1.21%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Greece's population declined by 0.02%.

Live population counters

China Greece
Current population
1402578808
10181414
Population rank 2/197 96/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.12%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
3.95 hours
One birth every
3.5 seconds
7.43 minutes
One death every
2.84 seconds
4.14 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 -6
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 -2,217
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% -0.02%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 165/197
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 - -318,992 - -122,772
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 -56,200 -159,430
2022 -847,305 -293,846 -63,665 -53,997
2021 480,203 -379,749 -58,131 -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/china/greece | 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 Greece 51.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 411,426 people) and 48.1% is from migration (a loss of 381,824 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
Peristeri 134K
Kallithea 97.6K
Glyfada 89.6K

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/greece | 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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