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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 386,506 people in Iceland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 397,129 in Iceland.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 3,532 times bigger than Iceland's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Iceland is the 173rd.
  • The countries together account for 16.9% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.005% for Iceland.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +1.63% in Iceland.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Iceland has grown from 304K to 397K (30.7% growth).

China vs Iceland: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Iceland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Iceland
2100 633,320,628 359,553
2099 643,959,697 361,331
2098 654,691,595 363,133
2097 665,517,335 364,957
2096 676,438,150 366,850
2095 687,457,915 368,746
2094 698,589,897 370,650
2093 709,852,629 372,614
2092 721,251,520 374,717
2091 732,791,748 376,803
2090 744,501,355 378,807
2089 756,404,299 380,812
2088 768,478,316 382,997
2087 780,707,622 385,164
2086 793,081,006 387,257
2085 805,608,315 389,362
2084 818,268,277 391,416
2083 830,972,107 393,481
2082 843,721,746 395,438
2081 856,534,631 397,470
2080 869,351,919 399,499
2079 882,146,959 401,462
2078 894,889,246 403,324
2077 907,592,919 405,255
2076 920,280,380 406,954
2075 932,956,157 408,546
2074 945,631,173 410,015
2073 958,352,980 411,402
2072 971,115,895 412,903
2071 983,938,054 414,245
2070 996,853,418 415,521
2069 1,009,905,851 416,683
2068 1,023,081,790 417,749
2067 1,036,420,010 418,899
2066 1,049,887,382 419,918
2065 1,063,477,623 420,941
2064 1,077,206,695 421,814
2063 1,090,982,303 422,695
2062 1,104,833,556 423,614
2061 1,118,682,849 424,319
2060 1,132,504,136 425,096
2059 1,146,199,736 425,721
2058 1,159,714,746 426,288
2057 1,172,963,523 426,844
2056 1,185,938,083 427,304
2055 1,198,550,408 427,695
2054 1,210,749,681 427,915
2053 1,222,500,569 428,108
2052 1,233,808,926 428,300
2051 1,244,584,333 428,278
2050 1,254,824,040 428,323
2049 1,264,598,914 428,289
2048 1,273,885,471 428,213
2047 1,282,701,271 428,102
2046 1,291,133,690 427,911
2045 1,299,154,327 427,683
2044 1,306,805,350 427,236
2043 1,314,176,710 426,580
2042 1,321,319,298 425,915
2041 1,328,219,755 425,212
2040 1,334,857,481 424,385
2039 1,341,265,381 423,407
2038 1,347,407,165 422,302
2037 1,353,377,505 421,094
2036 1,359,133,287 419,738
2035 1,364,651,508 418,238
2034 1,369,940,557 416,721
2033 1,375,003,005 415,006
2032 1,379,784,204 413,150
2031 1,384,301,522 411,039
2030 1,388,520,533 408,677
2029 1,392,490,007 406,109
2028 1,396,163,778 403,085
2027 1,399,515,824 399,797
2026 1,402,578,808 396,141
2025 1,405,826,385 391,759
2024 1,408,975,000 386,506
2023 1,410,710,000 385,663
2022 1,412,175,000 382,003
2021 1,412,360,000 372,520
2020 1,411,100,000 366,463
2019 1,407,745,000 360,563
2018 1,402,760,000 352,721
2017 1,396,215,000 343,400
2016 1,387,790,000 335,439
2015 1,379,860,000 330,815
2014 1,371,860,000 327,386
2013 1,363,240,000 323,764
2012 1,354,190,000 320,716
2011 1,345,035,000 319,014
2010 1,337,705,000 318,041
2009 1,331,260,000 318,499
2008 1,324,655,000 317,414
2007 1,317,885,000 311,566
2006 1,311,020,000 303,782
2005 1,303,720,000 296,734
2004 1,296,075,000 292,074
2003 1,288,400,000 289,521
2002 1,280,400,000 287,523
2001 1,271,850,000 284,968
2000 1,262,645,000 281,205
1999 1,252,735,000 277,381
1998 1,241,935,000 274,047
1997 1,230,075,000 271,128
1996 1,217,550,000 268,916
1995 1,204,855,000 267,468
1994 1,191,835,000 266,021
1993 1,178,440,000 263,725
1992 1,164,970,000 261,057
1991 1,150,780,000 257,797
1990 1,135,185,000 254,826
1989 1,118,650,000 252,852
1988 1,101,630,000 249,740
1987 1,084,035,000 245,859
1986 1,066,790,000 243,180
1985 1,051,040,000 241,405
1984 1,036,825,000 239,511
1983 1,023,310,000 236,977
1982 1,008,630,000 233,860
1981 993,885,000 230,755
1980 981,235,000 228,138
1979 969,005,000 225,735
1978 956,165,000 223,537
1977 943,455,000 221,799
1976 930,685,000 220,154
1975 916,395,000 217,979
1974 900,350,000 215,209
1973 881,940,000 212,317
1972 862,030,000 209,137
1971 841,105,000 206,098
1970 818,315,000 204,438
1969 796,025,000 203,369
1968 774,510,000 201,488
1967 754,550,000 198,751
1966 735,400,000 195,570
1965 715,185,000 192,286
1964 698,355,000 188,983
1963 682,335,000 185,653
1962 665,770,000 182,378
1961 660,330,000 179,029
1960 667,070,000 175,574

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/iceland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Iceland gained 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Iceland's population increased by 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Iceland was ranked 172nd in 2006 and ranked 173rd 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 Iceland will increase by 7.85% to 428,323 people and will still be ranked 173rd.

Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 428K people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 633M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Iceland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Iceland
2100 -1.65% -0.49%
2099 -1.64% -0.5%
2098 -1.63% -0.5%
2097 -1.61% -0.52%
2096 -1.6% -0.51%
2095 -1.59% -0.51%
2094 -1.59% -0.53%
2093 -1.58% -0.56%
2092 -1.57% -0.55%
2091 -1.57% -0.53%
2090 -1.57% -0.53%
2089 -1.57% -0.57%
2088 -1.57% -0.56%
2087 -1.56% -0.54%
2086 -1.56% -0.54%
2085 -1.55% -0.52%
2084 -1.53% -0.52%
2083 -1.51% -0.49%
2082 -1.5% -0.51%
2081 -1.47% -0.51%
2080 -1.45% -0.49%
2079 -1.42% -0.46%
2078 -1.4% -0.48%
2077 -1.38% -0.42%
2076 -1.36% -0.39%
2075 -1.34% -0.36%
2074 -1.33% -0.34%
2073 -1.31% -0.36%
2072 -1.3% -0.32%
2071 -1.3% -0.31%
2070 -1.29% -0.28%
2069 -1.29% -0.26%
2068 -1.29% -0.27%
2067 -1.28% -0.24%
2066 -1.28% -0.24%
2065 -1.27% -0.21%
2064 -1.26% -0.21%
2063 -1.25% -0.22%
2062 -1.24% -0.17%
2061 -1.22% -0.18%
2060 -1.19% -0.15%
2059 -1.17% -0.13%
2058 -1.13% -0.13%
2057 -1.09% -0.11%
2056 -1.05% -0.09%
2055 -1.01% -0.05%
2054 -0.96% -0.05%
2053 -0.92% -0.04%
2052 -0.87% 0.005%
2051 -0.82% -0.01%
2050 -0.77% 0.008%
2049 -0.73% 0.02%
2048 -0.69% 0.03%
2047 -0.65% 0.04%
2046 -0.62% 0.05%
2045 -0.59% 0.1%
2044 -0.56% 0.15%
2043 -0.54% 0.16%
2042 -0.52% 0.17%
2041 -0.5% 0.2%
2040 -0.48% 0.23%
2039 -0.46% 0.26%
2038 -0.44% 0.29%
2037 -0.42% 0.32%
2036 -0.4% 0.36%
2035 -0.39% 0.36%
2034 -0.37% 0.41%
2033 -0.35% 0.45%
2032 -0.33% 0.51%
2031 -0.3% 0.58%
2030 -0.29% 0.63%
2029 -0.26% 0.75%
2028 -0.24% 0.82%
2027 -0.22% 0.92%
2026 -0.23% 1.12%
2025 -0.22% 1.36%
2024 -0.12% 0.22%
2023 -0.1% 0.96%
2022 -0.01% 2.55%
2021 0.09% 1.65%
2020 0.24% 1.64%
2019 0.36% 2.22%
2018 0.47% 2.71%
2017 0.61% 2.37%
2016 0.57% 1.4%
2015 0.58% 1.05%
2014 0.63% 1.12%
2013 0.67% 0.95%
2012 0.68% 0.53%
2011 0.55% 0.31%
2010 0.48% -0.14%
2009 0.5% 0.34%
2008 0.51% 1.88%
2007 0.52% 2.56%
2006 0.56% 2.38%
2005 0.59% 1.6%
2004 0.6% 0.88%
2003 0.62% 0.69%
2002 0.67% 0.9%
2001 0.73% 1.34%
2000 0.79% 1.38%
1999 0.87% 1.22%
1998 0.96% 1.08%
1997 1.03% 0.82%
1996 1.05% 0.54%
1995 1.09% 0.54%
1994 1.14% 0.87%
1993 1.16% 1.02%
1992 1.23% 1.26%
1991 1.37% 1.17%
1990 1.48% 0.78%
1989 1.54% 1.25%
1988 1.62% 1.58%
1987 1.62% 1.1%
1986 1.5% 0.74%
1985 1.37% 0.79%
1984 1.32% 1.07%
1983 1.46% 1.33%
1982 1.48% 1.35%
1981 1.29% 1.15%
1980 1.26% 1.06%
1979 1.34% 0.98%
1978 1.35% 0.78%
1977 1.37% 0.75%
1976 1.56% 1%
1975 1.78% 1.29%
1974 2.09% 1.36%
1973 2.31% 1.52%
1972 2.49% 1.47%
1971 2.78% 0.81%
1970 2.8% 0.53%
1969 2.78% 0.93%
1968 2.65% 1.38%
1967 2.6% 1.63%
1966 2.83% 1.71%
1965 2.41% 1.75%
1964 2.35% 1.79%
1963 2.49% 1.8%
1962 0.82% 1.87%
1961 -1.01% 1.97%

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/iceland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Iceland's population grew by 0.22%.

Live population counters

China Iceland
Current population
1402578808
397129
Population rank 2/197 173/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.005%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
10.4 hours
One birth every
3.5 seconds
2.07 hours
One death every
2.84 seconds
3.44 hours
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +2
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +843
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +0.22%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 155/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
3.24 hours
Annual migration change -268,126 +2,709
Net migration rank 189/196 56/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 98,818
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 130/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 25.1%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 23/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Iceland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Iceland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 2,709
2024 - -318,992 - 3,543
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 1,697 4,630
2022 -847,305 -293,846 1,719 6,535
2021 480,203 -379,749 2,534 4,911
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 2,199 2,498
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 2,163 5,030
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 1,975 6,638
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 1,854 8,348
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 1,711 4,128
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 1,952 1,499
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 2,324 1,139
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 2,169 1,666
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 2,566 -277
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 2,521 -1,393
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 2,862 -2,055
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 3,026 -4,785
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 2,825 1,138
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 2,617 5,254
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 2,491 5,300
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 2,433 3,925
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 2,425 610
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 2,317 -204
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 2,243 -333
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 2,365 867
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 2,475 1,877
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 2,192 1,165
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 2,357 1,014
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 2,305 225
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 2,447 -511
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 2,354 -1,354
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 2,713 -804
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 2,875 -194
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 2,898 -225
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 2,733 1,145
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 3,058 -971
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 2,832 -994
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 2,847 1,572
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 2,360 944
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 2,384 -335
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 2,221 -628
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 2,539 -328
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 2,702 170
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 2,736 616
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 2,677 157
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 2,966 -629
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 2,980 -572
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 2,727 -781
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 2,551 -1,079
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 2,951 -1,181
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 2,965 -388
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 2,776 209
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 3,121 -310
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 3,241 362
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 2,782 -231
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 2,576 -1,754
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 2,766 -1,414
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 2,841 -448
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 3,021 47
1966 19,282,187 4,165 3,305 39
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 3,442 -194
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 3,459 -67
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 3,490 -113
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 3,465 -228
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 3,312 164
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 3,758 -269

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/iceland | 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 Iceland 30.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 20,128 people) and 69.3% is from migration (a gain of 45,356 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 98,818 people or 25.1% in Iceland.

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
Iceland
City Population
Reykjavik 139K
Kopavogur 40K
Hafnarfjorur 31.5K
Keflavik 23.3K
Akureyri 20K

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/iceland | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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