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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 46,042,015 people in Iraq in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 48,289,334 in Iraq.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 29 times bigger than Iraq's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Iraq is the 33rd.
  • The countries together account for 17.5% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.58% for Iraq.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +2.45% in Iraq.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Iraq has grown from 28.6M to 48.3M (68.7% growth).

China vs Iraq: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Iraq
2100 633,320,628 101,632,594
2099 643,959,697 101,421,266
2098 654,691,595 101,212,536
2097 665,517,335 100,980,835
2096 676,438,150 100,724,441
2095 687,457,915 100,464,590
2094 698,589,897 100,194,041
2093 709,852,629 99,876,174
2092 721,251,520 99,532,041
2091 732,791,748 99,203,830
2090 744,501,355 98,886,956
2089 756,404,299 98,513,025
2088 768,478,316 98,144,039
2087 780,707,622 97,767,537
2086 793,081,006 97,325,026
2085 805,608,315 96,873,007
2084 818,268,277 96,448,602
2083 830,972,107 95,991,166
2082 843,721,746 95,509,663
2081 856,534,631 95,009,326
2080 869,351,919 94,507,216
2079 882,146,959 93,960,228
2078 894,889,246 93,417,384
2077 907,592,919 92,903,983
2076 920,280,380 92,359,592
2075 932,956,157 91,825,254
2074 945,631,173 91,229,266
2073 958,352,980 90,571,021
2072 971,115,895 89,918,374
2071 983,938,054 89,265,548
2070 996,853,418 88,596,492
2069 1,009,905,851 87,909,474
2068 1,023,081,790 87,220,494
2067 1,036,420,010 86,513,996
2066 1,049,887,382 85,734,530
2065 1,063,477,623 84,971,898
2064 1,077,206,695 84,191,350
2063 1,090,982,303 83,387,951
2062 1,104,833,556 82,604,577
2061 1,118,682,849 81,800,637
2060 1,132,504,136 80,951,008
2059 1,146,199,736 80,141,868
2058 1,159,714,746 79,319,543
2057 1,172,963,523 78,477,339
2056 1,185,938,083 77,609,202
2055 1,198,550,408 76,739,924
2054 1,210,749,681 75,857,125
2053 1,222,500,569 74,952,948
2052 1,233,808,926 74,072,580
2051 1,244,584,333 73,150,234
2050 1,254,824,040 72,235,938
2049 1,264,598,914 71,272,122
2048 1,273,885,471 70,316,860
2047 1,282,701,271 69,347,823
2046 1,291,133,690 68,400,664
2045 1,299,154,327 67,435,953
2044 1,306,805,350 66,447,309
2043 1,314,176,710 65,453,565
2042 1,321,319,298 64,433,831
2041 1,328,219,755 63,408,709
2040 1,334,857,481 62,360,117
2039 1,341,265,381 61,289,355
2038 1,347,407,165 60,253,073
2037 1,353,377,505 59,221,658
2036 1,359,133,287 58,155,990
2035 1,364,651,508 57,127,999
2034 1,369,940,557 56,087,695
2033 1,375,003,005 55,051,140
2032 1,379,784,204 54,002,289
2031 1,384,301,522 52,991,443
2030 1,388,520,533 51,986,773
2029 1,392,490,007 50,982,563
2028 1,396,163,778 50,001,133
2027 1,399,515,824 49,014,822
2026 1,402,578,808 48,020,334
2025 1,405,826,385 47,020,527
2024 1,408,975,000 46,042,015
2023 1,410,710,000 45,074,049
2022 1,412,175,000 44,070,551
2021 1,412,360,000 43,071,211
2020 1,411,100,000 42,116,605
2019 1,407,745,000 41,192,171
2018 1,402,760,000 40,265,624
2017 1,396,215,000 39,337,353
2016 1,387,790,000 38,469,627
2015 1,379,860,000 37,560,535
2014 1,371,860,000 36,550,059
2013 1,363,240,000 35,281,989
2012 1,354,190,000 33,654,842
2011 1,345,035,000 32,161,424
2010 1,337,705,000 31,045,366
2009 1,331,260,000 30,058,206
2008 1,324,655,000 28,971,036
2007 1,317,885,000 28,391,607
2006 1,311,020,000 28,616,515
2005 1,303,720,000 28,407,448
2004 1,296,075,000 27,577,878
2003 1,288,400,000 26,802,659
2002 1,280,400,000 26,006,559
2001 1,271,850,000 25,197,840
2000 1,262,645,000 24,424,056
1999 1,252,735,000 23,636,527
1998 1,241,935,000 22,884,399
1997 1,230,075,000 22,176,593
1996 1,217,550,000 21,501,321
1995 1,204,855,000 20,825,860
1994 1,191,835,000 20,139,807
1993 1,178,440,000 19,201,195
1992 1,164,970,000 18,300,845
1991 1,150,780,000 17,767,253
1990 1,135,185,000 17,581,206
1989 1,118,650,000 17,364,542
1988 1,101,630,000 16,908,819
1987 1,084,035,000 16,521,049
1986 1,066,790,000 16,074,145
1985 1,051,040,000 15,683,430
1984 1,036,825,000 15,310,733
1983 1,023,310,000 14,840,555
1982 1,008,630,000 14,406,083
1981 993,885,000 14,006,381
1980 981,235,000 13,591,992
1979 969,005,000 13,170,365
1978 956,165,000 12,753,355
1977 943,455,000 12,331,046
1976 930,685,000 11,927,651
1975 916,395,000 11,543,639
1974 900,350,000 11,167,761
1973 881,940,000 10,795,869
1972 862,030,000 10,430,164
1971 841,105,000 10,077,809
1970 818,315,000 9,735,611
1969 796,025,000 9,403,356
1968 774,510,000 9,085,016
1967 754,550,000 8,778,869
1966 735,400,000 8,485,104
1965 715,185,000 8,202,140
1964 698,355,000 7,929,566
1963 682,335,000 7,667,928
1962 665,770,000 7,413,875
1961 660,330,000 7,194,553
1960 667,070,000 7,022,052

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/iraq | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Iraq gained 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Iraq's population increased by 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Iraq was ranked 39th in 2006 and ranked 33rd 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 Iraq will increase by 49.6% to 72,235,938 people and rank change from 33rd to 28th.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M 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
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Iraq
2100 -1.65% 0.21%
2099 -1.64% 0.21%
2098 -1.63% 0.23%
2097 -1.61% 0.25%
2096 -1.6% 0.26%
2095 -1.59% 0.27%
2094 -1.59% 0.32%
2093 -1.58% 0.35%
2092 -1.57% 0.33%
2091 -1.57% 0.32%
2090 -1.57% 0.38%
2089 -1.57% 0.38%
2088 -1.57% 0.39%
2087 -1.56% 0.45%
2086 -1.56% 0.47%
2085 -1.55% 0.44%
2084 -1.53% 0.48%
2083 -1.51% 0.5%
2082 -1.5% 0.53%
2081 -1.47% 0.53%
2080 -1.45% 0.58%
2079 -1.42% 0.58%
2078 -1.4% 0.55%
2077 -1.38% 0.59%
2076 -1.36% 0.58%
2075 -1.34% 0.65%
2074 -1.33% 0.73%
2073 -1.31% 0.73%
2072 -1.3% 0.73%
2071 -1.3% 0.76%
2070 -1.29% 0.78%
2069 -1.29% 0.79%
2068 -1.29% 0.82%
2067 -1.28% 0.91%
2066 -1.28% 0.9%
2065 -1.27% 0.93%
2064 -1.26% 0.96%
2063 -1.25% 0.95%
2062 -1.24% 0.98%
2061 -1.22% 1.05%
2060 -1.19% 1.01%
2059 -1.17% 1.04%
2058 -1.13% 1.07%
2057 -1.09% 1.12%
2056 -1.05% 1.13%
2055 -1.01% 1.16%
2054 -0.96% 1.21%
2053 -0.92% 1.19%
2052 -0.87% 1.26%
2051 -0.82% 1.27%
2050 -0.77% 1.35%
2049 -0.73% 1.36%
2048 -0.69% 1.4%
2047 -0.65% 1.38%
2046 -0.62% 1.43%
2045 -0.59% 1.49%
2044 -0.56% 1.52%
2043 -0.54% 1.58%
2042 -0.52% 1.62%
2041 -0.5% 1.68%
2040 -0.48% 1.75%
2039 -0.46% 1.72%
2038 -0.44% 1.74%
2037 -0.42% 1.83%
2036 -0.4% 1.8%
2035 -0.39% 1.85%
2034 -0.37% 1.88%
2033 -0.35% 1.94%
2032 -0.33% 1.91%
2031 -0.3% 1.93%
2030 -0.29% 1.97%
2029 -0.26% 1.96%
2028 -0.24% 2.01%
2027 -0.22% 2.07%
2026 -0.23% 2.13%
2025 -0.22% 2.13%
2024 -0.12% 2.15%
2023 -0.1% 2.28%
2022 -0.01% 2.32%
2021 0.09% 2.27%
2020 0.24% 2.24%
2019 0.36% 2.3%
2018 0.47% 2.36%
2017 0.61% 2.26%
2016 0.57% 2.42%
2015 0.58% 2.76%
2014 0.63% 3.59%
2013 0.67% 4.83%
2012 0.68% 4.64%
2011 0.55% 3.59%
2010 0.48% 3.28%
2009 0.5% 3.75%
2008 0.51% 2.04%
2007 0.52% -0.79%
2006 0.56% 0.74%
2005 0.59% 3.01%
2004 0.6% 2.89%
2003 0.62% 3.06%
2002 0.67% 3.21%
2001 0.73% 3.17%
2000 0.79% 3.33%
1999 0.87% 3.29%
1998 0.96% 3.19%
1997 1.03% 3.14%
1996 1.05% 3.24%
1995 1.09% 3.41%
1994 1.14% 4.89%
1993 1.16% 4.92%
1992 1.23% 3%
1991 1.37% 1.06%
1990 1.48% 1.25%
1989 1.54% 2.7%
1988 1.62% 2.35%
1987 1.62% 2.78%
1986 1.5% 2.49%
1985 1.37% 2.43%
1984 1.32% 3.17%
1983 1.46% 3.02%
1982 1.48% 2.85%
1981 1.29% 3.05%
1980 1.26% 3.2%
1979 1.34% 3.27%
1978 1.35% 3.42%
1977 1.37% 3.38%
1976 1.56% 3.33%
1975 1.78% 3.37%
1974 2.09% 3.44%
1973 2.31% 3.51%
1972 2.49% 3.5%
1971 2.78% 3.51%
1970 2.8% 3.53%
1969 2.78% 3.5%
1968 2.65% 3.49%
1967 2.6% 3.46%
1966 2.83% 3.45%
1965 2.41% 3.44%
1964 2.35% 3.41%
1963 2.49% 3.43%
1962 0.82% 3.05%
1961 -1.01% 2.46%

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/iraq | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Iraq's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

China Iraq
Current population
1402578808
48289334
Population rank 2/197 33/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.58%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
32.6 seconds
One birth every
3.5 seconds
27.2 seconds
One death every
2.84 seconds
2.82 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +2,652
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +967,966
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 46/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
8.26 hours
Annual migration change -268,126 -1,064
Net migration rank 189/196 93/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 370,980
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 92/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 160/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Iraq
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Iraq
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - -1,064
2024 - -318,992 - -17,735
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 973,420 -5,710
2022 -847,305 -293,846 962,501 76,821
2021 480,203 -379,749 941,924 17,474
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 919,953 29,858
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 942,972 -43,919
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 938,310 15,775
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 924,507 -21,998
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 946,968 -113,980
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 1,007,561 -22,338
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 1,040,726 -5,033
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 1,026,036 474,379
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 999,987 753,907
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 971,082 261,880
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 906,369 92,779
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 855,096 120,092
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 802,382 396,792
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 784,119 -824,428
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 797,342 -1,206,850
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 776,603 51,019
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 761,563 69,948
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 746,159 -27,236
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 739,419 133,839
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 729,704 14,451
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 715,771 87,624
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 702,170 69,491
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 684,152 48,446
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 667,582 15,429
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 652,866 14,652
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 642,977 40,424
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 634,344 54,355
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 606,700 581,818
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 591,886 20,292
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 550,146 -95,155
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 518,575 -601,469
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 496,852 19,392
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 476,778 -81,562
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 488,742 -108,426
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 474,348 39,136
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 467,445 -199,505
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 455,740 21,709
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 439,800 23,115
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 428,336 -22,302
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 416,998 -23,640
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 419,653 15,757
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 428,458 -20,617
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 418,756 7,434
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 410,229 8,204
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 402,260 -13,915
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 385,916 -6,237
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 376,197 -4,090
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 373,191 -1,507
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 362,334 -2,600
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 351,464 -6,479
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 338,030 1,377
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 324,792 312
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 310,644 928
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 298,192 2,531
1966 19,282,187 4,165 285,507 1,298
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 274,551 4,555
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 262,825 3,224
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 254,046 3,197
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 247,520 3,343
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 184,792 2,981
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 155,651 1,573

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/iraq | 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 Iraq 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,598,842 people) and 0.76% is from migration (a loss of 73,050 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 370,980 people or 0.8% in Iraq.

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
Iraq
City Population
Baghdad 8.13M
Mosul 1.79M
Basra 1.33M
Kirkuk 975K
Sulaymaniyah 878K
Ramadi 875K
Erbil 846K
Najaf 725K
Karbala 690K
Nasiriyah 542K

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/iraq | 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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