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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,406,585,000 in 2025 vs 5,484,367 people in Ireland in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,403,335,670 people compared to 5,562,212 in Ireland.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 252.3 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Ireland is the 122nd.
  • The countries together account for 17% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.07% for Ireland.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.23% per year vs +1.5% in Ireland.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (7.04% growth), while Ireland has grown from 4.27M to 5.56M (30.2% growth).

China vs Ireland: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Ireland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Ireland
2100 633,662,382 5,500,499
2099 644,307,192 5,525,011
2098 655,044,881 5,548,986
2097 665,876,462 5,572,279
2096 676,803,171 5,595,064
2095 687,828,883 5,615,877
2094 698,966,872 5,636,027
2093 710,235,681 5,655,870
2092 721,640,723 5,675,151
2091 733,187,178 5,694,092
2090 744,903,105 5,713,009
2089 756,812,472 5,730,546
2088 768,893,004 5,747,238
2087 781,128,909 5,762,650
2086 793,508,970 5,776,705
2085 806,043,039 5,791,049
2084 818,709,832 5,805,074
2083 831,420,518 5,818,867
2082 844,177,036 5,831,653
2081 856,996,835 5,842,944
2080 869,821,040 5,855,351
2079 882,622,985 5,870,572
2078 895,372,147 5,885,866
2077 908,082,676 5,901,647
2076 920,776,984 5,917,991
2075 933,459,600 5,934,408
2074 946,141,456 5,951,970
2073 958,870,128 5,969,385
2072 971,639,931 5,986,721
2071 984,469,009 6,003,888
2070 997,391,342 6,021,481
2069 1,010,450,818 6,038,378
2068 1,023,633,867 6,054,840
2067 1,036,979,285 6,070,805
2066 1,050,453,924 6,086,691
2065 1,064,051,499 6,101,966
2064 1,077,787,979 6,116,867
2063 1,091,571,021 6,129,790
2062 1,105,429,748 6,141,729
2061 1,119,286,514 6,154,062
2060 1,133,115,260 6,167,032
2059 1,146,818,251 6,179,602
2058 1,160,340,554 6,189,124
2057 1,173,596,480 6,196,781
2056 1,186,578,041 6,199,786
2055 1,199,197,172 6,204,376
2054 1,211,403,028 6,205,225
2053 1,223,160,257 6,205,444
2052 1,234,474,716 6,203,350
2051 1,245,255,938 6,200,637
2050 1,255,501,171 6,195,469
2049 1,265,281,319 6,187,289
2048 1,274,572,888 6,175,872
2047 1,283,393,445 6,163,776
2046 1,291,830,414 6,150,911
2045 1,299,855,379 6,134,927
2044 1,307,510,531 6,116,643
2043 1,314,885,869 6,097,627
2042 1,322,032,311 6,076,713
2041 1,328,936,491 6,052,462
2040 1,335,577,799 6,027,054
2039 1,341,989,157 6,002,204
2038 1,348,134,255 5,974,917
2037 1,354,107,817 5,946,606
2036 1,359,866,705 5,918,275
2035 1,365,387,904 5,889,854
2034 1,370,679,807 5,858,952
2033 1,375,744,986 5,826,337
2032 1,380,528,766 5,791,225
2031 1,385,048,521 5,754,845
2030 1,389,269,809 5,717,377
2029 1,393,241,425 5,676,731
2028 1,396,917,178 5,632,552
2027 1,400,271,033 5,585,925
2026 1,403,335,670 5,537,167
2025 1,406,585,000 5,484,367
2024 1,408,975,000 5,395,790
2023 1,410,710,000 5,311,538
2022 1,412,175,000 5,212,836
2021 1,412,360,000 5,110,585
2020 1,411,100,000 5,039,747
2019 1,407,745,000 4,976,456
2018 1,402,760,000 4,898,022
2017 1,396,215,000 4,827,445
2016 1,387,790,000 4,762,722
2015 1,379,860,000 4,701,957
2014 1,371,860,000 4,657,740
2013 1,363,240,000 4,623,816
2012 1,354,190,000 4,599,533
2011 1,345,035,000 4,580,084
2010 1,337,705,000 4,560,155
2009 1,331,260,000 4,535,375
2008 1,324,655,000 4,489,544
2007 1,317,885,000 4,398,942
2006 1,311,020,000 4,273,591
2005 1,303,720,000 4,159,914
2004 1,296,075,000 4,070,262
2003 1,288,400,000 3,996,521
2002 1,280,400,000 3,931,947
2001 1,271,850,000 3,866,243
2000 1,262,645,000 3,805,174
1999 1,252,735,000 3,754,786
1998 1,241,935,000 3,712,696
1997 1,230,075,000 3,674,171
1996 1,217,550,000 3,637,510
1995 1,204,855,000 3,608,841
1994 1,191,835,000 3,590,386
1993 1,178,440,000 3,576,261
1992 1,164,970,000 3,558,430
1991 1,150,780,000 3,534,235
1990 1,135,185,000 3,513,974
1989 1,118,650,000 3,511,009
1988 1,101,630,000 3,524,949
1987 1,084,035,000 3,540,057
1986 1,066,790,000 3,539,690
1985 1,051,040,000 3,538,082
1984 1,036,825,000 3,532,423
1983 1,023,310,000 3,510,600
1982 1,008,630,000 3,485,800
1981 993,885,000 3,453,000
1980 981,235,000 3,412,800
1979 969,005,000 3,373,750
1978 956,165,000 3,329,100
1977 943,455,000 3,282,200
1976 930,685,000 3,238,050
1975 916,395,000 3,189,550
1974 900,350,000 3,137,500
1973 881,940,000 3,085,950
1972 862,030,000 3,036,850
1971 841,105,000 2,992,050
1970 818,315,000 2,957,250
1969 796,025,000 2,932,650
1968 774,510,000 2,915,550
1967 754,550,000 2,902,450
1966 735,400,000 2,888,800
1965 715,185,000 2,877,300
1964 698,355,000 2,866,550
1963 682,335,000 2,852,650
1962 665,770,000 2,836,050
1961 660,330,000 2,824,400
1960 667,070,000 2,828,600

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/ireland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Ireland gained 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% growth), while Ireland's population increased by 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Ireland was ranked 121st in 2006 and ranked 122nd 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 Ireland will increase by 11.4% to 6,195,469 people and rank change from 122nd to 118th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.21M people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 634M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Ireland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Ireland
2100 -1.65% -0.44%
2099 -1.64% -0.43%
2098 -1.63% -0.42%
2097 -1.61% -0.41%
2096 -1.6% -0.37%
2095 -1.59% -0.36%
2094 -1.59% -0.35%
2093 -1.58% -0.34%
2092 -1.57% -0.33%
2091 -1.57% -0.33%
2090 -1.57% -0.31%
2089 -1.57% -0.29%
2088 -1.57% -0.27%
2087 -1.56% -0.24%
2086 -1.56% -0.25%
2085 -1.55% -0.24%
2084 -1.53% -0.24%
2083 -1.51% -0.22%
2082 -1.5% -0.19%
2081 -1.47% -0.21%
2080 -1.45% -0.26%
2079 -1.42% -0.26%
2078 -1.4% -0.27%
2077 -1.38% -0.28%
2076 -1.36% -0.28%
2075 -1.34% -0.3%
2074 -1.33% -0.29%
2073 -1.31% -0.29%
2072 -1.3% -0.29%
2071 -1.3% -0.29%
2070 -1.29% -0.28%
2069 -1.29% -0.27%
2068 -1.29% -0.26%
2067 -1.28% -0.26%
2066 -1.28% -0.25%
2065 -1.27% -0.24%
2064 -1.26% -0.21%
2063 -1.25% -0.19%
2062 -1.24% -0.2%
2061 -1.22% -0.21%
2060 -1.19% -0.2%
2059 -1.17% -0.15%
2058 -1.13% -0.12%
2057 -1.09% -0.05%
2056 -1.05% -0.07%
2055 -1.01% -0.01%
2054 -0.96% -0.004%
2053 -0.92% 0.03%
2052 -0.87% 0.04%
2051 -0.82% 0.08%
2050 -0.77% 0.13%
2049 -0.73% 0.18%
2048 -0.69% 0.2%
2047 -0.65% 0.21%
2046 -0.62% 0.26%
2045 -0.59% 0.3%
2044 -0.56% 0.31%
2043 -0.54% 0.34%
2042 -0.52% 0.4%
2041 -0.5% 0.42%
2040 -0.48% 0.41%
2039 -0.46% 0.46%
2038 -0.44% 0.48%
2037 -0.42% 0.48%
2036 -0.4% 0.48%
2035 -0.39% 0.53%
2034 -0.37% 0.56%
2033 -0.35% 0.61%
2032 -0.33% 0.63%
2031 -0.3% 0.66%
2030 -0.29% 0.72%
2029 -0.26% 0.78%
2028 -0.24% 0.83%
2027 -0.22% 0.88%
2026 -0.23% 0.96%
2025 -0.17% 1.64%
2024 -0.12% 1.59%
2023 -0.1% 1.89%
2022 -0.01% 2%
2021 0.09% 1.41%
2020 0.24% 1.27%
2019 0.36% 1.6%
2018 0.47% 1.46%
2017 0.61% 1.36%
2016 0.57% 1.29%
2015 0.58% 0.95%
2014 0.63% 0.73%
2013 0.67% 0.53%
2012 0.68% 0.42%
2011 0.55% 0.44%
2010 0.48% 0.55%
2009 0.5% 1.02%
2008 0.51% 2.06%
2007 0.52% 2.93%
2006 0.56% 2.73%
2005 0.59% 2.2%
2004 0.6% 1.85%
2003 0.62% 1.64%
2002 0.67% 1.7%
2001 0.73% 1.6%
2000 0.79% 1.34%
1999 0.87% 1.13%
1998 0.96% 1.05%
1997 1.03% 1.01%
1996 1.05% 0.79%
1995 1.09% 0.51%
1994 1.14% 0.39%
1993 1.16% 0.5%
1992 1.23% 0.68%
1991 1.37% 0.58%
1990 1.48% 0.08%
1989 1.54% -0.4%
1988 1.62% -0.43%
1987 1.62% 0.01%
1986 1.5% 0.05%
1985 1.37% 0.16%
1984 1.32% 0.62%
1983 1.46% 0.71%
1982 1.48% 0.95%
1981 1.29% 1.18%
1980 1.26% 1.16%
1979 1.34% 1.34%
1978 1.35% 1.43%
1977 1.37% 1.36%
1976 1.56% 1.52%
1975 1.78% 1.66%
1974 2.09% 1.67%
1973 2.31% 1.62%
1972 2.49% 1.5%
1971 2.78% 1.18%
1970 2.8% 0.84%
1969 2.78% 0.59%
1968 2.65% 0.45%
1967 2.6% 0.47%
1966 2.83% 0.4%
1965 2.41% 0.38%
1964 2.35% 0.49%
1963 2.49% 0.59%
1962 0.82% 0.41%
1961 -1.01% -0.15%

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/ireland | CC BY

In 2025, the population of China declined by 0.17%, while Ireland's population grew by 1.64%.

Live population counters

China Ireland
Current population
1403335670
5562212
Population rank 2/197 122/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.07%
One net population change
13.2 seconds
5.95 minutes
One birth every
3.31 seconds
9.74 minutes
One death every
2.88 seconds
15 minutes
Daily growth/decline -6,548 +243
Annual growth/decline -2,390,000 +88,577
Annual growth/decline rate -0.17% +1.64%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 64/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
14.9 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 +35,417
Net migration rank 189/196 27/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 1,216,237
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 52/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 23.1%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 25/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Ireland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Ireland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 35,417
2024 -1,394,886 -318,992 18,885 39,059
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 19,652 43,873
2022 -847,305 -293,846 19,287 93,535
2021 480,203 -379,749 26,064 27,419
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 23,687 15,746
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 28,365 29,663
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 29,878 33,387
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 31,379 28,883
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 33,339 18,967
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 35,265 13,376
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 37,728 448
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 39,302 -12,309
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 42,775 -22,411
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 45,801 -26,529
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 47,426 -26,974
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 47,168 -18,524
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 46,691 18,979
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 43,109 76,465
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 36,752 94,513
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 33,279 63,983
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 33,376 49,102
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 32,372 32,220
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 31,062 34,286
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 27,837 39,220
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 23,592 31,298
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 21,402 23,592
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 22,277 16,615
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 21,311 17,425
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 18,915 9,959
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 16,601 10,019
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 17,234 -3,118
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 17,166 -3,762
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 20,283 1,335
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 21,206 4,944
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 21,787 -8,203
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 20,012 -28,752
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 22,912 -44,020
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 26,904 -38,426
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 27,963 -21,139
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 29,013 -16,178
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 31,791 -15,549
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 34,053 -15,043
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 38,344 -14,464
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 39,364 -10,834
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 40,612 -2,876
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 38,798 1,486
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 36,288 15,543
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 35,448 14,505
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 33,676 14,200
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 34,128 13,828
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 34,199 13,482
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 34,562 13,164
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 34,316 12,858
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 35,606 5,851
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 30,756 -8,892
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 29,326 -10,250
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 27,697 -11,132
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 29,895 -11,708
1966 19,282,187 4,165 26,866 -11,858
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 30,500 -14,016
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 31,532 -15,640
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 29,667 -16,615
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 28,077 -17,438
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 25,137 -22,237
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 28,286 -38,492

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/ireland | 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 Ireland 43.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 265,801 people) and 56.4% is from migration (a gain of 343,908 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 1,216,237 people or 23.1% in Ireland.

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
Ireland
City Population
Dublin 593K
Cork 222K
Galway 83.5K
Limerick 62.7K
Waterford 48.4K
Drogheda 41K
Swords 40.8K
Dundalk 39K
Tralee 26.1K
Kilkenny 22.2K

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/ireland | 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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