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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 5,395,790 people in Ireland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 5,518,360 in Ireland.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 254.2 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Ireland is the 121st.
  • 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 +0.3% per year vs +1.41% in Ireland.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Ireland has grown from 4.27M to 5.52M (29.1% growth).

China vs Ireland: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Ireland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Ireland
2100 633,320,628 5,468,791
2099 643,959,697 5,493,162
2098 654,691,595 5,516,999
2097 665,517,335 5,540,157
2096 676,438,150 5,562,811
2095 687,457,915 5,583,505
2094 698,589,897 5,603,538
2093 709,852,629 5,623,266
2092 721,251,520 5,642,437
2091 732,791,748 5,661,268
2090 744,501,355 5,680,076
2089 756,404,299 5,697,512
2088 768,478,316 5,714,108
2087 780,707,622 5,729,431
2086 793,081,006 5,743,405
2085 805,608,315 5,757,666
2084 818,268,277 5,771,610
2083 830,972,107 5,785,324
2082 843,721,746 5,798,037
2081 856,534,631 5,809,262
2080 869,351,919 5,821,598
2079 882,146,959 5,836,731
2078 894,889,246 5,851,937
2077 907,592,919 5,867,627
2076 920,280,380 5,883,876
2075 932,956,157 5,900,200
2074 945,631,173 5,917,659
2073 958,352,980 5,934,975
2072 971,115,895 5,952,211
2071 983,938,054 5,969,279
2070 996,853,418 5,986,770
2069 1,009,905,851 6,003,570
2068 1,023,081,790 6,019,937
2067 1,036,420,010 6,035,810
2066 1,049,887,382 6,051,604
2065 1,063,477,623 6,066,791
2064 1,077,206,695 6,081,606
2063 1,090,982,303 6,094,455
2062 1,104,833,556 6,106,325
2061 1,118,682,849 6,118,587
2060 1,132,504,136 6,131,482
2059 1,146,199,736 6,143,979
2058 1,159,714,746 6,153,447
2057 1,172,963,523 6,161,059
2056 1,185,938,083 6,164,047
2055 1,198,550,408 6,168,611
2054 1,210,749,681 6,169,455
2053 1,222,500,569 6,169,673
2052 1,233,808,926 6,167,591
2051 1,244,584,333 6,164,894
2050 1,254,824,040 6,159,756
2049 1,264,598,914 6,151,623
2048 1,273,885,471 6,140,272
2047 1,282,701,271 6,128,245
2046 1,291,133,690 6,115,454
2045 1,299,154,327 6,099,562
2044 1,306,805,350 6,081,384
2043 1,314,176,710 6,062,477
2042 1,321,319,298 6,041,683
2041 1,328,219,755 6,017,573
2040 1,334,857,481 5,992,311
2039 1,341,265,381 5,967,604
2038 1,347,407,165 5,940,474
2037 1,353,377,505 5,912,327
2036 1,359,133,287 5,884,159
2035 1,364,651,508 5,855,902
2034 1,369,940,557 5,825,178
2033 1,375,003,005 5,792,751
2032 1,379,784,204 5,757,842
2031 1,384,301,522 5,721,671
2030 1,388,520,533 5,684,420
2029 1,392,490,007 5,644,008
2028 1,396,163,778 5,600,083
2027 1,399,515,824 5,553,725
2026 1,402,578,808 5,505,248
2025 1,405,826,385 5,452,752
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Ireland's population increased by 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Ireland was ranked 121st in 2006 and still ranked 121st 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 Ireland will increase by 11.6% to 6,159,756 people and rank change from 121st to 119th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M 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
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 -0.22% 1.06%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Ireland's population grew by 1.59%.

Live population counters

China Ireland
Current population
1402578808
5518360
Population rank 2/197 121/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.07%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
6.24 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
9.61 minutes
One death every
2.84 seconds
15 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +231
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +84,252
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +1.59%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 68/197
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 - -318,992 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/china/ireland | 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 Ireland 48.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 284,644 people) and 51.8% is from migration (a gain of 305,297 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 (1960–2024, 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/ireland | 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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