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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 58,952,704 people in Italy in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 58,562,681 in Italy.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 24 times bigger than Italy's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Italy is the 26th.
  • The countries together account for 17.6% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.71% for Italy.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs -0.21% in Italy.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Italy has grown from 58.4M to 58.6M (0.28% growth).

China vs Italy: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Italy
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Italy
2100 633,320,628 35,208,261
2099 643,959,697 35,444,989
2098 654,691,595 35,676,340
2097 665,517,335 35,914,345
2096 676,438,150 36,150,501
2095 687,457,915 36,386,787
2094 698,589,897 36,619,396
2093 709,852,629 36,850,181
2092 721,251,520 37,089,746
2091 732,791,748 37,323,400
2090 744,501,355 37,560,976
2089 756,404,299 37,802,157
2088 768,478,316 38,040,056
2087 780,707,622 38,280,439
2086 793,081,006 38,517,279
2085 805,608,315 38,761,126
2084 818,268,277 39,008,873
2083 830,972,107 39,255,273
2082 843,721,746 39,509,964
2081 856,534,631 39,767,732
2080 869,351,919 40,030,977
2079 882,146,959 40,302,924
2078 894,889,246 40,579,648
2077 907,592,919 40,860,952
2076 920,280,380 41,151,772
2075 932,956,157 41,455,646
2074 945,631,173 41,779,503
2073 958,352,980 42,111,664
2072 971,115,895 42,459,257
2071 983,938,054 42,814,908
2070 996,853,418 43,187,953
2069 1,009,905,851 43,571,469
2068 1,023,081,790 43,964,515
2067 1,036,420,010 44,361,273
2066 1,049,887,382 44,771,926
2065 1,063,477,623 45,197,177
2064 1,077,206,695 45,628,630
2063 1,090,982,303 46,066,216
2062 1,104,833,556 46,517,561
2061 1,118,682,849 46,971,598
2060 1,132,504,136 47,424,830
2059 1,146,199,736 47,879,711
2058 1,159,714,746 48,332,818
2057 1,172,963,523 48,778,066
2056 1,185,938,083 49,222,515
2055 1,198,550,408 49,653,326
2054 1,210,749,681 50,073,600
2053 1,222,500,569 50,488,203
2052 1,233,808,926 50,886,354
2051 1,244,584,333 51,276,616
2050 1,254,824,040 51,663,176
2049 1,264,598,914 52,034,983
2048 1,273,885,471 52,392,012
2047 1,282,701,271 52,745,310
2046 1,291,133,690 53,080,828
2045 1,299,154,327 53,408,660
2044 1,306,805,350 53,723,325
2043 1,314,176,710 54,042,322
2042 1,321,319,298 54,342,628
2041 1,328,219,755 54,629,496
2040 1,334,857,481 54,916,374
2039 1,341,265,381 55,205,078
2038 1,347,407,165 55,481,637
2037 1,353,377,505 55,757,394
2036 1,359,133,287 56,025,224
2035 1,364,651,508 56,295,613
2034 1,369,940,557 56,562,648
2033 1,375,003,005 56,822,364
2032 1,379,784,204 57,078,534
2031 1,384,301,522 57,345,322
2030 1,388,520,533 57,606,120
2029 1,392,490,007 57,851,091
2028 1,396,163,778 58,091,760
2027 1,399,515,824 58,333,039
2026 1,402,578,808 58,562,681
2025 1,405,826,385 58,769,653
2024 1,408,975,000 58,952,704
2023 1,410,710,000 58,984,216
2022 1,412,175,000 59,013,667
2021 1,412,360,000 59,133,173
2020 1,411,100,000 59,438,851
2019 1,407,745,000 59,729,081
2018 1,402,760,000 60,148,658
2017 1,396,215,000 60,002,252
2016 1,387,790,000 60,115,223
2015 1,379,860,000 60,229,605
2014 1,371,860,000 60,320,707
2013 1,363,240,000 60,311,613
2012 1,354,190,000 60,191,247
2011 1,345,035,000 60,026,841
2010 1,337,705,000 59,819,407
2009 1,331,260,000 59,555,454
2008 1,324,655,000 59,211,181
2007 1,317,885,000 58,756,247
2006 1,311,020,000 58,399,861
2005 1,303,720,000 58,166,682
2004 1,296,075,000 57,828,179
2003 1,288,400,000 57,399,184
2002 1,280,400,000 57,089,824
2001 1,271,850,000 56,976,981
2000 1,262,645,000 56,942,108
1999 1,252,735,000 56,916,317
1998 1,241,935,000 56,906,744
1997 1,230,075,000 56,890,372
1996 1,217,550,000 56,860,281
1995 1,204,855,000 56,844,303
1994 1,191,835,000 56,843,400
1993 1,178,440,000 56,831,821
1992 1,164,970,000 56,797,087
1991 1,150,780,000 56,758,521
1990 1,135,185,000 56,719,240
1989 1,118,650,000 56,671,781
1988 1,101,630,000 56,629,288
1987 1,084,035,000 56,601,931
1986 1,066,790,000 56,596,155
1985 1,051,040,000 56,593,071
1984 1,036,825,000 56,576,718
1983 1,023,310,000 56,564,074
1982 1,008,630,000 56,543,548
1981 993,885,000 56,501,675
1980 981,235,000 56,433,883
1979 969,005,000 56,317,749
1978 956,165,000 56,155,143
1977 943,455,000 55,955,411
1976 930,685,000 55,718,260
1975 916,395,000 55,441,001
1974 900,350,000 55,110,868
1973 881,940,000 54,751,406
1972 862,030,000 54,381,345
1971 841,105,000 54,073,490
1970 818,315,000 53,821,850
1969 796,025,000 53,537,950
1968 774,510,000 53,235,750
1967 754,550,000 52,900,500
1966 735,400,000 52,519,000
1965 715,185,000 52,112,350
1964 698,355,000 51,675,350
1963 682,335,000 51,252,000
1962 665,770,000 50,879,450
1961 660,330,000 50,536,350
1960 667,070,000 50,199,700

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/italy | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Italy gained 1,715,362 people (a 2.94% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Italy's population decreased by 1,552,542 people (a 2.58% decline).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Italy was ranked 23rd in 2006 and ranked 26th 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 Italy will decrease by 11.8% to 51,663,176 people and rank change from 26th to 40th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 34.4% of the population in China and 29.7% in Italy.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Italy
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Italy
2100 -1.65% -0.67%
2099 -1.64% -0.65%
2098 -1.63% -0.66%
2097 -1.61% -0.65%
2096 -1.6% -0.65%
2095 -1.59% -0.64%
2094 -1.59% -0.63%
2093 -1.58% -0.65%
2092 -1.57% -0.63%
2091 -1.57% -0.63%
2090 -1.57% -0.64%
2089 -1.57% -0.63%
2088 -1.57% -0.63%
2087 -1.56% -0.61%
2086 -1.56% -0.63%
2085 -1.55% -0.64%
2084 -1.53% -0.63%
2083 -1.51% -0.64%
2082 -1.5% -0.65%
2081 -1.47% -0.66%
2080 -1.45% -0.67%
2079 -1.42% -0.68%
2078 -1.4% -0.69%
2077 -1.38% -0.71%
2076 -1.36% -0.73%
2075 -1.34% -0.78%
2074 -1.33% -0.79%
2073 -1.31% -0.82%
2072 -1.3% -0.83%
2071 -1.3% -0.86%
2070 -1.29% -0.88%
2069 -1.29% -0.89%
2068 -1.29% -0.89%
2067 -1.28% -0.92%
2066 -1.28% -0.94%
2065 -1.27% -0.95%
2064 -1.26% -0.95%
2063 -1.25% -0.97%
2062 -1.24% -0.97%
2061 -1.22% -0.96%
2060 -1.19% -0.95%
2059 -1.17% -0.94%
2058 -1.13% -0.91%
2057 -1.09% -0.9%
2056 -1.05% -0.87%
2055 -1.01% -0.84%
2054 -0.96% -0.82%
2053 -0.92% -0.78%
2052 -0.87% -0.76%
2051 -0.82% -0.75%
2050 -0.77% -0.71%
2049 -0.73% -0.68%
2048 -0.69% -0.67%
2047 -0.65% -0.63%
2046 -0.62% -0.61%
2045 -0.59% -0.59%
2044 -0.56% -0.59%
2043 -0.54% -0.55%
2042 -0.52% -0.53%
2041 -0.5% -0.52%
2040 -0.48% -0.52%
2039 -0.46% -0.5%
2038 -0.44% -0.49%
2037 -0.42% -0.48%
2036 -0.4% -0.48%
2035 -0.39% -0.47%
2034 -0.37% -0.46%
2033 -0.35% -0.45%
2032 -0.33% -0.47%
2031 -0.3% -0.45%
2030 -0.29% -0.42%
2029 -0.26% -0.41%
2028 -0.24% -0.41%
2027 -0.22% -0.39%
2026 -0.23% -0.35%
2025 -0.22% -0.31%
2024 -0.12% -0.05%
2023 -0.1% -0.05%
2022 -0.01% -0.2%
2021 0.09% -0.51%
2020 0.24% -0.49%
2019 0.36% -0.7%
2018 0.47% 0.24%
2017 0.61% -0.19%
2016 0.57% -0.19%
2015 0.58% -0.15%
2014 0.63% 0.02%
2013 0.67% 0.2%
2012 0.68% 0.27%
2011 0.55% 0.35%
2010 0.48% 0.44%
2009 0.5% 0.58%
2008 0.51% 0.77%
2007 0.52% 0.61%
2006 0.56% 0.4%
2005 0.59% 0.59%
2004 0.6% 0.75%
2003 0.62% 0.54%
2002 0.67% 0.2%
2001 0.73% 0.06%
2000 0.79% 0.05%
1999 0.87% 0.02%
1998 0.96% 0.03%
1997 1.03% 0.05%
1996 1.05% 0.03%
1995 1.09% 0.002%
1994 1.14% 0.02%
1993 1.16% 0.06%
1992 1.23% 0.07%
1991 1.37% 0.07%
1990 1.48% 0.08%
1989 1.54% 0.08%
1988 1.62% 0.05%
1987 1.62% 0.01%
1986 1.5% 0.005%
1985 1.37% 0.03%
1984 1.32% 0.02%
1983 1.46% 0.04%
1982 1.48% 0.07%
1981 1.29% 0.12%
1980 1.26% 0.21%
1979 1.34% 0.29%
1978 1.35% 0.36%
1977 1.37% 0.43%
1976 1.56% 0.5%
1975 1.78% 0.6%
1974 2.09% 0.66%
1973 2.31% 0.68%
1972 2.49% 0.57%
1971 2.78% 0.47%
1970 2.8% 0.53%
1969 2.78% 0.57%
1968 2.65% 0.63%
1967 2.6% 0.73%
1966 2.83% 0.78%
1965 2.41% 0.85%
1964 2.35% 0.83%
1963 2.49% 0.73%
1962 0.82% 0.68%
1961 -1.01% 0.67%

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/italy | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Italy's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

China Italy
Current population
1402578808
58562681
Population rank 2/197 26/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.71%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
16.7 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
1.39 minutes
One death every
2.84 seconds
47.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline -4,753 -86
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 -31,512
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 170/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
6.99 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 +75,448
Net migration rank 189/196 19/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 6,553,671
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 12/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 11%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 59/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Italy
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Italy
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 75,448
2024 - -318,992 - 95,246
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 -283,125 150,189
2022 -847,305 -293,846 -318,674 231,228
2021 480,203 -379,749 -301,579 157,327
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 -338,801 85,281
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 -215,025 46,634
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 -192,475 83,686
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 -192,007 95,147
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 -138,265 84,568
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 -162,620 39,389
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 -96,513 52,679
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 -90,468 158,090
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 -78,248 252,524
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 -48,021 198,544
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 -23,928 274,387
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 -17,866 283,676
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 -11,842 422,534
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 -5,876 495,092
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 0 215,995
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 -17,450 258,702
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 11,566 417,970
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 -40,179 478,578
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 -22,836 223,861
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 -11,396 48,903
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 -17,082 56,065
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 -22,766 54,405
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 -39,835 67,985
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 -22,756 50,539
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 -22,744 53,450
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 -34,107 -460,287
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 -17,053 502,750
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 0 24,321
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 22,718 51,747
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 11,352 19,721
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 22,688 35,317
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 28,336 19,540
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 33,977 18,553
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 16,980 7,825
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 11,319 -6,206
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 28,297 6,911
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 50,919 203
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 33,939 -3,733
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 79,161 -24,223
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 73,452 7,182
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 84,650 295,642
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 129,531 42,637
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 168,465 43,932
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 190,248 42,246
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 228,445 40,885
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 271,660 43,051
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 336,176 42,487
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 328,508 41,631
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 364,355 43,182
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 383,922 -58,627
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 376,753 -62,216
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 390,827 -45,346
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 399,268 -50,149
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 439,074 -37,992
1966 19,282,187 4,165 488,427 -35,352
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 474,222 -36,267
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 527,089 -27,368
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 440,767 -28,198
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 427,387 -25,840
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 459,880 -129,761
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 426,697 -140,765

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/italy | 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 Italy 68.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 2,239,084 people) and 31.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,026,128 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 6,553,671 people or 11% in Italy.

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
Italy
City Population
Rome 2.75M
Milan 1.35M
Naples 913K
Turin 842K
Palermo 630K
Genoa 559K
Bologna 388K
Florence 361K
Bari 315K
Catania 312K

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/italy | 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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