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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 123,975,371 people in Japan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 122,677,250 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 11.4 times bigger than Japan's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 18.4% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 1.48% for Japan.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs -0.25% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.05% decline).

China vs Japan: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Japan
2100 633,320,628 76,978,998
2099 643,959,697 77,363,458
2098 654,691,595 77,742,445
2097 665,517,335 78,118,375
2096 676,438,150 78,498,614
2095 687,457,915 78,875,245
2094 698,589,897 79,250,325
2093 709,852,629 79,628,057
2092 721,251,520 80,007,967
2091 732,791,748 80,383,529
2090 744,501,355 80,760,724
2089 756,404,299 81,140,553
2088 768,478,316 81,521,696
2087 780,707,622 81,908,373
2086 793,081,006 82,304,497
2085 805,608,315 82,709,534
2084 818,268,277 83,123,058
2083 830,972,107 83,544,006
2082 843,721,746 83,980,325
2081 856,534,631 84,429,305
2080 869,351,919 84,899,768
2079 882,146,959 85,387,247
2078 894,889,246 85,897,934
2077 907,592,919 86,434,291
2076 920,280,380 86,993,007
2075 932,956,157 87,577,777
2074 945,631,173 88,190,392
2073 958,352,980 88,834,763
2072 971,115,895 89,499,356
2071 983,938,054 90,184,464
2070 996,853,418 90,899,136
2069 1,009,905,851 91,625,421
2068 1,023,081,790 92,367,969
2067 1,036,420,010 93,113,499
2066 1,049,887,382 93,869,240
2065 1,063,477,623 94,633,430
2064 1,077,206,695 95,391,433
2063 1,090,982,303 96,148,081
2062 1,104,833,556 96,902,907
2061 1,118,682,849 97,654,031
2060 1,132,504,136 98,400,894
2059 1,146,199,736 99,144,216
2058 1,159,714,746 99,868,968
2057 1,172,963,523 100,585,601
2056 1,185,938,083 101,295,868
2055 1,198,550,408 101,989,736
2054 1,210,749,681 102,683,462
2053 1,222,500,569 103,359,083
2052 1,233,808,926 104,036,901
2051 1,244,584,333 104,706,698
2050 1,254,824,040 105,377,283
2049 1,264,598,914 106,053,011
2048 1,273,885,471 106,731,207
2047 1,282,701,271 107,419,237
2046 1,291,133,690 108,115,358
2045 1,299,154,327 108,820,982
2044 1,306,805,350 109,529,333
2043 1,314,176,710 110,245,586
2042 1,321,319,298 110,968,174
2041 1,328,219,755 111,704,629
2040 1,334,857,481 112,438,759
2039 1,341,265,381 113,175,948
2038 1,347,407,165 113,915,783
2037 1,353,377,505 114,662,374
2036 1,359,133,287 115,410,956
2035 1,364,651,508 116,162,381
2034 1,369,940,557 116,911,001
2033 1,375,003,005 117,652,676
2032 1,379,784,204 118,393,188
2031 1,384,301,522 119,127,425
2030 1,388,520,533 119,856,131
2029 1,392,490,007 120,574,242
2028 1,396,163,778 121,287,543
2027 1,399,515,824 121,989,133
2026 1,402,578,808 122,677,250
2025 1,405,826,385 123,339,586
2024 1,408,975,000 123,975,371
2023 1,410,710,000 124,516,650
2022 1,412,175,000 125,124,989
2021 1,412,360,000 125,681,593
2020 1,411,100,000 126,261,000
2019 1,407,745,000 126,633,000
2018 1,402,760,000 126,811,000
2017 1,396,215,000 126,972,000
2016 1,387,790,000 127,076,000
2015 1,379,860,000 127,141,000
2014 1,371,860,000 127,276,000
2013 1,363,240,000 127,445,000
2012 1,354,190,000 127,629,000
2011 1,345,035,000 127,833,000
2010 1,337,705,000 128,070,000
2009 1,331,260,000 128,047,000
2008 1,324,655,000 128,063,000
2007 1,317,885,000 128,001,000
2006 1,311,020,000 127,854,000
2005 1,303,720,000 127,773,000
2004 1,296,075,000 127,761,000
2003 1,288,400,000 127,718,000
2002 1,280,400,000 127,445,000
2001 1,271,850,000 127,149,000
2000 1,262,645,000 126,843,000
1999 1,252,735,000 126,631,000
1998 1,241,935,000 126,400,000
1997 1,230,075,000 126,057,000
1996 1,217,550,000 125,757,000
1995 1,204,855,000 125,472,000
1994 1,191,835,000 125,178,000
1993 1,178,440,000 124,829,000
1992 1,164,970,000 124,425,000
1991 1,150,780,000 123,964,000
1990 1,135,185,000 123,478,000
1989 1,118,650,000 123,069,000
1988 1,101,630,000 122,578,000
1987 1,084,035,000 122,069,000
1986 1,066,790,000 121,482,000
1985 1,051,040,000 120,837,000
1984 1,036,825,000 120,083,000
1983 1,023,310,000 119,307,000
1982 1,008,630,000 118,480,000
1981 993,885,000 117,661,000
1980 981,235,000 116,807,000
1979 969,005,000 115,890,000
1978 956,165,000 114,913,000
1977 943,455,000 113,872,000
1976 930,685,000 112,775,000
1975 916,395,000 111,573,000
1974 900,350,000 110,162,000
1973 881,940,000 108,707,000
1972 862,030,000 107,188,000
1971 841,105,000 105,697,000
1970 818,315,000 103,403,000
1969 796,025,000 102,219,000
1968 774,510,000 101,011,000
1967 754,550,000 99,879,000
1966 735,400,000 98,851,000
1965 715,185,000 97,952,000
1964 698,355,000 96,903,000
1963 682,335,000 95,900,000
1962 665,770,000 94,933,000
1961 660,330,000 94,055,000
1960 667,070,000 93,216,000

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/japan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Japan was ranked 10th in 2006 and ranked 12th 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 Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 34.4% of the population in China and 29.1% in Japan.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Japan
2100 -1.65% -0.5%
2099 -1.64% -0.49%
2098 -1.63% -0.48%
2097 -1.61% -0.48%
2096 -1.6% -0.48%
2095 -1.59% -0.47%
2094 -1.59% -0.47%
2093 -1.58% -0.47%
2092 -1.57% -0.47%
2091 -1.57% -0.47%
2090 -1.57% -0.47%
2089 -1.57% -0.47%
2088 -1.57% -0.47%
2087 -1.56% -0.48%
2086 -1.56% -0.49%
2085 -1.55% -0.5%
2084 -1.53% -0.5%
2083 -1.51% -0.52%
2082 -1.5% -0.53%
2081 -1.47% -0.55%
2080 -1.45% -0.57%
2079 -1.42% -0.59%
2078 -1.4% -0.62%
2077 -1.38% -0.64%
2076 -1.36% -0.67%
2075 -1.34% -0.69%
2074 -1.33% -0.73%
2073 -1.31% -0.74%
2072 -1.3% -0.76%
2071 -1.3% -0.79%
2070 -1.29% -0.79%
2069 -1.29% -0.8%
2068 -1.29% -0.8%
2067 -1.28% -0.81%
2066 -1.28% -0.81%
2065 -1.27% -0.79%
2064 -1.26% -0.79%
2063 -1.25% -0.78%
2062 -1.24% -0.77%
2061 -1.22% -0.76%
2060 -1.19% -0.75%
2059 -1.17% -0.73%
2058 -1.13% -0.71%
2057 -1.09% -0.7%
2056 -1.05% -0.68%
2055 -1.01% -0.68%
2054 -0.96% -0.65%
2053 -0.92% -0.65%
2052 -0.87% -0.64%
2051 -0.82% -0.64%
2050 -0.77% -0.64%
2049 -0.73% -0.64%
2048 -0.69% -0.64%
2047 -0.65% -0.64%
2046 -0.62% -0.65%
2045 -0.59% -0.65%
2044 -0.56% -0.65%
2043 -0.54% -0.65%
2042 -0.52% -0.66%
2041 -0.5% -0.65%
2040 -0.48% -0.65%
2039 -0.46% -0.65%
2038 -0.44% -0.65%
2037 -0.42% -0.65%
2036 -0.4% -0.65%
2035 -0.39% -0.64%
2034 -0.37% -0.63%
2033 -0.35% -0.63%
2032 -0.33% -0.62%
2031 -0.3% -0.61%
2030 -0.29% -0.6%
2029 -0.26% -0.59%
2028 -0.24% -0.58%
2027 -0.22% -0.56%
2026 -0.23% -0.54%
2025 -0.22% -0.51%
2024 -0.12% -0.43%
2023 -0.1% -0.49%
2022 -0.01% -0.44%
2021 0.09% -0.46%
2020 0.24% -0.29%
2019 0.36% -0.14%
2018 0.47% -0.13%
2017 0.61% -0.08%
2016 0.57% -0.05%
2015 0.58% -0.11%
2014 0.63% -0.13%
2013 0.67% -0.14%
2012 0.68% -0.16%
2011 0.55% -0.19%
2010 0.48% 0.02%
2009 0.5% -0.01%
2008 0.51% 0.05%
2007 0.52% 0.11%
2006 0.56% 0.06%
2005 0.59% 0.009%
2004 0.6% 0.03%
2003 0.62% 0.21%
2002 0.67% 0.23%
2001 0.73% 0.24%
2000 0.79% 0.17%
1999 0.87% 0.18%
1998 0.96% 0.27%
1997 1.03% 0.24%
1996 1.05% 0.23%
1995 1.09% 0.23%
1994 1.14% 0.28%
1993 1.16% 0.32%
1992 1.23% 0.37%
1991 1.37% 0.39%
1990 1.48% 0.33%
1989 1.54% 0.4%
1988 1.62% 0.42%
1987 1.62% 0.48%
1986 1.5% 0.53%
1985 1.37% 0.63%
1984 1.32% 0.65%
1983 1.46% 0.7%
1982 1.48% 0.7%
1981 1.29% 0.73%
1980 1.26% 0.79%
1979 1.34% 0.85%
1978 1.35% 0.91%
1977 1.37% 0.97%
1976 1.56% 1.08%
1975 1.78% 1.28%
1974 2.09% 1.34%
1973 2.31% 1.42%
1972 2.49% 1.41%
1971 2.78% 2.22%
1970 2.8% 1.16%
1969 2.78% 1.2%
1968 2.65% 1.13%
1967 2.6% 1.04%
1966 2.83% 0.92%
1965 2.41% 1.08%
1964 2.35% 1.05%
1963 2.49% 1.02%
1962 0.82% 0.93%
1961 -1.01% 0.9%

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/japan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Japan's population declined by 0.43%.

Live population counters

China Japan
Current population
1402578808
122677250
Population rank 2/197 12/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 1.48%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
58.3 seconds
One birth every
3.5 seconds
42.2 seconds
One death every
2.84 seconds
19.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline -4,753 -1,483
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 -541,279
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% -0.43%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 185/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
3.75 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 +140,579
Net migration rank 189/196 10/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 3,409,529
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 2.8%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Japan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Japan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 140,579
2024 - -318,992 - 153,357
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 -871,617 175,003
2022 -847,305 -293,846 -825,825 175,003
2021 480,203 -379,749 -640,976 -34,996
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 -542,923 42,001
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 -531,858 318,190
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 -456,520 320,601
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 -406,310 322,564
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 -343,106 314,732
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 -292,424 168,896
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 -267,279 58,109
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 -242,146 66,449
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 -229,733 67,904
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 -204,533 97,720
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 -128,070 131,860
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 -76,828 125,450
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 -51,225 142,605
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 -25,600 138,024
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 12,785 130,065
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 -25,554 113,017
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 76,656 69,014
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 114,946 74,875
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 178,423 60,864
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 203,438 59,563
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 228,317 23,468
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 202,610 56,901
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 265,440 45,912
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 277,325 43,366
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 314,392 25,030
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 276,039 87,714
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 363,017 154,214
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 312,073 168,836
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 360,833 170,878
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 396,685 161,331
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 407,478 124,582
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 467,662 31,202
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 527,085 51,154
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 598,138 28,001
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 631,706 27,987
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 676,687 -141,323
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 756,523 -273,686
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 775,495 -269,755
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 805,664 -288,550
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 811,861 -278,525
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 864,372 -92,314
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 950,298 -57,692
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 1,011,234 -47,996
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 1,070,397 -49,082
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 1,127,750 -34,976
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 1,204,989 107
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 1,332,960 -10,145
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 1,391,449 -34,674
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 1,372,006 -73,980
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 1,331,782 -107,778
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 1,230,496 33,731
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 1,195,962 49,447
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 1,191,930 43,593
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 1,258,475 29,632
1966 19,282,187 4,165 682,072 68,934
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 1,126,448 -50,667
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 1,046,553 -100,696
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 987,770 -100,742
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 901,864 -57,075
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 893,522 -58,882
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 894,874 -150,371

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/japan | 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 Japan 73.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.

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
Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M

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/japan | 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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