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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 56,432,944 people in Kenya in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 58,955,623 in Kenya.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 23.8 times bigger than Kenya's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Kenya is the 25th.
  • The countries together account for 17.6% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.71% for Kenya.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +2.08% in Kenya.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Kenya has grown from 36.9M to 59M (59.8% growth).

China vs Kenya: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Kenya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Kenya
2100 633,320,628 105,238,162
2099 643,959,697 105,257,438
2098 654,691,595 105,257,489
2097 665,517,335 105,250,948
2096 676,438,150 105,220,085
2095 687,457,915 105,175,623
2094 698,589,897 105,118,372
2093 709,852,629 105,046,907
2092 721,251,520 104,955,024
2091 732,791,748 104,846,805
2090 744,501,355 104,718,130
2089 756,404,299 104,573,271
2088 768,478,316 104,414,197
2087 780,707,622 104,243,505
2086 793,081,006 104,056,143
2085 805,608,315 103,854,891
2084 818,268,277 103,640,244
2083 830,972,107 103,407,124
2082 843,721,746 103,158,580
2081 856,534,631 102,889,291
2080 869,351,919 102,594,978
2079 882,146,959 102,286,967
2078 894,889,246 101,961,280
2077 907,592,919 101,613,181
2076 920,280,380 101,239,843
2075 932,956,157 100,849,423
2074 945,631,173 100,436,632
2073 958,352,980 100,001,277
2072 971,115,895 99,533,234
2071 983,938,054 99,042,264
2070 996,853,418 98,529,166
2069 1,009,905,851 97,992,232
2068 1,023,081,790 97,428,138
2067 1,036,420,010 96,842,744
2066 1,049,887,382 96,230,345
2065 1,063,477,623 95,598,937
2064 1,077,206,695 94,942,874
2063 1,090,982,303 94,266,124
2062 1,104,833,556 93,561,519
2061 1,118,682,849 92,837,768
2060 1,132,504,136 92,098,717
2059 1,146,199,736 91,343,602
2058 1,159,714,746 90,569,828
2057 1,172,963,523 89,783,087
2056 1,185,938,083 88,994,126
2055 1,198,550,408 88,192,182
2054 1,210,749,681 87,379,992
2053 1,222,500,569 86,552,281
2052 1,233,808,926 85,710,403
2051 1,244,584,333 84,850,558
2050 1,254,824,040 83,976,685
2049 1,264,598,914 83,090,517
2048 1,273,885,471 82,191,119
2047 1,282,701,271 81,274,836
2046 1,291,133,690 80,340,592
2045 1,299,154,327 79,389,433
2044 1,306,805,350 78,414,158
2043 1,314,176,710 77,418,567
2042 1,321,319,298 76,399,781
2041 1,328,219,755 75,363,853
2040 1,334,857,481 74,308,480
2039 1,341,265,381 73,241,028
2038 1,347,407,165 72,153,876
2037 1,353,377,505 71,058,753
2036 1,359,133,287 69,949,421
2035 1,364,651,508 68,831,151
2034 1,369,940,557 67,705,051
2033 1,375,003,005 66,569,532
2032 1,379,784,204 65,431,402
2031 1,384,301,522 64,289,540
2030 1,388,520,533 63,153,520
2029 1,392,490,007 62,021,378
2028 1,396,163,778 60,894,078
2027 1,399,515,824 59,770,115
2026 1,402,578,808 58,653,621
2025 1,405,826,385 57,540,609
2024 1,408,975,000 56,432,944
2023 1,410,710,000 55,339,003
2022 1,412,175,000 54,252,461
2021 1,412,360,000 53,219,166
2020 1,411,100,000 52,217,334
2019 1,407,745,000 51,202,827
2018 1,402,760,000 50,207,107
2017 1,396,215,000 49,197,766
2016 1,387,790,000 48,139,687
2015 1,379,860,000 47,088,526
2014 1,371,860,000 46,051,440
2013 1,363,240,000 44,986,791
2012 1,354,190,000 43,888,303
2011 1,345,035,000 42,758,461
2010 1,337,705,000 41,598,567
2009 1,331,260,000 40,408,891
2008 1,324,655,000 39,206,351
2007 1,317,885,000 38,036,349
2006 1,311,020,000 36,904,008
2005 1,303,720,000 35,796,484
2004 1,296,075,000 34,713,455
2003 1,288,400,000 33,652,223
2002 1,280,400,000 32,629,808
2001 1,271,850,000 31,619,170
2000 1,262,645,000 30,642,890
1999 1,252,735,000 29,733,408
1998 1,241,935,000 28,888,057
1997 1,230,075,000 28,101,768
1996 1,217,550,000 27,344,211
1995 1,204,855,000 26,601,751
1994 1,191,835,000 25,857,130
1993 1,178,440,000 25,117,188
1992 1,164,970,000 24,382,460
1991 1,150,780,000 23,646,514
1990 1,135,185,000 22,892,651
1989 1,118,650,000 22,118,434
1988 1,101,630,000 21,356,219
1987 1,084,035,000 20,616,096
1986 1,066,790,000 19,901,646
1985 1,051,040,000 19,201,768
1984 1,036,825,000 18,514,906
1983 1,023,310,000 17,846,374
1982 1,008,630,000 17,206,175
1981 993,885,000 16,601,507
1980 981,235,000 16,018,459
1979 969,005,000 15,460,666
1978 956,165,000 14,934,126
1977 943,455,000 14,428,819
1976 930,685,000 13,957,623
1975 916,395,000 13,511,671
1974 900,350,000 13,070,078
1973 881,940,000 12,634,835
1972 862,030,000 12,206,060
1971 841,105,000 11,788,904
1970 818,315,000 11,368,791
1969 796,025,000 10,939,695
1968 774,510,000 10,518,823
1967 754,550,000 10,111,057
1966 735,400,000 9,717,816
1965 715,185,000 9,338,078
1964 698,355,000 8,973,535
1963 682,335,000 8,627,971
1962 665,770,000 8,299,308
1961 660,330,000 7,987,770
1960 667,070,000 7,695,307

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/kenya | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Kenya gained 11,235,679 people (a 30.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Kenya's population increased by 10,815,936 people (a 22.5% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Kenya was ranked 33rd in 2006 and ranked 25th 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 Kenya will increase by 42.4% to 83,976,685 people and rank change from 25th to 22nd.

Kenya is projected to reach its peak in 2098 at 105M 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
Kenya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Kenya
2100 -1.65% -0.02%
2099 -1.64% -0%
2098 -1.63% 0.006%
2097 -1.61% 0.03%
2096 -1.6% 0.04%
2095 -1.59% 0.05%
2094 -1.59% 0.07%
2093 -1.58% 0.09%
2092 -1.57% 0.1%
2091 -1.57% 0.12%
2090 -1.57% 0.14%
2089 -1.57% 0.15%
2088 -1.57% 0.16%
2087 -1.56% 0.18%
2086 -1.56% 0.19%
2085 -1.55% 0.21%
2084 -1.53% 0.23%
2083 -1.51% 0.24%
2082 -1.5% 0.26%
2081 -1.47% 0.29%
2080 -1.45% 0.3%
2079 -1.42% 0.32%
2078 -1.4% 0.34%
2077 -1.38% 0.37%
2076 -1.36% 0.39%
2075 -1.34% 0.41%
2074 -1.33% 0.44%
2073 -1.31% 0.47%
2072 -1.3% 0.5%
2071 -1.3% 0.52%
2070 -1.29% 0.55%
2069 -1.29% 0.58%
2068 -1.29% 0.6%
2067 -1.28% 0.64%
2066 -1.28% 0.66%
2065 -1.27% 0.69%
2064 -1.26% 0.72%
2063 -1.25% 0.75%
2062 -1.24% 0.78%
2061 -1.22% 0.8%
2060 -1.19% 0.83%
2059 -1.17% 0.85%
2058 -1.13% 0.88%
2057 -1.09% 0.89%
2056 -1.05% 0.91%
2055 -1.01% 0.93%
2054 -0.96% 0.96%
2053 -0.92% 0.98%
2052 -0.87% 1.01%
2051 -0.82% 1.04%
2050 -0.77% 1.07%
2049 -0.73% 1.09%
2048 -0.69% 1.13%
2047 -0.65% 1.16%
2046 -0.62% 1.2%
2045 -0.59% 1.24%
2044 -0.56% 1.29%
2043 -0.54% 1.33%
2042 -0.52% 1.37%
2041 -0.5% 1.42%
2040 -0.48% 1.46%
2039 -0.46% 1.51%
2038 -0.44% 1.54%
2037 -0.42% 1.59%
2036 -0.4% 1.62%
2035 -0.39% 1.66%
2034 -0.37% 1.71%
2033 -0.35% 1.74%
2032 -0.33% 1.78%
2031 -0.3% 1.8%
2030 -0.29% 1.83%
2029 -0.26% 1.85%
2028 -0.24% 1.88%
2027 -0.22% 1.9%
2026 -0.23% 1.93%
2025 -0.22% 1.96%
2024 -0.12% 1.98%
2023 -0.1% 2%
2022 -0.01% 1.94%
2021 0.09% 1.92%
2020 0.24% 1.98%
2019 0.36% 1.98%
2018 0.47% 2.05%
2017 0.61% 2.2%
2016 0.57% 2.23%
2015 0.58% 2.25%
2014 0.63% 2.37%
2013 0.67% 2.5%
2012 0.68% 2.64%
2011 0.55% 2.79%
2010 0.48% 2.94%
2009 0.5% 3.07%
2008 0.51% 3.08%
2007 0.52% 3.07%
2006 0.56% 3.09%
2005 0.59% 3.12%
2004 0.6% 3.15%
2003 0.62% 3.13%
2002 0.67% 3.2%
2001 0.73% 3.19%
2000 0.79% 3.06%
1999 0.87% 2.93%
1998 0.96% 2.8%
1997 1.03% 2.77%
1996 1.05% 2.79%
1995 1.09% 2.88%
1994 1.14% 2.95%
1993 1.16% 3.01%
1992 1.23% 3.11%
1991 1.37% 3.29%
1990 1.48% 3.5%
1989 1.54% 3.57%
1988 1.62% 3.59%
1987 1.62% 3.59%
1986 1.5% 3.64%
1985 1.37% 3.71%
1984 1.32% 3.75%
1983 1.46% 3.72%
1982 1.48% 3.64%
1981 1.29% 3.64%
1980 1.26% 3.61%
1979 1.34% 3.53%
1978 1.35% 3.5%
1977 1.37% 3.38%
1976 1.56% 3.3%
1975 1.78% 3.38%
1974 2.09% 3.44%
1973 2.31% 3.51%
1972 2.49% 3.54%
1971 2.78% 3.7%
1970 2.8% 3.92%
1969 2.78% 4%
1968 2.65% 4.03%
1967 2.6% 4.05%
1966 2.83% 4.07%
1965 2.41% 4.06%
1964 2.35% 4.01%
1963 2.49% 3.96%
1962 0.82% 3.9%
1961 -1.01% 3.8%

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/kenya | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Kenya's population grew by 1.98%.

Live population counters

China Kenya
Current population
1402578808
58955623
Population rank 2/197 25/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.71%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
28.8 seconds
One birth every
3.5 seconds
21 seconds
One death every
2.84 seconds
1.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +2,997
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +1,093,941
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +1.98%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 53/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
19.3 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 -27,330
Net migration rank 189/196 160/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 992,536
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 61/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 1.8%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 136/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Kenya
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Kenya
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - -27,330
2024 - -318,992 - -19,781
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 1,100,970 -10,003
2022 -847,305 -293,846 1,092,102 -10,003
2021 480,203 -379,749 1,037,082 -52,552
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 1,036,253 -17,111
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 1,071,777 -61,949
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 1,097,075 -115,436
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 1,105,769 -68,702
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 1,108,801 -29,728
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 1,119,200 -95,977
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 1,123,333 -72,415
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 1,136,006 -57,634
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 1,161,548 -42,928
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 1,185,863 -44,795
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 1,199,786 -21,069
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 1,193,598 7,096
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 1,174,818 29,612
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 1,147,063 -11,495
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 1,113,357 15,767
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 1,080,446 5,501
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 1,048,590 31,525
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 1,018,182 24,175
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 992,044 10,431
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 963,721 55,052
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 928,357 5,407
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 898,484 -13,257
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 875,511 -70,023
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 847,493 -80,443
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 827,326 -79,276
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 812,391 -75,506
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 792,702 -40,367
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 788,579 -61,054
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 785,018 -43,085
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 790,030 -60,087
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 789,087 -11,338
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 795,622 -24,949
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 785,652 -31,894
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 775,124 -48,633
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 755,606 -53,183
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 732,739 -35,400
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 709,639 -33,253
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 684,587 -23,905
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 663,109 -43,382
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 642,379 -52,761
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 616,390 -39,920
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 595,390 -56,280
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 574,695 -60,718
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 554,124 -57,493
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 536,740 -90,990
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 517,579 -71,421
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 500,008 -62,973
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 485,556 -52,102
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 472,557 -48,466
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 459,897 -49,671
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 443,065 -13,064
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 427,819 369
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 411,948 1,611
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 396,920 5,060
1966 19,282,187 4,165 382,891 1,616
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 366,444 8,524
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 349,322 4,788
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 332,763 4,246
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 315,797 4,521
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 298,463 4,296
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 280,032 2,134

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/kenya | 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 Kenya 95.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 10,892,362 people) and 4.67% is from migration (a loss of 533,876 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 992,536 people or 1.8% in Kenya.

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
Kenya
City Population
Nairobi 5.54M
Mombasa 1.21M
Kisumu 398K
Nakuru 308K
Eldoret 289K
Thika 279K
Malindi 120K
Machakos 114K
Mumias 100K
Meru 42.7K

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/kenya | 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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