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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 7,381,023 people in Libya in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 7,559,873 in Libya.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 185.5 times bigger than Libya's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Libya is the 105th.
  • The countries together account for 17% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.09% for Libya.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +1.44% in Libya.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Libya has grown from 5.98M to 7.56M (26.4% growth).

China vs Libya: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Libya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Libya
2100 633,320,628 9,844,478
2099 643,959,697 9,862,293
2098 654,691,595 9,883,409
2097 665,517,335 9,903,494
2096 676,438,150 9,920,212
2095 687,457,915 9,931,781
2094 698,589,897 9,943,275
2093 709,852,629 9,958,570
2092 721,251,520 9,973,255
2091 732,791,748 9,982,193
2090 744,501,355 9,998,398
2089 756,404,299 10,008,842
2088 768,478,316 10,019,533
2087 780,707,622 10,023,170
2086 793,081,006 10,022,785
2085 805,608,315 10,016,359
2084 818,268,277 10,009,703
2083 830,972,107 10,006,073
2082 843,721,746 9,997,594
2081 856,534,631 9,985,386
2080 869,351,919 9,975,419
2079 882,146,959 9,962,691
2078 894,889,246 9,958,515
2077 907,592,919 9,952,827
2076 920,280,380 9,940,029
2075 932,956,157 9,927,944
2074 945,631,173 9,916,834
2073 958,352,980 9,901,120
2072 971,115,895 9,879,602
2071 983,938,054 9,867,880
2070 996,853,418 9,850,724
2069 1,009,905,851 9,832,072
2068 1,023,081,790 9,812,363
2067 1,036,420,010 9,799,957
2066 1,049,887,382 9,782,414
2065 1,063,477,623 9,762,806
2064 1,077,206,695 9,740,665
2063 1,090,982,303 9,729,567
2062 1,104,833,556 9,707,539
2061 1,118,682,849 9,686,619
2060 1,132,504,136 9,667,297
2059 1,146,199,736 9,638,062
2058 1,159,714,746 9,610,703
2057 1,172,963,523 9,579,595
2056 1,185,938,083 9,554,689
2055 1,198,550,408 9,522,205
2054 1,210,749,681 9,478,010
2053 1,222,500,569 9,432,683
2052 1,233,808,926 9,383,411
2051 1,244,584,333 9,335,341
2050 1,254,824,040 9,282,941
2049 1,264,598,914 9,230,811
2048 1,273,885,471 9,173,272
2047 1,282,701,271 9,118,915
2046 1,291,133,690 9,063,226
2045 1,299,154,327 8,998,841
2044 1,306,805,350 8,934,714
2043 1,314,176,710 8,866,878
2042 1,321,319,298 8,798,463
2041 1,328,219,755 8,732,168
2040 1,334,857,481 8,661,351
2039 1,341,265,381 8,588,292
2038 1,347,407,165 8,514,071
2037 1,353,377,505 8,437,766
2036 1,359,133,287 8,364,809
2035 1,364,651,508 8,289,931
2034 1,369,940,557 8,209,318
2033 1,375,003,005 8,129,142
2032 1,379,784,204 8,052,203
2031 1,384,301,522 7,969,547
2030 1,388,520,533 7,884,726
2029 1,392,490,007 7,801,482
2028 1,396,163,778 7,713,090
2027 1,399,515,824 7,621,838
2026 1,402,578,808 7,536,898
2025 1,405,826,385 7,458,392
2024 1,408,975,000 7,381,023
2023 1,410,710,000 7,305,659
2022 1,412,175,000 7,223,805
2021 1,412,360,000 7,135,175
2020 1,411,100,000 7,045,399
2019 1,407,745,000 6,951,033
2018 1,402,760,000 6,849,055
2017 1,396,215,000 6,738,770
2016 1,387,790,000 6,632,126
2015 1,379,860,000 6,531,819
2014 1,371,860,000 6,427,252
2013 1,363,240,000 6,304,628
2012 1,354,190,000 6,179,328
2011 1,345,035,000 6,343,203
2010 1,337,705,000 6,497,839
2009 1,331,260,000 6,366,686
2008 1,324,655,000 6,235,430
2007 1,317,885,000 6,104,380
2006 1,311,020,000 5,980,211
2005 1,303,720,000 5,858,798
2004 1,296,075,000 5,736,693
2003 1,288,400,000 5,619,398
2002 1,280,400,000 5,508,410
2001 1,271,850,000 5,403,639
2000 1,262,645,000 5,305,021
1999 1,252,735,000 5,218,038
1998 1,241,935,000 5,140,704
1997 1,230,075,000 5,064,639
1996 1,217,550,000 4,987,393
1995 1,204,855,000 4,906,843
1994 1,191,835,000 4,822,037
1993 1,178,440,000 4,733,045
1992 1,164,970,000 4,640,352
1991 1,150,780,000 4,544,400
1990 1,135,185,000 4,445,239
1989 1,118,650,000 4,342,920
1988 1,101,630,000 4,237,755
1987 1,084,035,000 4,129,739
1986 1,066,790,000 4,017,403
1985 1,051,040,000 3,898,745
1984 1,036,825,000 3,773,633
1983 1,023,310,000 3,718,961
1982 1,008,630,000 3,724,765
1981 993,885,000 3,621,486
1980 981,235,000 3,424,378
1979 969,005,000 3,233,846
1978 956,165,000 3,052,526
1977 943,455,000 2,881,533
1976 930,685,000 2,721,237
1975 916,395,000 2,571,556
1974 900,350,000 2,432,211
1973 881,940,000 2,314,193
1972 862,030,000 2,226,091
1971 841,105,000 2,153,534
1970 818,315,000 2,082,589
1969 796,025,000 2,014,293
1968 774,510,000 1,952,781
1967 754,550,000 1,898,199
1966 735,400,000 1,849,063
1965 715,185,000 1,804,015
1964 698,355,000 1,753,691
1963 682,335,000 1,690,457
1962 665,770,000 1,621,960
1961 660,330,000 1,555,699
1960 667,070,000 1,492,890

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/libya | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Libya gained 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Libya's population increased by 927,747 people (a 14% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Libya was ranked 104th in 2006 and ranked 105th 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 Libya will increase by 22.8% to 9,282,941 people and will still be ranked 105th.

Libya is projected to reach its peak in 2087 at 10M 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
Libya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Libya
2100 -1.65% -0.18%
2099 -1.64% -0.21%
2098 -1.63% -0.2%
2097 -1.61% -0.17%
2096 -1.6% -0.12%
2095 -1.59% -0.12%
2094 -1.59% -0.15%
2093 -1.58% -0.15%
2092 -1.57% -0.09%
2091 -1.57% -0.16%
2090 -1.57% -0.1%
2089 -1.57% -0.11%
2088 -1.57% -0.04%
2087 -1.56% 0.004%
2086 -1.56% 0.06%
2085 -1.55% 0.07%
2084 -1.53% 0.04%
2083 -1.51% 0.08%
2082 -1.5% 0.12%
2081 -1.47% 0.1%
2080 -1.45% 0.13%
2079 -1.42% 0.04%
2078 -1.4% 0.06%
2077 -1.38% 0.13%
2076 -1.36% 0.12%
2075 -1.34% 0.11%
2074 -1.33% 0.16%
2073 -1.31% 0.22%
2072 -1.3% 0.12%
2071 -1.3% 0.17%
2070 -1.29% 0.19%
2069 -1.29% 0.2%
2068 -1.29% 0.13%
2067 -1.28% 0.18%
2066 -1.28% 0.2%
2065 -1.27% 0.23%
2064 -1.26% 0.11%
2063 -1.25% 0.23%
2062 -1.24% 0.22%
2061 -1.22% 0.2%
2060 -1.19% 0.3%
2059 -1.17% 0.28%
2058 -1.13% 0.32%
2057 -1.09% 0.26%
2056 -1.05% 0.34%
2055 -1.01% 0.47%
2054 -0.96% 0.48%
2053 -0.92% 0.53%
2052 -0.87% 0.51%
2051 -0.82% 0.56%
2050 -0.77% 0.56%
2049 -0.73% 0.63%
2048 -0.69% 0.6%
2047 -0.65% 0.61%
2046 -0.62% 0.72%
2045 -0.59% 0.72%
2044 -0.56% 0.77%
2043 -0.54% 0.78%
2042 -0.52% 0.76%
2041 -0.5% 0.82%
2040 -0.48% 0.85%
2039 -0.46% 0.87%
2038 -0.44% 0.9%
2037 -0.42% 0.87%
2036 -0.4% 0.9%
2035 -0.39% 0.98%
2034 -0.37% 0.99%
2033 -0.35% 0.96%
2032 -0.33% 1.04%
2031 -0.3% 1.08%
2030 -0.29% 1.07%
2029 -0.26% 1.15%
2028 -0.24% 1.2%
2027 -0.22% 1.13%
2026 -0.23% 1.05%
2025 -0.22% 1.05%
2024 -0.12% 1.03%
2023 -0.1% 1.13%
2022 -0.01% 1.24%
2021 0.09% 1.27%
2020 0.24% 1.36%
2019 0.36% 1.49%
2018 0.47% 1.64%
2017 0.61% 1.61%
2016 0.57% 1.54%
2015 0.58% 1.63%
2014 0.63% 1.94%
2013 0.67% 2.03%
2012 0.68% -2.58%
2011 0.55% -2.38%
2010 0.48% 2.06%
2009 0.5% 2.11%
2008 0.51% 2.15%
2007 0.52% 2.08%
2006 0.56% 2.07%
2005 0.59% 2.13%
2004 0.6% 2.09%
2003 0.62% 2.01%
2002 0.67% 1.94%
2001 0.73% 1.86%
2000 0.79% 1.67%
1999 0.87% 1.5%
1998 0.96% 1.5%
1997 1.03% 1.55%
1996 1.05% 1.64%
1995 1.09% 1.76%
1994 1.14% 1.88%
1993 1.16% 2%
1992 1.23% 2.11%
1991 1.37% 2.23%
1990 1.48% 2.36%
1989 1.54% 2.48%
1988 1.62% 2.62%
1987 1.62% 2.8%
1986 1.5% 3.04%
1985 1.37% 3.32%
1984 1.32% 1.47%
1983 1.46% -0.16%
1982 1.48% 2.85%
1981 1.29% 5.76%
1980 1.26% 5.89%
1979 1.34% 5.94%
1978 1.35% 5.93%
1977 1.37% 5.89%
1976 1.56% 5.82%
1975 1.78% 5.73%
1974 2.09% 5.1%
1973 2.31% 3.96%
1972 2.49% 3.37%
1971 2.78% 3.41%
1970 2.8% 3.39%
1969 2.78% 3.15%
1968 2.65% 2.88%
1967 2.6% 2.66%
1966 2.83% 2.5%
1965 2.41% 2.87%
1964 2.35% 3.74%
1963 2.49% 4.22%
1962 0.82% 4.26%
1961 -1.01% 4.21%

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/libya | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Libya's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

China Libya
Current population
1402578808
7559873
Population rank 2/197 105/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.09%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
6.97 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
4.23 minutes
One death every
2.84 seconds
10.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +206
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +75,364
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 99/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
2.13 days
Annual migration change -268,126 -172
Net migration rank 189/196 83/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 897,751
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 63/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 12.2%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 56/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Libya
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Libya
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - -172
2024 - -318,992 - 3,448
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 75,760 -2,001
2022 -847,305 -293,846 91,951 -2,001
2021 480,203 -379,749 88,005 -694
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 92,950 -694
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 97,842 -1,352
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 101,619 5,841
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 103,891 9,208
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 105,265 -5,081
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 108,096 -7,660
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 110,420 -1,716
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 110,772 25,755
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 108,855 5,211
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 121,016 -562,827
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 122,926 9,611
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 118,102 11,670
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 117,481 15,260
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 116,704 12,640
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 115,645 3,351
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 112,823 11,024
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 107,144 13,222
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 102,144 12,073
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 97,598 10,152
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 93,370 8,420
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 89,814 5,634
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 88,743 -10,206
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 87,613 -11,479
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 86,899 -10,907
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 86,945 -8,446
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 87,661 -5,068
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 88,765 -1,755
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 90,553 426
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 93,568 843
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 96,582 902
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 99,898 946
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 102,823 981
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 105,469 1,053
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 107,761 1,740
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 109,325 5,844
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 110,194 11,962
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 110,028 18,039
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 122,183 -140,904
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 133,511 -126,400
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 130,233 69,211
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 128,034 66,739
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 121,469 64,821
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 114,669 61,684
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 107,769 57,867
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 101,146 53,813
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 94,862 49,544
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 89,337 44,946
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 81,256 20,498
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 77,864 -3,418
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 74,934 -4,265
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 70,488 745
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 66,782 -1,418
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 63,971 -6,323
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 61,889 -10,384
1966 19,282,187 4,165 60,394 -13,619
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 59,134 -15,810
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 55,227 2,084
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 50,421 18,740
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 46,252 21,589
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 42,167 22,504
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 38,391 22,559

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/libya | 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 Libya 99.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 975,799 people) and 0.63% is from migration (a loss of 6,150 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 897,751 people or 12.2% in Libya.

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
Libya
City Population
Tripoli 1.29M
Misrata 881K
Benghazi 632K
Ajdabiya 416K
Al-Khums 202K
Zawiya 199K
Tobruk 136K
Gharyan 123K
Sabratha 102K
Sabha 99K

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/libya | 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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