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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,406,585,000 in 2025 vs 529,676 people in Maldives in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,403,335,670 people compared to 532,468 in Maldives.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 2,636 times bigger than Maldives'.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Maldives is the 168th.
  • The countries together account for 16.9% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.006% for Maldives.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.23% per year vs +2.28% in Maldives.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (7.04% growth), while Maldives has grown from 314K to 532K (69.7% growth).

China vs Maldives: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Maldives
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Maldives
2100 633,662,382 476,472
2099 644,307,192 477,887
2098 655,044,881 479,384
2097 665,876,462 481,076
2096 676,803,171 482,932
2095 687,828,883 484,892
2094 698,966,872 487,026
2093 710,235,681 489,428
2092 721,640,723 492,103
2091 733,187,178 494,866
2090 744,903,105 498,019
2089 756,812,472 501,269
2088 768,893,004 504,943
2087 781,128,909 508,705
2086 793,508,970 512,717
2085 806,043,039 516,827
2084 818,709,832 521,029
2083 831,420,518 525,309
2082 844,177,036 529,594
2081 856,996,835 534,081
2080 869,821,040 538,531
2079 882,622,985 542,993
2078 895,372,147 547,515
2077 908,082,676 551,848
2076 920,776,984 555,977
2075 933,459,600 559,992
2074 946,141,456 563,823
2073 958,870,128 567,615
2072 971,639,931 571,139
2071 984,469,009 574,565
2070 997,391,342 577,779
2069 1,010,450,818 580,752
2068 1,023,633,867 583,540
2067 1,036,979,285 586,154
2066 1,050,453,924 588,472
2065 1,064,051,499 590,459
2064 1,077,787,979 592,304
2063 1,091,571,021 593,970
2062 1,105,429,748 595,364
2061 1,119,286,514 596,441
2060 1,133,115,260 597,010
2059 1,146,818,251 597,582
2058 1,160,340,554 597,833
2057 1,173,596,480 597,770
2056 1,186,578,041 597,319
2055 1,199,197,172 596,595
2054 1,211,403,028 595,791
2053 1,223,160,257 594,788
2052 1,234,474,716 593,417
2051 1,245,255,938 591,901
2050 1,255,501,171 590,081
2049 1,265,281,319 587,930
2048 1,274,572,888 585,552
2047 1,283,393,445 583,266
2046 1,291,830,414 580,802
2045 1,299,855,379 578,120
2044 1,307,510,531 575,506
2043 1,314,885,869 572,763
2042 1,322,032,311 569,981
2041 1,328,936,491 567,207
2040 1,335,577,799 564,359
2039 1,341,989,157 561,507
2038 1,348,134,255 558,901
2037 1,354,107,817 556,305
2036 1,359,866,705 553,800
2035 1,365,387,904 551,310
2034 1,370,679,807 548,914
2033 1,375,744,986 546,428
2032 1,380,528,766 544,034
2031 1,385,048,521 541,696
2030 1,389,269,809 539,519
2029 1,393,241,425 537,496
2028 1,396,917,178 535,357
2027 1,400,271,033 533,364
2026 1,403,335,670 531,523
2025 1,406,585,000 529,676
2024 1,408,975,000 527,799
2023 1,410,710,000 525,994
2022 1,412,175,000 524,106
2021 1,412,360,000 516,154
2020 1,411,100,000 502,118
2019 1,407,745,000 487,731
2018 1,402,760,000 473,099
2017 1,396,215,000 458,287
2016 1,387,790,000 443,308
2015 1,379,860,000 428,154
2014 1,371,860,000 413,617
2013 1,363,240,000 400,070
2012 1,354,190,000 386,818
2011 1,345,035,000 373,674
2010 1,337,705,000 360,792
2009 1,331,260,000 348,275
2008 1,324,655,000 336,170
2007 1,317,885,000 324,479
2006 1,311,020,000 313,851
2005 1,303,720,000 306,429
2004 1,296,075,000 301,413
2003 1,288,400,000 296,491
2002 1,280,400,000 291,616
2001 1,271,850,000 286,767
2000 1,262,645,000 282,019
1999 1,252,735,000 277,412
1998 1,241,935,000 272,723
1997 1,230,075,000 267,707
1996 1,217,550,000 262,347
1995 1,204,855,000 256,649
1994 1,191,835,000 250,822
1993 1,178,440,000 244,884
1992 1,164,970,000 238,543
1991 1,150,780,000 231,802
1990 1,135,185,000 224,762
1989 1,118,650,000 217,738
1988 1,101,630,000 210,885
1987 1,084,035,000 203,944
1986 1,066,790,000 196,935
1985 1,051,040,000 190,169
1984 1,036,825,000 184,198
1983 1,023,310,000 179,128
1982 1,008,630,000 174,333
1981 993,885,000 169,532
1980 981,235,000 164,835
1979 969,005,000 160,360
1978 956,165,000 156,159
1977 943,455,000 151,930
1976 930,685,000 147,525
1975 916,395,000 143,158
1974 900,350,000 138,978
1973 881,940,000 134,952
1972 862,030,000 130,968
1971 841,105,000 127,035
1970 818,315,000 123,219
1969 796,025,000 119,564
1968 774,510,000 116,075
1967 754,550,000 112,528
1966 735,400,000 108,507
1965 715,185,000 104,102
1964 698,355,000 100,662
1963 682,335,000 98,222
1962 665,770,000 95,802
1961 660,330,000 93,450
1960 667,070,000 91,189

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Maldives gained 129,457 people (a 41.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% growth), while Maldives' population increased by 89,160 people (a 20.1% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Maldives was ranked 171st in 2006 and ranked 168th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) China's population will shrink by 10.5% to 1,255,501,171 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of Maldives will increase by 10.8% to 590,081 people and rank change from 168th to 166th.

Maldives is projected to reach its peak in 2058 at 598K people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 634M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Maldives
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Maldives
2100 -1.65% -0.3%
2099 -1.64% -0.31%
2098 -1.63% -0.35%
2097 -1.61% -0.38%
2096 -1.6% -0.4%
2095 -1.59% -0.44%
2094 -1.59% -0.49%
2093 -1.58% -0.54%
2092 -1.57% -0.56%
2091 -1.57% -0.63%
2090 -1.57% -0.65%
2089 -1.57% -0.73%
2088 -1.57% -0.74%
2087 -1.56% -0.78%
2086 -1.56% -0.8%
2085 -1.55% -0.81%
2084 -1.53% -0.81%
2083 -1.51% -0.81%
2082 -1.5% -0.84%
2081 -1.47% -0.83%
2080 -1.45% -0.82%
2079 -1.42% -0.83%
2078 -1.4% -0.79%
2077 -1.38% -0.74%
2076 -1.36% -0.72%
2075 -1.34% -0.68%
2074 -1.33% -0.67%
2073 -1.31% -0.62%
2072 -1.3% -0.6%
2071 -1.3% -0.56%
2070 -1.29% -0.51%
2069 -1.29% -0.48%
2068 -1.29% -0.45%
2067 -1.28% -0.39%
2066 -1.28% -0.34%
2065 -1.27% -0.31%
2064 -1.26% -0.28%
2063 -1.25% -0.23%
2062 -1.24% -0.18%
2061 -1.22% -0.1%
2060 -1.19% -0.1%
2059 -1.17% -0.04%
2058 -1.13% 0.01%
2057 -1.09% 0.08%
2056 -1.05% 0.12%
2055 -1.01% 0.14%
2054 -0.96% 0.17%
2053 -0.92% 0.23%
2052 -0.87% 0.26%
2051 -0.82% 0.31%
2050 -0.77% 0.37%
2049 -0.73% 0.41%
2048 -0.69% 0.39%
2047 -0.65% 0.42%
2046 -0.62% 0.46%
2045 -0.59% 0.45%
2044 -0.56% 0.48%
2043 -0.54% 0.49%
2042 -0.52% 0.49%
2041 -0.5% 0.5%
2040 -0.48% 0.51%
2039 -0.46% 0.47%
2038 -0.44% 0.47%
2037 -0.42% 0.45%
2036 -0.4% 0.45%
2035 -0.39% 0.44%
2034 -0.37% 0.46%
2033 -0.35% 0.44%
2032 -0.33% 0.43%
2031 -0.3% 0.4%
2030 -0.29% 0.38%
2029 -0.26% 0.4%
2028 -0.24% 0.37%
2027 -0.22% 0.35%
2026 -0.23% 0.35%
2025 -0.17% 0.36%
2024 -0.12% 0.34%
2023 -0.1% 0.36%
2022 -0.01% 1.54%
2021 0.09% 2.8%
2020 0.24% 2.95%
2019 0.36% 3.09%
2018 0.47% 3.23%
2017 0.61% 3.38%
2016 0.57% 3.54%
2015 0.58% 3.51%
2014 0.63% 3.39%
2013 0.67% 3.43%
2012 0.68% 3.52%
2011 0.55% 3.57%
2010 0.48% 3.59%
2009 0.5% 3.6%
2008 0.51% 3.6%
2007 0.52% 3.39%
2006 0.56% 2.42%
2005 0.59% 1.66%
2004 0.6% 1.66%
2003 0.62% 1.67%
2002 0.67% 1.69%
2001 0.73% 1.68%
2000 0.79% 1.66%
1999 0.87% 1.72%
1998 0.96% 1.87%
1997 1.03% 2.04%
1996 1.05% 2.22%
1995 1.09% 2.32%
1994 1.14% 2.42%
1993 1.16% 2.66%
1992 1.23% 2.91%
1991 1.37% 3.13%
1990 1.48% 3.23%
1989 1.54% 3.25%
1988 1.62% 3.4%
1987 1.62% 3.56%
1986 1.5% 3.56%
1985 1.37% 3.24%
1984 1.32% 2.83%
1983 1.46% 2.75%
1982 1.48% 2.83%
1981 1.29% 2.85%
1980 1.26% 2.79%
1979 1.34% 2.69%
1978 1.35% 2.78%
1977 1.37% 2.99%
1976 1.56% 3.05%
1975 1.78% 3.01%
1974 2.09% 2.98%
1973 2.31% 3.04%
1972 2.49% 3.1%
1971 2.78% 3.1%
1970 2.8% 3.06%
1969 2.78% 3.01%
1968 2.65% 3.15%
1967 2.6% 3.71%
1966 2.83% 4.23%
1965 2.41% 3.42%
1964 2.35% 2.48%
1963 2.49% 2.53%
1962 0.82% 2.52%
1961 -1.01% 2.48%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of China declined by 0.17%, while Maldives' population grew by 0.36%.

Live population counters

China Maldives
Current population
1403335670
532468
Population rank 2/197 168/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.006%
One net population change
13.2 seconds
4.68 hours
One birth every
3.31 seconds
1.57 hours
One death every
2.88 seconds
7.02 hours
Daily growth/decline -6,548 +5
Annual growth/decline -2,390,000 +1,877
Annual growth/decline rate -0.17% +0.36%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 142/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
3.85 hours
Annual migration change -268,126 -2,283
Net migration rank 189/196 101/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 75,099
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 141/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 14.2%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 48/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Maldives
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Maldives
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - -2,283
2024 -1,394,886 -318,992 4,340 -2,421
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 4,566 -2,877
2022 -847,305 -293,846 4,752 -2,674
2021 480,203 -379,749 4,426 9,412
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 4,594 9,642
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 4,886 9,648
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 5,088 9,637
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 5,342 9,555
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 5,652 9,421
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 5,914 9,324
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 6,122 7,700
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 6,307 6,963
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 6,445 6,800
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 6,429 6,611
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 6,350 6,369
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 6,227 6,093
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 5,856 6,035
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 5,324 6,160
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 4,766 5,006
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 4,493 578
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 4,287 668
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 4,316 578
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 4,257 607
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 4,271 560
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 4,372 300
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 4,601 -62
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 4,919 -94
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 5,267 -60
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 5,705 -183
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 6,177 -302
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 6,550 -768
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 6,842 -749
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 7,096 -522
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 7,295 -378
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 7,444 -271
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 7,472 -610
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 7,414 -564
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 7,300 -265
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 7,153 -175
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 6,944 -382
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 6,680 -1,300
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 6,361 -1,608
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 6,058 -1,220
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 5,778 -1,014
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 5,526 -903
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 5,275 -958
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 4,812 -716
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 4,779 -413
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 4,538 -101
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 4,325 -14
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 4,136 -78
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 3,924 60
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 3,707 269
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 3,549 341
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 3,415 330
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 3,260 313
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 3,150 255
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 3,010 672
1966 19,282,187 4,165 2,845 1,511
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 2,747 1,709
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 2,660 -227
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 2,567 -125
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 2,475 -80
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 2,354 -44
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 2,241 -32

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 90.3% of the population change in China is from natural causes (a gain of 31,814,462 people) and 9.66% is from migration (a loss of 3,400,807 people). In Maldives 45.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 49,560 people) and 54.2% is from migration (a gain of 58,667 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 75,099 people or 14.2% in Maldives.

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
Maldives
City Population
Male 133K
Hulhumale 65.7K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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