The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 527,799 people in Maldives in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 532,057 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 +0.3% per year vs +2.56% in Maldives.
- Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Maldives has grown from 314K to 532K (69.5% growth).
China vs Maldives: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
China
|
Maldives
|
|
| 2100 | 633,320,628 | 476,505 |
| 2099 | 643,959,697 | 477,920 |
| 2098 | 654,691,595 | 479,417 |
| 2097 | 665,517,335 | 481,109 |
| 2096 | 676,438,150 | 482,965 |
| 2095 | 687,457,915 | 484,925 |
| 2094 | 698,589,897 | 487,060 |
| 2093 | 709,852,629 | 489,462 |
| 2092 | 721,251,520 | 492,137 |
| 2091 | 732,791,748 | 494,900 |
| 2090 | 744,501,355 | 498,054 |
| 2089 | 756,404,299 | 501,304 |
| 2088 | 768,478,316 | 504,978 |
| 2087 | 780,707,622 | 508,740 |
| 2086 | 793,081,006 | 512,752 |
| 2085 | 805,608,315 | 516,863 |
| 2084 | 818,268,277 | 521,065 |
| 2083 | 830,972,107 | 525,345 |
| 2082 | 843,721,746 | 529,631 |
| 2081 | 856,534,631 | 534,118 |
| 2080 | 869,351,919 | 538,568 |
| 2079 | 882,146,959 | 543,030 |
| 2078 | 894,889,246 | 547,552 |
| 2077 | 907,592,919 | 551,886 |
| 2076 | 920,280,380 | 556,016 |
| 2075 | 932,956,157 | 560,031 |
| 2074 | 945,631,173 | 563,862 |
| 2073 | 958,352,980 | 567,654 |
| 2072 | 971,115,895 | 571,178 |
| 2071 | 983,938,054 | 574,604 |
| 2070 | 996,853,418 | 577,819 |
| 2069 | 1,009,905,851 | 580,792 |
| 2068 | 1,023,081,790 | 583,580 |
| 2067 | 1,036,420,010 | 586,194 |
| 2066 | 1,049,887,382 | 588,512 |
| 2065 | 1,063,477,623 | 590,500 |
| 2064 | 1,077,206,695 | 592,344 |
| 2063 | 1,090,982,303 | 594,011 |
| 2062 | 1,104,833,556 | 595,405 |
| 2061 | 1,118,682,849 | 596,482 |
| 2060 | 1,132,504,136 | 597,051 |
| 2059 | 1,146,199,736 | 597,623 |
| 2058 | 1,159,714,746 | 597,874 |
| 2057 | 1,172,963,523 | 597,811 |
| 2056 | 1,185,938,083 | 597,360 |
| 2055 | 1,198,550,408 | 596,636 |
| 2054 | 1,210,749,681 | 595,832 |
| 2053 | 1,222,500,569 | 594,829 |
| 2052 | 1,233,808,926 | 593,458 |
| 2051 | 1,244,584,333 | 591,942 |
| 2050 | 1,254,824,040 | 590,121 |
| 2049 | 1,264,598,914 | 587,970 |
| 2048 | 1,273,885,471 | 585,592 |
| 2047 | 1,282,701,271 | 583,306 |
| 2046 | 1,291,133,690 | 580,842 |
| 2045 | 1,299,154,327 | 578,160 |
| 2044 | 1,306,805,350 | 575,546 |
| 2043 | 1,314,176,710 | 572,802 |
| 2042 | 1,321,319,298 | 570,020 |
| 2041 | 1,328,219,755 | 567,246 |
| 2040 | 1,334,857,481 | 564,398 |
| 2039 | 1,341,265,381 | 561,546 |
| 2038 | 1,347,407,165 | 558,940 |
| 2037 | 1,353,377,505 | 556,343 |
| 2036 | 1,359,133,287 | 553,839 |
| 2035 | 1,364,651,508 | 551,348 |
| 2034 | 1,369,940,557 | 548,952 |
| 2033 | 1,375,003,005 | 546,465 |
| 2032 | 1,379,784,204 | 544,072 |
| 2031 | 1,384,301,522 | 541,734 |
| 2030 | 1,388,520,533 | 539,556 |
| 2029 | 1,392,490,007 | 537,533 |
| 2028 | 1,396,163,778 | 535,394 |
| 2027 | 1,399,515,824 | 533,401 |
| 2026 | 1,402,578,808 | 531,559 |
| 2025 | 1,405,826,385 | 529,712 |
| 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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
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 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Maldives' population increased by 88,749 people (a 20% 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 1,254,824,040 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of Maldives will increase by 10.9% to 590,121 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 633M people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| 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 | -0.22% | 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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/china/maldives | CC BY
In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Maldives' population grew by 0.34%.
Live population counters
|
China
|
Maldives
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
1402578808
|
532057
|
| Population rank | 2/197 | 168/197 |
| Percent of world population | 16.9% | 0.006% |
| One net population change |
18.2 seconds
|
4.85 hours
|
| One birth every |
3.5 seconds
|
1.51 hours
|
| One death every |
2.84 seconds
|
7.13 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | -4,753 | +5 |
| Annual growth/decline | -1,735,000 | +1,805 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -0.12% | +0.34% |
| Population growth rate rank | 173/197 | 146/197 |
| 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
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
China
|
Maldives
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -268,126 | - | -2,283 |
| 2024 | - | -318,992 | - | -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 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/china/maldives | 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 Maldives 42.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 51,342 people) and 57.3% is from migration (a gain of 68,788 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
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between China and Maldives
|
China
|
Maldives
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 79 years | 81.7 years |
| Average age | 40.5 years | 32.7 years |
| Median age | 40.6 years | 32.9 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 50.9:49.1 | 61.9:38.1 |
| Fertility rate | 1 births per woman | 1.58 births per woman |
| Population density | 387 ppl/mi² | 4,620 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/maldives | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.