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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 568,847 people in Malta in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 581,729 in Malta.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 2,411 times bigger than Malta's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Malta is the 167th.
  • The countries together account for 16.9% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.007% for Malta.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +2.69% in Malta.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Malta has grown from 405K to 582K (43.5% growth).

China vs Malta: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Malta
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Malta
2100 633,320,628 383,244
2099 643,959,697 386,421
2098 654,691,595 389,613
2097 665,517,335 392,917
2096 676,438,150 396,295
2095 687,457,915 399,956
2094 698,589,897 403,710
2093 709,852,629 407,487
2092 721,251,520 411,340
2091 732,791,748 415,407
2090 744,501,355 419,592
2089 756,404,299 423,826
2088 768,478,316 428,052
2087 780,707,622 432,556
2086 793,081,006 437,240
2085 805,608,315 441,882
2084 818,268,277 446,649
2083 830,972,107 451,551
2082 843,721,746 456,344
2081 856,534,631 461,335
2080 869,351,919 466,229
2079 882,146,959 471,100
2078 894,889,246 475,924
2077 907,592,919 480,771
2076 920,280,380 485,655
2075 932,956,157 490,208
2074 945,631,173 494,656
2073 958,352,980 499,046
2072 971,115,895 503,370
2071 983,938,054 507,604
2070 996,853,418 511,683
2069 1,009,905,851 515,748
2068 1,023,081,790 519,737
2067 1,036,420,010 523,520
2066 1,049,887,382 527,140
2065 1,063,477,623 530,620
2064 1,077,206,695 533,923
2063 1,090,982,303 537,029
2062 1,104,833,556 540,145
2061 1,118,682,849 543,018
2060 1,132,504,136 545,828
2059 1,146,199,736 548,562
2058 1,159,714,746 551,048
2057 1,172,963,523 553,389
2056 1,185,938,083 555,804
2055 1,198,550,408 558,190
2054 1,210,749,681 560,309
2053 1,222,500,569 562,511
2052 1,233,808,926 564,772
2051 1,244,584,333 567,078
2050 1,254,824,040 569,189
2049 1,264,598,914 571,016
2048 1,273,885,471 572,923
2047 1,282,701,271 574,977
2046 1,291,133,690 576,728
2045 1,299,154,327 578,442
2044 1,306,805,350 580,046
2043 1,314,176,710 581,639
2042 1,321,319,298 583,042
2041 1,328,219,755 584,485
2040 1,334,857,481 585,747
2039 1,341,265,381 587,035
2038 1,347,407,165 588,223
2037 1,353,377,505 589,140
2036 1,359,133,287 589,886
2035 1,364,651,508 590,469
2034 1,369,940,557 590,868
2033 1,375,003,005 590,759
2032 1,379,784,204 590,166
2031 1,384,301,522 589,366
2030 1,388,520,533 588,281
2029 1,392,490,007 586,978
2028 1,396,163,778 585,310
2027 1,399,515,824 583,310
2026 1,402,578,808 581,144
2025 1,405,826,385 575,661
2024 1,408,975,000 568,847
2023 1,410,710,000 552,747
2022 1,412,175,000 531,113
2021 1,412,360,000 518,150
2020 1,411,100,000 515,490
2019 1,407,745,000 503,912
2018 1,402,760,000 483,903
2017 1,396,215,000 467,106
2016 1,387,790,000 454,505
2015 1,379,860,000 444,220
2014 1,371,860,000 433,481
2013 1,363,240,000 424,810
2012 1,354,190,000 420,028
2011 1,345,035,000 416,268
2010 1,337,705,000 414,508
2009 1,331,260,000 412,477
2008 1,324,655,000 409,379
2007 1,317,885,000 406,724
2006 1,311,020,000 405,308
2005 1,303,720,000 403,834
2004 1,296,075,000 401,268
2003 1,288,400,000 398,582
2002 1,280,400,000 395,969
2001 1,271,850,000 393,028
2000 1,262,645,000 390,087
1999 1,252,735,000 387,578
1998 1,241,935,000 385,287
1997 1,230,075,000 382,791
1996 1,217,550,000 379,905
1995 1,204,855,000 377,419
1994 1,191,835,000 374,797
1993 1,178,440,000 371,308
1992 1,164,970,000 367,618
1991 1,150,780,000 363,845
1990 1,135,185,000 354,170
1989 1,118,650,000 350,722
1988 1,101,630,000 347,325
1987 1,084,035,000 344,485
1986 1,066,790,000 342,121
1985 1,051,040,000 336,452
1984 1,036,825,000 330,593
1983 1,023,310,000 330,524
1982 1,008,630,000 325,898
1981 993,885,000 318,982
1980 981,235,000 316,645
1979 969,005,000 313,342
1978 956,165,000 310,182
1977 943,455,000 306,970
1976 930,685,000 305,774
1975 916,395,000 304,222
1974 900,350,000 301,996
1973 881,940,000 302,200
1972 862,030,000 302,450
1971 841,105,000 302,700
1970 818,315,000 302,650
1969 796,025,000 304,300
1968 774,510,000 307,900
1967 754,550,000 311,550
1966 735,400,000 315,200
1965 715,185,000 318,800
1964 698,355,000 321,250
1963 682,335,000 322,550
1962 665,770,000 323,900
1961 660,330,000 325,250
1960 667,070,000 326,550

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/malta | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Malta gained 49,197 people (a 12.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Malta's population increased by 127,224 people (a 28% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Malta was ranked 168th in 2006 and ranked 167th 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 Malta will decrease by 2.16% to 569,189 people and will still be ranked 167th.

Malta is projected to reach its peak in 2034 at 591K 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
Malta
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Malta
2100 -1.65% -0.82%
2099 -1.64% -0.82%
2098 -1.63% -0.84%
2097 -1.61% -0.85%
2096 -1.6% -0.92%
2095 -1.59% -0.93%
2094 -1.59% -0.93%
2093 -1.58% -0.94%
2092 -1.57% -0.98%
2091 -1.57% -1%
2090 -1.57% -1%
2089 -1.57% -0.99%
2088 -1.57% -1.04%
2087 -1.56% -1.07%
2086 -1.56% -1.05%
2085 -1.55% -1.07%
2084 -1.53% -1.09%
2083 -1.51% -1.05%
2082 -1.5% -1.08%
2081 -1.47% -1.05%
2080 -1.45% -1.03%
2079 -1.42% -1.01%
2078 -1.4% -1.01%
2077 -1.38% -1.01%
2076 -1.36% -0.93%
2075 -1.34% -0.9%
2074 -1.33% -0.88%
2073 -1.31% -0.86%
2072 -1.3% -0.83%
2071 -1.3% -0.8%
2070 -1.29% -0.79%
2069 -1.29% -0.77%
2068 -1.29% -0.72%
2067 -1.28% -0.69%
2066 -1.28% -0.66%
2065 -1.27% -0.62%
2064 -1.26% -0.58%
2063 -1.25% -0.58%
2062 -1.24% -0.53%
2061 -1.22% -0.51%
2060 -1.19% -0.5%
2059 -1.17% -0.45%
2058 -1.13% -0.42%
2057 -1.09% -0.43%
2056 -1.05% -0.43%
2055 -1.01% -0.38%
2054 -0.96% -0.39%
2053 -0.92% -0.4%
2052 -0.87% -0.41%
2051 -0.82% -0.37%
2050 -0.77% -0.32%
2049 -0.73% -0.33%
2048 -0.69% -0.36%
2047 -0.65% -0.3%
2046 -0.62% -0.3%
2045 -0.59% -0.28%
2044 -0.56% -0.27%
2043 -0.54% -0.24%
2042 -0.52% -0.25%
2041 -0.5% -0.22%
2040 -0.48% -0.22%
2039 -0.46% -0.2%
2038 -0.44% -0.16%
2037 -0.42% -0.13%
2036 -0.4% -0.1%
2035 -0.39% -0.07%
2034 -0.37% 0.02%
2033 -0.35% 0.1%
2032 -0.33% 0.14%
2031 -0.3% 0.18%
2030 -0.29% 0.22%
2029 -0.26% 0.29%
2028 -0.24% 0.34%
2027 -0.22% 0.37%
2026 -0.23% 0.95%
2025 -0.22% 1.2%
2024 -0.12% 2.91%
2023 -0.1% 4.07%
2022 -0.01% 2.5%
2021 0.09% 0.52%
2020 0.24% 2.3%
2019 0.36% 4.13%
2018 0.47% 3.6%
2017 0.61% 2.77%
2016 0.57% 2.32%
2015 0.58% 2.48%
2014 0.63% 2.04%
2013 0.67% 1.14%
2012 0.68% 0.9%
2011 0.55% 0.42%
2010 0.48% 0.49%
2009 0.5% 0.76%
2008 0.51% 0.65%
2007 0.52% 0.35%
2006 0.56% 0.37%
2005 0.59% 0.64%
2004 0.6% 0.67%
2003 0.62% 0.66%
2002 0.67% 0.75%
2001 0.73% 0.75%
2000 0.79% 0.65%
1999 0.87% 0.59%
1998 0.96% 0.65%
1997 1.03% 0.76%
1996 1.05% 0.66%
1995 1.09% 0.7%
1994 1.14% 0.94%
1993 1.16% 1%
1992 1.23% 1.04%
1991 1.37% 2.73%
1990 1.48% 0.98%
1989 1.54% 0.98%
1988 1.62% 0.82%
1987 1.62% 0.69%
1986 1.5% 1.68%
1985 1.37% 1.77%
1984 1.32% 0.02%
1983 1.46% 1.42%
1982 1.48% 2.17%
1981 1.29% 0.74%
1980 1.26% 1.05%
1979 1.34% 1.02%
1978 1.35% 1.05%
1977 1.37% 0.39%
1976 1.56% 0.51%
1975 1.78% 0.74%
1974 2.09% -0.07%
1973 2.31% -0.08%
1972 2.49% -0.08%
1971 2.78% 0.02%
1970 2.8% -0.54%
1969 2.78% -1.17%
1968 2.65% -1.17%
1967 2.6% -1.16%
1966 2.83% -1.13%
1965 2.41% -0.76%
1964 2.35% -0.4%
1963 2.49% -0.42%
1962 0.82% -0.42%
1961 -1.01% -0.4%

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/malta | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Malta's population grew by 2.91%.

Live population counters

China Malta
Current population
1402578808
581729
Population rank 2/197 167/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.007%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
32.6 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
1.96 hours
One death every
2.84 seconds
2.17 hours
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +44
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +16,100
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +2.91%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 19/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
1.7 hours
Annual migration change -268,126 +5,161
Net migration rank 189/196 52/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 199,466
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 112/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 37%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 15/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Malta
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Malta
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 5,161
2024 - -318,992 - 6,323
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 442 6,591
2022 -847,305 -293,846 54 2,480
2021 480,203 -379,749 259 4,638
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 361 6,904
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 655 20,302
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 774 16,961
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 747 14,372
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 1,091 8,624
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 888 9,588
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 910 9,192
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 807 861
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 714 911
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 916 999
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 871 741
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 825 836
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 777 869
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 691 926
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 568 997
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 727 1,626
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 883 1,662
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 917 1,626
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 911 1,821
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 1,061 1,678
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 1,482 1,591
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 1,357 1,463
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 1,656 1,260
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 1,991 1,003
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 2,279 1,142
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 1,887 1,306
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 2,136 1,136
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 2,451 1,006
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 2,573 737
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 2,438 763
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 2,621 568
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 2,981 248
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 2,813 164
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 2,412 295
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 2,395 464
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 2,590 -428
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 2,678 -558
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 2,512 -740
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 2,835 -1,059
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 2,233 -548
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 2,375 -886
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 2,852 -1,311
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 2,389 -1,302
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 2,916 -1,598
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 2,721 -1,641
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 2,829 -1,742
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 2,687 -1,597
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 2,327 -1,549
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 2,480 -1,316
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 2,482 -1,327
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 2,270 -1,123
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 2,069 -827
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 2,247 -753
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 2,306 -4,073
1966 19,282,187 4,165 2,458 -4,318
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 2,646 -4,329
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 3,630 -4,768
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 3,709 -4,773
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 4,664 -5,360
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 4,748 -5,099
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 5,747 -5,540

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/malta | 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 Malta 5.84% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,181 people) and 94.2% is from migration (a gain of 99,652 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 199,466 people or 37% in Malta.

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
Malta
City Population
St. Paul's Bay 40.2K
Mosta 25.5K
Birkirkara 24.4K
Naxxar 18.1K
Zabbar 18K
Sliema 16.9K
San Gwann 16.1K
Marsaskala 15.6K
Gzira 8.03K
Valletta 6.44K

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/malta | 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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