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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,406,585,000 in 2025 vs 579,704 people in Malta in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,403,335,670 people compared to 586,345 in Malta.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 2,393 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 +0.23% per year vs +2.68% in Malta.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (7.04% growth), while Malta has grown from 405K to 586K (44.7% growth).

China vs Malta: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Malta
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Malta
2100 633,662,382 385,935
2099 644,307,192 389,134
2098 655,044,881 392,349
2097 665,876,462 395,676
2096 676,803,171 399,078
2095 687,828,883 402,765
2094 698,966,872 406,545
2093 710,235,681 410,348
2092 721,640,723 414,228
2091 733,187,178 418,324
2090 744,903,105 422,539
2089 756,812,472 426,802
2088 768,893,004 431,058
2087 781,128,909 435,593
2086 793,508,970 440,311
2085 806,043,039 444,985
2084 818,709,832 449,785
2083 831,420,518 454,721
2082 844,177,036 459,549
2081 856,996,835 464,574
2080 869,821,040 469,503
2079 882,622,985 474,408
2078 895,372,147 479,266
2077 908,082,676 484,147
2076 920,776,984 489,066
2075 933,459,600 493,650
2074 946,141,456 498,129
2073 958,870,128 502,551
2072 971,639,931 506,905
2071 984,469,009 511,168
2070 997,391,342 515,276
2069 1,010,450,818 519,370
2068 1,023,633,867 523,386
2067 1,036,979,285 527,196
2066 1,050,453,924 530,842
2065 1,064,051,499 534,346
2064 1,077,787,979 537,672
2063 1,091,571,021 540,800
2062 1,105,429,748 543,938
2061 1,119,286,514 546,831
2060 1,133,115,260 549,661
2059 1,146,818,251 552,414
2058 1,160,340,554 554,917
2057 1,173,596,480 557,274
2056 1,186,578,041 559,707
2055 1,199,197,172 562,109
2054 1,211,403,028 564,244
2053 1,223,160,257 566,461
2052 1,234,474,716 568,738
2051 1,245,255,938 571,060
2050 1,255,501,171 573,186
2049 1,265,281,319 575,026
2048 1,274,572,888 576,946
2047 1,283,393,445 579,015
2046 1,291,830,414 580,778
2045 1,299,855,379 582,504
2044 1,307,510,531 584,119
2043 1,314,885,869 585,724
2042 1,322,032,311 587,136
2041 1,328,936,491 588,589
2040 1,335,577,799 589,860
2039 1,341,989,157 591,157
2038 1,348,134,255 592,353
2037 1,354,107,817 593,277
2036 1,359,866,705 594,028
2035 1,365,387,904 594,615
2034 1,370,679,807 595,017
2033 1,375,744,986 594,907
2032 1,380,528,766 594,310
2031 1,385,048,521 593,505
2030 1,389,269,809 592,412
2029 1,393,241,425 591,100
2028 1,396,917,178 589,420
2027 1,400,271,033 587,406
2026 1,403,335,670 585,225
2025 1,406,585,000 579,704
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% growth), while Malta's population increased by 131,840 people (a 29% 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 1,255,501,171 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of Malta will decrease by 2.24% to 573,186 people and will still be ranked 167th.

Malta is projected to reach its peak in 2034 at 595K 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
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 -0.17% 1.91%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of China declined by 0.17%, while Malta's population grew by 1.91%.

Live population counters

China Malta
Current population
1403335670
586345
Population rank 2/197 167/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.007%
One net population change
13.2 seconds
48.5 minutes
One birth every
3.31 seconds
2 hours
One death every
2.88 seconds
2.11 hours
Daily growth/decline -6,548 +30
Annual growth/decline -2,390,000 +10,857
Annual growth/decline rate -0.17% +1.91%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 52/197
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 -1,394,886 -318,992 228 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/china/malta | 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 Malta 5.38% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,499 people) and 94.6% is from migration (a gain of 96,783 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 (1960–2025, 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/malta | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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