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Population in China compared to New Zealand: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 5,287,500 people in New Zealand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 5,374,272 in New Zealand.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 261 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while New Zealand is the 124th.
  • The countries together account for 17% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.06% for New Zealand.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +1.6% in New Zealand.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while New Zealand has grown from 4.18M to 5.37M (28.4% growth).

China vs New Zealand: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China New Zealand
2100 633,320,628 5,918,837
2099 643,959,697 5,923,132
2098 654,691,595 5,927,206
2097 665,517,335 5,930,263
2096 676,438,150 5,932,907
2095 687,457,915 5,934,847
2094 698,589,897 5,936,183
2093 709,852,629 5,938,804
2092 721,251,520 5,939,085
2091 732,791,748 5,940,665
2090 744,501,355 5,941,752
2089 756,404,299 5,944,871
2088 768,478,316 5,945,635
2087 780,707,622 5,948,586
2086 793,081,006 5,951,745
2085 805,608,315 5,955,275
2084 818,268,277 5,959,115
2083 830,972,107 5,963,613
2082 843,721,746 5,966,943
2081 856,534,631 5,968,511
2080 869,351,919 5,971,082
2079 882,146,959 5,972,331
2078 894,889,246 5,972,928
2077 907,592,919 5,971,804
2076 920,280,380 5,971,386
2075 932,956,157 5,970,985
2074 945,631,173 5,969,834
2073 958,352,980 5,968,506
2072 971,115,895 5,964,548
2071 983,938,054 5,964,493
2070 996,853,418 5,963,811
2069 1,009,905,851 5,962,551
2068 1,023,081,790 5,960,918
2067 1,036,420,010 5,958,438
2066 1,049,887,382 5,954,539
2065 1,063,477,623 5,950,378
2064 1,077,206,695 5,946,851
2063 1,090,982,303 5,944,910
2062 1,104,833,556 5,940,838
2061 1,118,682,849 5,939,601
2060 1,132,504,136 5,936,094
2059 1,146,199,736 5,931,426
2058 1,159,714,746 5,925,816
2057 1,172,963,523 5,919,823
2056 1,185,938,083 5,913,287
2055 1,198,550,408 5,904,352
2054 1,210,749,681 5,894,795
2053 1,222,500,569 5,884,875
2052 1,233,808,926 5,876,162
2051 1,244,584,333 5,864,176
2050 1,254,824,040 5,852,896
2049 1,264,598,914 5,844,165
2048 1,273,885,471 5,833,178
2047 1,282,701,271 5,822,035
2046 1,291,133,690 5,809,860
2045 1,299,154,327 5,795,785
2044 1,306,805,350 5,780,884
2043 1,314,176,710 5,764,579
2042 1,321,319,298 5,746,528
2041 1,328,219,755 5,727,253
2040 1,334,857,481 5,708,874
2039 1,341,265,381 5,690,018
2038 1,347,407,165 5,669,959
2037 1,353,377,505 5,650,253
2036 1,359,133,287 5,630,126
2035 1,364,651,508 5,609,155
2034 1,369,940,557 5,588,315
2033 1,375,003,005 5,565,507
2032 1,379,784,204 5,542,488
2031 1,384,301,522 5,517,391
2030 1,388,520,533 5,491,320
2029 1,392,490,007 5,462,926
2028 1,396,163,778 5,432,752
2027 1,399,515,824 5,399,898
2026 1,402,578,808 5,364,771
2025 1,405,826,385 5,327,462
2024 1,408,975,000 5,287,500
2023 1,410,710,000 5,200,000
2022 1,412,175,000 5,081,700
2021 1,412,360,000 5,084,600
2020 1,411,100,000 5,072,400
2019 1,407,745,000 4,970,300
2018 1,402,760,000 4,900,600
2017 1,396,215,000 4,813,600
2016 1,387,790,000 4,714,100
2015 1,379,860,000 4,609,400
2014 1,371,860,000 4,516,500
2013 1,363,240,000 4,442,100
2012 1,354,190,000 4,408,100
2011 1,345,035,000 4,384,000
2010 1,337,705,000 4,350,700
2009 1,331,260,000 4,302,600
2008 1,324,655,000 4,259,800
2007 1,317,885,000 4,223,800
2006 1,311,020,000 4,184,600
2005 1,303,720,000 4,133,900
2004 1,296,075,000 4,087,500
2003 1,288,400,000 4,027,200
2002 1,280,400,000 3,948,500
2001 1,271,850,000 3,880,500
2000 1,262,645,000 3,857,700
1999 1,252,735,000 3,835,100
1998 1,241,935,000 3,815,000
1997 1,230,075,000 3,781,300
1996 1,217,550,000 3,732,000
1995 1,204,855,000 3,673,400
1994 1,191,835,000 3,620,000
1993 1,178,440,000 3,572,200
1992 1,164,970,000 3,531,700
1991 1,150,780,000 3,495,100
1990 1,135,185,000 3,329,800
1989 1,118,650,000 3,299,200
1988 1,101,630,000 3,283,400
1987 1,084,035,000 3,274,400
1986 1,066,790,000 3,246,300
1985 1,051,040,000 3,247,100
1984 1,036,825,000 3,227,100
1983 1,023,310,000 3,199,300
1982 1,008,630,000 3,156,100
1981 993,885,000 3,124,900
1980 981,235,000 3,112,900
1979 969,005,000 3,109,000
1978 956,165,000 3,121,200
1977 943,455,000 3,120,200
1976 930,685,000 3,110,500
1975 916,395,000 3,083,100
1974 900,350,000 3,023,700
1973 881,940,000 2,961,300
1972 862,030,000 2,903,900
1971 841,105,000 2,853,000
1970 818,315,000 2,810,700
1969 796,025,000 2,772,800
1968 774,510,000 2,748,100
1967 754,550,000 2,724,100
1966 735,400,000 2,675,900
1965 715,185,000 2,628,400
1964 698,355,000 2,585,400
1963 682,335,000 2,531,800
1962 665,770,000 2,482,000
1961 660,330,000 2,419,700
1960 667,070,000 2,371,800

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/new-zealand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while New Zealand gained 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while New Zealand's population increased by 660,172 people (a 14% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. New Zealand was ranked 122nd in 2006 and ranked 124th 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 New Zealand will increase by 8.91% to 5,852,896 people and rank change from 124th to 122nd.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M 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
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China New Zealand
2100 -1.65% -0.07%
2099 -1.64% -0.07%
2098 -1.63% -0.05%
2097 -1.61% -0.04%
2096 -1.6% -0.03%
2095 -1.59% -0.02%
2094 -1.59% -0.04%
2093 -1.58% -0.005%
2092 -1.57% -0.03%
2091 -1.57% -0.02%
2090 -1.57% -0.05%
2089 -1.57% -0.01%
2088 -1.57% -0.05%
2087 -1.56% -0.05%
2086 -1.56% -0.06%
2085 -1.55% -0.06%
2084 -1.53% -0.08%
2083 -1.51% -0.06%
2082 -1.5% -0.03%
2081 -1.47% -0.04%
2080 -1.45% -0.02%
2079 -1.42% -0.01%
2078 -1.4% 0.02%
2077 -1.38% 0.007%
2076 -1.36% 0.007%
2075 -1.34% 0.02%
2074 -1.33% 0.02%
2073 -1.31% 0.07%
2072 -1.3% 0.001%
2071 -1.3% 0.01%
2070 -1.29% 0.02%
2069 -1.29% 0.03%
2068 -1.29% 0.04%
2067 -1.28% 0.07%
2066 -1.28% 0.07%
2065 -1.27% 0.06%
2064 -1.26% 0.03%
2063 -1.25% 0.07%
2062 -1.24% 0.02%
2061 -1.22% 0.06%
2060 -1.19% 0.08%
2059 -1.17% 0.09%
2058 -1.13% 0.1%
2057 -1.09% 0.11%
2056 -1.05% 0.15%
2055 -1.01% 0.16%
2054 -0.96% 0.17%
2053 -0.92% 0.15%
2052 -0.87% 0.2%
2051 -0.82% 0.19%
2050 -0.77% 0.15%
2049 -0.73% 0.19%
2048 -0.69% 0.19%
2047 -0.65% 0.21%
2046 -0.62% 0.24%
2045 -0.59% 0.26%
2044 -0.56% 0.28%
2043 -0.54% 0.31%
2042 -0.52% 0.34%
2041 -0.5% 0.32%
2040 -0.48% 0.33%
2039 -0.46% 0.35%
2038 -0.44% 0.35%
2037 -0.42% 0.36%
2036 -0.4% 0.37%
2035 -0.39% 0.37%
2034 -0.37% 0.41%
2033 -0.35% 0.42%
2032 -0.33% 0.45%
2031 -0.3% 0.47%
2030 -0.29% 0.52%
2029 -0.26% 0.56%
2028 -0.24% 0.61%
2027 -0.22% 0.65%
2026 -0.23% 0.7%
2025 -0.22% 0.76%
2024 -0.12% 1.68%
2023 -0.1% 2.33%
2022 -0.01% -0.06%
2021 0.09% 0.24%
2020 0.24% 2.05%
2019 0.36% 1.42%
2018 0.47% 1.81%
2017 0.61% 2.11%
2016 0.57% 2.27%
2015 0.58% 2.06%
2014 0.63% 1.67%
2013 0.67% 0.77%
2012 0.68% 0.55%
2011 0.55% 0.77%
2010 0.48% 1.12%
2009 0.5% 1%
2008 0.51% 0.85%
2007 0.52% 0.94%
2006 0.56% 1.23%
2005 0.59% 1.14%
2004 0.6% 1.5%
2003 0.62% 1.99%
2002 0.67% 1.75%
2001 0.73% 0.59%
2000 0.79% 0.59%
1999 0.87% 0.53%
1998 0.96% 0.89%
1997 1.03% 1.32%
1996 1.05% 1.6%
1995 1.09% 1.48%
1994 1.14% 1.34%
1993 1.16% 1.15%
1992 1.23% 1.05%
1991 1.37% 4.96%
1990 1.48% 0.93%
1989 1.54% 0.48%
1988 1.62% 0.27%
1987 1.62% 0.87%
1986 1.5% -0.02%
1985 1.37% 0.62%
1984 1.32% 0.87%
1983 1.46% 1.37%
1982 1.48% 1%
1981 1.29% 0.39%
1980 1.26% 0.13%
1979 1.34% -0.39%
1978 1.35% 0.03%
1977 1.37% 0.31%
1976 1.56% 0.89%
1975 1.78% 1.96%
1974 2.09% 2.11%
1973 2.31% 1.98%
1972 2.49% 1.78%
1971 2.78% 1.5%
1970 2.8% 1.37%
1969 2.78% 0.9%
1968 2.65% 0.88%
1967 2.6% 1.8%
1966 2.83% 1.81%
1965 2.41% 1.66%
1964 2.35% 2.12%
1963 2.49% 2.01%
1962 0.82% 2.57%
1961 -1.01% 2.02%

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/new-zealand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while New Zealand's population grew by 1.68%.

Live population counters

China New Zealand
Current population
1402578808
5374272
Population rank 2/197 124/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.06%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
6.01 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
9.31 minutes
One death every
2.84 seconds
14 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +240
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +87,500
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +1.68%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 65/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
30.3 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 +17,403
Net migration rank 189/196 35/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 1,467,989
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 45/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 28.2%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 20/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
New Zealand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China New Zealand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 17,403
2024 - -318,992 - 18,766
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 18,876 21,404
2022 -847,305 -293,846 20,123 21,404
2021 480,203 -379,749 23,644 -14,944
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 24,905 42,124
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 25,299 69,770
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 24,797 59,139
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 26,282 68,349
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 28,237 75,512
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 29,408 70,870
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 26,196 57,974
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 29,096 26,385
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 31,077 -1,015
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 31,302 -2,196
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 35,458 6,722
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 33,560 12,700
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 35,143 4,804
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 35,480 3,053
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 30,924 14,542
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 30,674 19,212
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 29,634 24,521
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 28,150 42,456
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 25,941 48,195
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 27,939 17,793
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 29,897 -6,604
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 28,916 -7,634
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 29,146 -1,387
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 30,137 12,040
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 28,997 25,169
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 29,828 26,743
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 30,372 20,420
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 31,685 12,638
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 32,067 6,460
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 33,518 31,156
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 33,298 70,432
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 30,749 -8,818
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 29,846 -17,005
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 27,603 -7,631
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 25,549 -10,234
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 24,126 -13,462
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 26,043 -901
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 24,315 11,464
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 24,207 7,982
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 25,374 -7,606
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 23,658 -15,423
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 26,675 -26,694
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 26,156 -28,783
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 28,020 -22,697
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 29,456 -9,138
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 31,355 13,196
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 33,896 27,580
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 35,239 28,261
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 38,244 17,779
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 40,000 7,547
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 37,101 4,511
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 38,098 -5,212
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 37,594 -11,853
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 37,974 -2,289
1966 19,282,187 4,165 36,151 9,161
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 36,982 9,245
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 39,375 9,806
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 42,027 10,226
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 42,865 12,697
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 43,482 10,689
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 41,791 3,846

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/new-zealand | 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 New Zealand 34.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 247,767 people) and 65.6% is from migration (a gain of 471,602 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 1,467,989 people or 28.2% in New Zealand.

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
New Zealand
City Population
Auckland 1.47M
Christchurch 383K
Wellington 216K
Hamilton 176K
Tauranga 151K
Dunedin 106K
Lower Hutt 103K
Palmerston North 81.5K
Napier 66.3K
Hibiscus Coast 59.8K

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/new-zealand | 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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