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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 5,572,279 people in Norway in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 5,671,119 in Norway.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 247.3 times bigger than Norway's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Norway is the 119th.
  • The countries together account for 17% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.07% for Norway.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +0.85% in Norway.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Norway has grown from 4.66M to 5.67M (21.7% growth).

China vs Norway: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Norway
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Norway
2100 633,320,628 5,441,855
2099 643,959,697 5,454,583
2098 654,691,595 5,466,669
2097 665,517,335 5,478,174
2096 676,438,150 5,490,010
2095 687,457,915 5,502,418
2094 698,589,897 5,514,598
2093 709,852,629 5,527,174
2092 721,251,520 5,539,172
2091 732,791,748 5,551,172
2090 744,501,355 5,564,044
2089 756,404,299 5,576,715
2088 768,478,316 5,590,047
2087 780,707,622 5,604,159
2086 793,081,006 5,617,935
2085 805,608,315 5,631,413
2084 818,268,277 5,645,116
2083 830,972,107 5,658,044
2082 843,721,746 5,670,485
2081 856,534,631 5,682,427
2080 869,351,919 5,694,199
2079 882,146,959 5,705,317
2078 894,889,246 5,715,984
2077 907,592,919 5,726,145
2076 920,280,380 5,735,898
2075 932,956,157 5,745,619
2074 945,631,173 5,755,683
2073 958,352,980 5,765,642
2072 971,115,895 5,775,295
2071 983,938,054 5,784,119
2070 996,853,418 5,793,594
2069 1,009,905,851 5,802,341
2068 1,023,081,790 5,811,630
2067 1,036,420,010 5,821,550
2066 1,049,887,382 5,831,535
2065 1,063,477,623 5,841,333
2064 1,077,206,695 5,851,085
2063 1,090,982,303 5,860,548
2062 1,104,833,556 5,869,700
2061 1,118,682,849 5,877,754
2060 1,132,504,136 5,885,488
2059 1,146,199,736 5,892,036
2058 1,159,714,746 5,897,922
2057 1,172,963,523 5,904,330
2056 1,185,938,083 5,910,291
2055 1,198,550,408 5,915,286
2054 1,210,749,681 5,919,312
2053 1,222,500,569 5,922,325
2052 1,233,808,926 5,923,483
2051 1,244,584,333 5,923,938
2050 1,254,824,040 5,923,557
2049 1,264,598,914 5,922,138
2048 1,273,885,471 5,919,215
2047 1,282,701,271 5,916,146
2046 1,291,133,690 5,912,426
2045 1,299,154,327 5,907,334
2044 1,306,805,350 5,902,175
2043 1,314,176,710 5,896,614
2042 1,321,319,298 5,889,741
2041 1,328,219,755 5,881,692
2040 1,334,857,481 5,873,512
2039 1,341,265,381 5,864,063
2038 1,347,407,165 5,853,639
2037 1,353,377,505 5,842,734
2036 1,359,133,287 5,830,991
2035 1,364,651,508 5,818,882
2034 1,369,940,557 5,805,966
2033 1,375,003,005 5,792,030
2032 1,379,784,204 5,777,062
2031 1,384,301,522 5,760,828
2030 1,388,520,533 5,743,814
2029 1,392,490,007 5,725,891
2028 1,396,163,778 5,706,765
2027 1,399,515,824 5,686,336
2026 1,402,578,808 5,665,477
2025 1,405,826,385 5,626,258
2024 1,408,975,000 5,572,279
2023 1,410,710,000 5,519,601
2022 1,412,175,000 5,457,127
2021 1,412,360,000 5,408,320
2020 1,411,100,000 5,379,475
2019 1,407,745,000 5,347,896
2018 1,402,760,000 5,311,916
2017 1,396,215,000 5,276,968
2016 1,387,790,000 5,234,519
2015 1,379,860,000 5,188,607
2014 1,371,860,000 5,137,232
2013 1,363,240,000 5,079,623
2012 1,354,190,000 5,018,573
2011 1,345,035,000 4,953,088
2010 1,337,705,000 4,889,252
2009 1,331,260,000 4,828,726
2008 1,324,655,000 4,768,212
2007 1,317,885,000 4,709,153
2006 1,311,020,000 4,660,677
2005 1,303,720,000 4,623,291
2004 1,296,075,000 4,591,910
2003 1,288,400,000 4,564,855
2002 1,280,400,000 4,538,159
2001 1,271,850,000 4,513,751
2000 1,262,645,000 4,490,967
1999 1,252,735,000 4,461,913
1998 1,241,935,000 4,431,464
1997 1,230,075,000 4,405,157
1996 1,217,550,000 4,381,336
1995 1,204,855,000 4,359,184
1994 1,191,835,000 4,336,613
1993 1,178,440,000 4,311,991
1992 1,164,970,000 4,286,401
1991 1,150,780,000 4,261,732
1990 1,135,185,000 4,241,473
1989 1,118,650,000 4,226,901
1988 1,101,630,000 4,209,488
1987 1,084,035,000 4,186,905
1986 1,066,790,000 4,167,354
1985 1,051,040,000 4,152,516
1984 1,036,825,000 4,140,099
1983 1,023,310,000 4,128,432
1982 1,008,630,000 4,114,787
1981 993,885,000 4,099,702
1980 981,235,000 4,085,620
1979 969,005,000 4,072,517
1978 956,165,000 4,058,671
1977 943,455,000 4,043,205
1976 930,685,000 4,026,152
1975 916,395,000 4,007,313
1974 900,350,000 3,985,258
1973 881,940,000 3,960,612
1972 862,030,000 3,933,004
1971 841,105,000 3,903,039
1970 818,315,000 3,875,763
1969 796,025,000 3,847,707
1968 774,510,000 3,816,486
1967 754,550,000 3,784,539
1966 735,400,000 3,753,012
1965 715,185,000 3,723,168
1964 698,355,000 3,694,339
1963 682,335,000 3,666,537
1962 665,770,000 3,638,918
1961 660,330,000 3,609,800
1960 667,070,000 3,581,239

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/norway | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Norway gained 573,842 people (a 12.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Norway's population increased by 436,600 people (a 8.34% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Norway was ranked 116th in 2006 and ranked 119th 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 Norway will increase by 4.45% to 5,923,557 people and rank change from 119th to 121st.

Norway is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 5.92M 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
Norway
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Norway
2100 -1.65% -0.23%
2099 -1.64% -0.22%
2098 -1.63% -0.21%
2097 -1.61% -0.22%
2096 -1.6% -0.23%
2095 -1.59% -0.22%
2094 -1.59% -0.23%
2093 -1.58% -0.22%
2092 -1.57% -0.22%
2091 -1.57% -0.23%
2090 -1.57% -0.23%
2089 -1.57% -0.24%
2088 -1.57% -0.25%
2087 -1.56% -0.25%
2086 -1.56% -0.24%
2085 -1.55% -0.24%
2084 -1.53% -0.23%
2083 -1.51% -0.22%
2082 -1.5% -0.21%
2081 -1.47% -0.21%
2080 -1.45% -0.19%
2079 -1.42% -0.19%
2078 -1.4% -0.18%
2077 -1.38% -0.17%
2076 -1.36% -0.17%
2075 -1.34% -0.17%
2074 -1.33% -0.17%
2073 -1.31% -0.17%
2072 -1.3% -0.15%
2071 -1.3% -0.16%
2070 -1.29% -0.15%
2069 -1.29% -0.16%
2068 -1.29% -0.17%
2067 -1.28% -0.17%
2066 -1.28% -0.17%
2065 -1.27% -0.17%
2064 -1.26% -0.16%
2063 -1.25% -0.16%
2062 -1.24% -0.14%
2061 -1.22% -0.13%
2060 -1.19% -0.11%
2059 -1.17% -0.1%
2058 -1.13% -0.11%
2057 -1.09% -0.1%
2056 -1.05% -0.08%
2055 -1.01% -0.07%
2054 -0.96% -0.05%
2053 -0.92% -0.02%
2052 -0.87% -0.008%
2051 -0.82% 0.006%
2050 -0.77% 0.02%
2049 -0.73% 0.05%
2048 -0.69% 0.05%
2047 -0.65% 0.06%
2046 -0.62% 0.09%
2045 -0.59% 0.09%
2044 -0.56% 0.09%
2043 -0.54% 0.12%
2042 -0.52% 0.14%
2041 -0.5% 0.14%
2040 -0.48% 0.16%
2039 -0.46% 0.18%
2038 -0.44% 0.19%
2037 -0.42% 0.2%
2036 -0.4% 0.21%
2035 -0.39% 0.22%
2034 -0.37% 0.24%
2033 -0.35% 0.26%
2032 -0.33% 0.28%
2031 -0.3% 0.3%
2030 -0.29% 0.31%
2029 -0.26% 0.34%
2028 -0.24% 0.36%
2027 -0.22% 0.37%
2026 -0.23% 0.7%
2025 -0.22% 0.97%
2024 -0.12% 0.95%
2023 -0.1% 1.14%
2022 -0.01% 0.9%
2021 0.09% 0.54%
2020 0.24% 0.59%
2019 0.36% 0.68%
2018 0.47% 0.66%
2017 0.61% 0.81%
2016 0.57% 0.88%
2015 0.58% 1%
2014 0.63% 1.13%
2013 0.67% 1.22%
2012 0.68% 1.32%
2011 0.55% 1.31%
2010 0.48% 1.25%
2009 0.5% 1.27%
2008 0.51% 1.25%
2007 0.52% 1.04%
2006 0.56% 0.81%
2005 0.59% 0.68%
2004 0.6% 0.59%
2003 0.62% 0.59%
2002 0.67% 0.54%
2001 0.73% 0.51%
2000 0.79% 0.65%
1999 0.87% 0.69%
1998 0.96% 0.6%
1997 1.03% 0.54%
1996 1.05% 0.51%
1995 1.09% 0.52%
1994 1.14% 0.57%
1993 1.16% 0.6%
1992 1.23% 0.58%
1991 1.37% 0.48%
1990 1.48% 0.34%
1989 1.54% 0.41%
1988 1.62% 0.54%
1987 1.62% 0.47%
1986 1.5% 0.36%
1985 1.37% 0.3%
1984 1.32% 0.28%
1983 1.46% 0.33%
1982 1.48% 0.37%
1981 1.29% 0.34%
1980 1.26% 0.32%
1979 1.34% 0.34%
1978 1.35% 0.38%
1977 1.37% 0.42%
1976 1.56% 0.47%
1975 1.78% 0.55%
1974 2.09% 0.62%
1973 2.31% 0.7%
1972 2.49% 0.77%
1971 2.78% 0.7%
1970 2.8% 0.73%
1969 2.78% 0.82%
1968 2.65% 0.84%
1967 2.6% 0.84%
1966 2.83% 0.8%
1965 2.41% 0.78%
1964 2.35% 0.76%
1963 2.49% 0.76%
1962 0.82% 0.81%
1961 -1.01% 0.8%

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/norway | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Norway's population grew by 0.95%.

Live population counters

China Norway
Current population
1402578808
5671119
Population rank 2/197 119/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.07%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
9.98 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
10.1 minutes
One death every
2.84 seconds
12.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +144
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +52,678
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +0.95%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 105/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
17.7 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 +29,798
Net migration rank 189/196 29/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 1,012,404
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 60/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 18.2%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 33/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Norway
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Norway
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 29,798
2024 - -318,992 - 44,356
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 8,280 53,806
2022 -847,305 -293,846 5,457 58,040
2021 480,203 -379,749 14,062 19,804
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 12,372 11,277
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 13,904 25,707
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 14,342 18,473
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 15,831 21,657
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 17,797 26,417
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 18,160 30,242
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 18,494 38,522
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 17,779 40,690
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 18,066 47,883
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 18,822 47,454
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 20,046 42,865
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 20,280 39,316
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 19,073 44,002
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 16,482 40,111
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 17,244 24,054
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 15,719 18,588
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 15,612 13,412
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 14,151 11,389
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 10,892 17,279
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 13,090 7,906
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 15,269 9,805
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 14,278 19,147
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 14,181 13,519
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 15,418 9,744
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 17,087 5,671
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 14,821 6,343
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 16,045 7,580
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 12,936 12,567
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 15,431 10,218
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 16,194 7,949
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 14,845 1,818
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 13,949 -1,730
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 12,207 10,380
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 9,212 13,907
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 8,751 7,616
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 6,644 6,725
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 7,452 3,856
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 7,844 4,120
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 9,875 5,749
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 9,020 6,010
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 9,806 3,763
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 10,181 2,839
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 11,364 3,823
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 11,321 4,845
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 13,286 4,779
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 16,430 3,312
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 20,324 4,425
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 21,387 3,414
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 24,777 5,603
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 26,541 3,031
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 25,968 -1,034
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 28,858 2,230
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 29,387 1,761
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 30,276 2,460
1966 19,282,187 4,165 31,150 -888
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 31,275 -1,525
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 30,293 -1,571
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 26,766 1,061
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 28,020 655
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 29,239 1,437
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 29,366 -1,427

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/norway | 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 Norway 31.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 138,699 people) and 68.7% is from migration (a gain of 303,945 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 1,012,404 people or 18.2% in Norway.

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
Norway
City Population
Oslo 718K
Bergen 291K
Trondheim 199K
Stavanger 150K
Baerum 132K
Drammen 105K
Asker 100K
Lillestrom 95.8K
Fredrikstad 85.9K
Sandnes 84.9K

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/norway | 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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