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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,406,585,000 in 2025 vs 17,663 people in Palau in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,403,335,670 people compared to 17,620 in Palau.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 79,644 times bigger than Palau's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Palau is the 194th.
  • The countries together account for 16.9% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.0002% for Palau.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.23% per year vs -0.03% in Palau.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (7.04% growth), while Palau has declined from 19.6K to 17.6K (10.1% decline).

China vs Palau: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Palau
2100 633,662,382 11,146
2099 644,307,192 11,210
2098 655,044,881 11,275
2097 665,876,462 11,346
2096 676,803,171 11,411
2095 687,828,883 11,479
2094 698,966,872 11,543
2093 710,235,681 11,610
2092 721,640,723 11,676
2091 733,187,178 11,747
2090 744,903,105 11,823
2089 756,812,472 11,901
2088 768,893,004 11,962
2087 781,128,909 12,034
2086 793,508,970 12,103
2085 806,043,039 12,165
2084 818,709,832 12,245
2083 831,420,518 12,310
2082 844,177,036 12,376
2081 856,996,835 12,451
2080 869,821,040 12,531
2079 882,622,985 12,602
2078 895,372,147 12,674
2077 908,082,676 12,751
2076 920,776,984 12,831
2075 933,459,600 12,907
2074 946,141,456 13,000
2073 958,870,128 13,084
2072 971,639,931 13,154
2071 984,469,009 13,245
2070 997,391,342 13,332
2069 1,010,450,818 13,424
2068 1,023,633,867 13,518
2067 1,036,979,285 13,614
2066 1,050,453,924 13,716
2065 1,064,051,499 13,811
2064 1,077,787,979 13,913
2063 1,091,571,021 14,018
2062 1,105,429,748 14,129
2061 1,119,286,514 14,244
2060 1,133,115,260 14,350
2059 1,146,818,251 14,471
2058 1,160,340,554 14,581
2057 1,173,596,480 14,710
2056 1,186,578,041 14,830
2055 1,199,197,172 14,954
2054 1,211,403,028 15,077
2053 1,223,160,257 15,198
2052 1,234,474,716 15,324
2051 1,245,255,938 15,445
2050 1,255,501,171 15,554
2049 1,265,281,319 15,674
2048 1,274,572,888 15,789
2047 1,283,393,445 15,904
2046 1,291,830,414 16,015
2045 1,299,855,379 16,123
2044 1,307,510,531 16,237
2043 1,314,885,869 16,331
2042 1,322,032,311 16,437
2041 1,328,936,491 16,541
2040 1,335,577,799 16,623
2039 1,341,989,157 16,719
2038 1,348,134,255 16,797
2037 1,354,107,817 16,886
2036 1,359,866,705 16,955
2035 1,365,387,904 17,033
2034 1,370,679,807 17,109
2033 1,375,744,986 17,181
2032 1,380,528,766 17,241
2031 1,385,048,521 17,321
2030 1,389,269,809 17,389
2029 1,393,241,425 17,448
2028 1,396,917,178 17,518
2027 1,400,271,033 17,567
2026 1,403,335,670 17,620
2025 1,406,585,000 17,663
2024 1,408,975,000 17,695
2023 1,410,710,000 17,727
2022 1,412,175,000 17,759
2021 1,412,360,000 17,783
2020 1,411,100,000 17,792
2019 1,407,745,000 17,798
2018 1,402,760,000 17,814
2017 1,396,215,000 17,812
2016 1,387,790,000 17,797
2015 1,379,860,000 17,770
2014 1,371,860,000 17,715
2013 1,363,240,000 17,648
2012 1,354,190,000 17,765
2011 1,345,035,000 18,078
2010 1,337,705,000 18,396
2009 1,331,260,000 18,709
2008 1,324,655,000 19,009
2007 1,317,885,000 19,302
2006 1,311,020,000 19,593
2005 1,303,720,000 19,819
2004 1,296,075,000 19,820
2003 1,288,400,000 19,659
2002 1,280,400,000 19,503
2001 1,271,850,000 19,352
2000 1,262,645,000 19,178
1999 1,252,735,000 18,901
1998 1,241,935,000 18,524
1997 1,230,075,000 18,108
1996 1,217,550,000 17,654
1995 1,204,855,000 17,195
1994 1,191,835,000 16,770
1993 1,178,440,000 16,372
1992 1,164,970,000 15,989
1991 1,150,780,000 15,614
1990 1,135,185,000 15,259
1989 1,118,650,000 14,945
1988 1,101,630,000 14,645
1987 1,084,035,000 14,334
1986 1,066,790,000 14,024
1985 1,051,040,000 13,688
1984 1,036,825,000 13,337
1983 1,023,310,000 13,006
1982 1,008,630,000 12,694
1981 993,885,000 12,402
1980 981,235,000 12,271
1979 969,005,000 12,337
1978 956,165,000 12,440
1977 943,455,000 12,525
1976 930,685,000 12,598
1975 916,395,000 12,655
1974 900,350,000 12,687
1973 881,940,000 12,552
1972 862,030,000 12,194
1971 841,105,000 11,759
1970 818,315,000 11,368
1969 796,025,000 11,159
1968 774,510,000 11,080
1967 754,550,000 10,988
1966 735,400,000 10,805
1965 715,185,000 10,547
1964 698,355,000 10,292
1963 682,335,000 10,037
1962 665,770,000 9,793
1961 660,330,000 9,555
1960 667,070,000 9,328

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/palau | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Palau lost 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% growth), while Palau's population decreased by 177 people (a 0.99% decline).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Palau was ranked 194th in 2006 and still ranked 194th 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 Palau will decrease by 11.7% to 15,554 people and rank change from 194th to 195th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 34.4% of the population in China and 27.2% in Palau.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Palau
2100 -1.65% -0.57%
2099 -1.64% -0.58%
2098 -1.63% -0.62%
2097 -1.61% -0.57%
2096 -1.6% -0.59%
2095 -1.59% -0.55%
2094 -1.59% -0.58%
2093 -1.58% -0.56%
2092 -1.57% -0.6%
2091 -1.57% -0.65%
2090 -1.57% -0.65%
2089 -1.57% -0.51%
2088 -1.57% -0.6%
2087 -1.56% -0.57%
2086 -1.56% -0.51%
2085 -1.55% -0.65%
2084 -1.53% -0.53%
2083 -1.51% -0.53%
2082 -1.5% -0.6%
2081 -1.47% -0.64%
2080 -1.45% -0.56%
2079 -1.42% -0.58%
2078 -1.4% -0.6%
2077 -1.38% -0.62%
2076 -1.36% -0.59%
2075 -1.34% -0.71%
2074 -1.33% -0.64%
2073 -1.31% -0.53%
2072 -1.3% -0.69%
2071 -1.3% -0.65%
2070 -1.29% -0.68%
2069 -1.29% -0.7%
2068 -1.29% -0.7%
2067 -1.28% -0.74%
2066 -1.28% -0.69%
2065 -1.27% -0.73%
2064 -1.26% -0.75%
2063 -1.25% -0.78%
2062 -1.24% -0.81%
2061 -1.22% -0.74%
2060 -1.19% -0.84%
2059 -1.17% -0.75%
2058 -1.13% -0.88%
2057 -1.09% -0.81%
2056 -1.05% -0.83%
2055 -1.01% -0.81%
2054 -0.96% -0.8%
2053 -0.92% -0.82%
2052 -0.87% -0.78%
2051 -0.82% -0.7%
2050 -0.77% -0.76%
2049 -0.73% -0.73%
2048 -0.69% -0.72%
2047 -0.65% -0.7%
2046 -0.62% -0.67%
2045 -0.59% -0.7%
2044 -0.56% -0.57%
2043 -0.54% -0.64%
2042 -0.52% -0.63%
2041 -0.5% -0.49%
2040 -0.48% -0.57%
2039 -0.46% -0.46%
2038 -0.44% -0.53%
2037 -0.42% -0.41%
2036 -0.4% -0.46%
2035 -0.39% -0.44%
2034 -0.37% -0.42%
2033 -0.35% -0.35%
2032 -0.33% -0.46%
2031 -0.3% -0.39%
2030 -0.29% -0.34%
2029 -0.26% -0.4%
2028 -0.24% -0.28%
2027 -0.22% -0.3%
2026 -0.23% -0.24%
2025 -0.17% -0.18%
2024 -0.12% -0.18%
2023 -0.1% -0.18%
2022 -0.01% -0.13%
2021 0.09% -0.05%
2020 0.24% -0.03%
2019 0.36% -0.09%
2018 0.47% 0.01%
2017 0.61% 0.08%
2016 0.57% 0.15%
2015 0.58% 0.31%
2014 0.63% 0.38%
2013 0.67% -0.66%
2012 0.68% -1.73%
2011 0.55% -1.73%
2010 0.48% -1.67%
2009 0.5% -1.58%
2008 0.51% -1.52%
2007 0.52% -1.49%
2006 0.56% -1.14%
2005 0.59% -0.005%
2004 0.6% 0.82%
2003 0.62% 0.8%
2002 0.67% 0.78%
2001 0.73% 0.91%
2000 0.79% 1.47%
1999 0.87% 2.04%
1998 0.96% 2.3%
1997 1.03% 2.57%
1996 1.05% 2.67%
1995 1.09% 2.53%
1994 1.14% 2.43%
1993 1.16% 2.4%
1992 1.23% 2.4%
1991 1.37% 2.33%
1990 1.48% 2.1%
1989 1.54% 2.05%
1988 1.62% 2.17%
1987 1.62% 2.21%
1986 1.5% 2.45%
1985 1.37% 2.63%
1984 1.32% 2.54%
1983 1.46% 2.46%
1982 1.48% 2.35%
1981 1.29% 1.07%
1980 1.26% -0.53%
1979 1.34% -0.83%
1978 1.35% -0.68%
1977 1.37% -0.58%
1976 1.56% -0.45%
1975 1.78% -0.25%
1974 2.09% 1.08%
1973 2.31% 2.94%
1972 2.49% 3.7%
1971 2.78% 3.44%
1970 2.8% 1.87%
1969 2.78% 0.71%
1968 2.65% 0.84%
1967 2.6% 1.69%
1966 2.83% 2.45%
1965 2.41% 2.48%
1964 2.35% 2.54%
1963 2.49% 2.49%
1962 0.82% 2.49%
1961 -1.01% 2.43%

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/palau | CC BY

In 2025, the population of China declined by 0.17%, while Palau's population declined by 0.18%.

Live population counters

China Palau
Current population
1403335670
17620
Population rank 2/197 194/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.0002%
One net population change
13.2 seconds
1.63 weeks
One birth every
3.31 seconds
1.93 days
One death every
2.88 seconds
1.76 days
Daily growth/decline -6,548 +0
Annual growth/decline -2,390,000 -32
Annual growth/decline rate -0.17% -0.18%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 175/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
3.27 weeks
Annual migration change -268,126 -16
Net migration rank 189/196 78/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 5,212
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 184/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 29.5%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 19/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Palau
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Palau
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - -16
2024 -1,394,886 -318,992 -18 -14
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 -10 -19
2022 -847,305 -293,846 -7 -20
2021 480,203 -379,749 -3 -21
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 8 0
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 23 -46
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 29 -35
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 43 -33
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 53 -35
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 55 -11
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 73 -7
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 88 -28
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 86 -387
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 83 -405
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 81 -392
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 81 -382
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 79 -378
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 80 -372
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 79 -365
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 80 -250
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 83 79
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 86 71
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 88 67
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 88 65
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 85 120
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 100 243
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 116 280
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 140 297
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 166 312
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 186 258
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 195 211
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 196 193
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 183 193
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 175 193
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 181 156
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 185 113
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 183 126
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 182 125
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 182 135
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 181 179
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 181 157
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 176 144
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 170 132
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 161 120
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 165 -179
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 176 -291
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 193 -285
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 213 -292
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 236 -296
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 249 -296
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 256 -282
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 268 22
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 280 147
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 287 156
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 286 54
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 283 -209
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 275 -194
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 266 -150
1966 19,282,187 4,165 268 -18
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 275 -16
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 284 -27
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 291 -41
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 296 -54
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 298 -65
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 296 -70

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/china/palau | 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 Palau 42.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 173 people) and 57.5% is from migration (a loss of 234 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 5,212 people or 29.5% in Palau.

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
Palau
City Population
Ngerulmud 318
Melekeok 299

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/palau | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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