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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 19,051,804 people in Romania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 18,839,108 in Romania.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 74.5 times bigger than Romania's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Romania is the 70th.
  • The countries together account for 17.2% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.23% for Romania.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs -0.43% in Romania.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Romania has declined from 21.2M to 18.8M (11.1% decline).

China vs Romania: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Romania
2100 633,320,628 10,801,385
2099 643,959,697 10,885,505
2098 654,691,595 10,969,050
2097 665,517,335 11,052,086
2096 676,438,150 11,134,776
2095 687,457,915 11,217,462
2094 698,589,897 11,299,298
2093 709,852,629 11,382,352
2092 721,251,520 11,464,817
2091 732,791,748 11,546,872
2090 744,501,355 11,630,335
2089 756,404,299 11,713,468
2088 768,478,316 11,796,733
2087 780,707,622 11,880,373
2086 793,081,006 11,966,550
2085 805,608,315 12,052,744
2084 818,268,277 12,140,454
2083 830,972,107 12,229,714
2082 843,721,746 12,319,480
2081 856,534,631 12,412,385
2080 869,351,919 12,507,333
2079 882,146,959 12,603,302
2078 894,889,246 12,700,870
2077 907,592,919 12,799,985
2076 920,280,380 12,900,610
2075 932,956,157 13,002,848
2074 945,631,173 13,107,513
2073 958,352,980 13,213,407
2072 971,115,895 13,323,211
2071 983,938,054 13,435,661
2070 996,853,418 13,550,449
2069 1,009,905,851 13,667,892
2068 1,023,081,790 13,786,771
2067 1,036,420,010 13,909,141
2066 1,049,887,382 14,034,214
2065 1,063,477,623 14,163,381
2064 1,077,206,695 14,293,294
2063 1,090,982,303 14,424,068
2062 1,104,833,556 14,557,025
2061 1,118,682,849 14,689,897
2060 1,132,504,136 14,821,441
2059 1,146,199,736 14,952,855
2058 1,159,714,746 15,082,857
2057 1,172,963,523 15,211,914
2056 1,185,938,083 15,340,213
2055 1,198,550,408 15,467,019
2054 1,210,749,681 15,590,545
2053 1,222,500,569 15,712,155
2052 1,233,808,926 15,834,374
2051 1,244,584,333 15,954,507
2050 1,254,824,040 16,073,070
2049 1,264,598,914 16,192,498
2048 1,273,885,471 16,311,535
2047 1,282,701,271 16,430,565
2046 1,291,133,690 16,547,661
2045 1,299,154,327 16,665,026
2044 1,306,805,350 16,783,383
2043 1,314,176,710 16,900,955
2042 1,321,319,298 17,018,000
2041 1,328,219,755 17,136,818
2040 1,334,857,481 17,253,674
2039 1,341,265,381 17,370,310
2038 1,347,407,165 17,488,193
2037 1,353,377,505 17,604,853
2036 1,359,133,287 17,721,511
2035 1,364,651,508 17,837,396
2034 1,369,940,557 17,950,976
2033 1,375,003,005 18,064,449
2032 1,379,784,204 18,176,399
2031 1,384,301,522 18,288,437
2030 1,388,520,533 18,399,699
2029 1,392,490,007 18,511,331
2028 1,396,163,778 18,621,197
2027 1,399,515,824 18,730,482
2026 1,402,578,808 18,839,108
2025 1,405,826,385 18,946,392
2024 1,408,975,000 19,051,804
2023 1,410,710,000 19,061,062
2022 1,412,175,000 19,048,502
2021 1,412,360,000 19,122,059
2020 1,411,100,000 19,265,250
2019 1,407,745,000 19,371,648
2018 1,402,760,000 19,473,970
2017 1,396,215,000 19,588,715
2016 1,387,790,000 19,702,267
2015 1,379,860,000 19,815,616
2014 1,371,860,000 19,908,979
2013 1,363,240,000 19,983,693
2012 1,354,190,000 20,058,035
2011 1,345,035,000 20,147,528
2010 1,337,705,000 20,246,871
2009 1,331,260,000 20,367,487
2008 1,324,655,000 20,537,875
2007 1,317,885,000 20,882,982
2006 1,311,020,000 21,193,760
2005 1,303,720,000 21,319,685
2004 1,296,075,000 21,451,748
2003 1,288,400,000 21,574,326
2002 1,280,400,000 21,730,496
2001 1,271,850,000 22,131,970
2000 1,262,645,000 22,442,971
1999 1,252,735,000 22,472,040
1998 1,241,935,000 22,507,344
1997 1,230,075,000 22,553,978
1996 1,217,550,000 22,619,004
1995 1,204,855,000 22,684,270
1994 1,191,835,000 22,730,211
1993 1,178,440,000 22,763,280
1992 1,164,970,000 22,794,284
1991 1,150,780,000 23,001,155
1990 1,135,185,000 23,201,835
1989 1,118,650,000 23,161,458
1988 1,101,630,000 23,057,662
1987 1,084,035,000 22,949,430
1986 1,066,790,000 22,836,841
1985 1,051,040,000 22,732,999
1984 1,036,825,000 22,640,547
1983 1,023,310,000 22,560,478
1982 1,008,630,000 22,475,741
1981 993,885,000 22,353,070
1980 981,235,000 22,207,282
1979 969,005,000 22,090,488
1978 956,165,000 21,951,464
1977 943,455,000 21,756,096
1976 930,685,000 21,551,634
1975 916,395,000 21,293,583
1974 900,350,000 21,029,429
1973 881,940,000 20,835,681
1972 862,030,000 20,657,957
1971 841,105,000 20,461,567
1970 818,315,000 20,250,398
1969 796,025,000 20,009,141
1968 774,510,000 19,799,831
1967 754,550,000 19,534,242
1966 735,400,000 19,215,450
1965 715,185,000 19,031,576
1964 698,355,000 18,919,126
1963 682,335,000 18,797,850
1962 665,770,000 18,676,550
1961 660,330,000 18,555,250
1960 667,070,000 18,406,905

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/romania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Romania lost 1,491,493 people (a 7.04% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Romania's population decreased by 863,159 people (a 4.38% decline).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Romania was ranked 51st in 2006 and ranked 70th 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 Romania will decrease by 14.7% to 16,073,070 people and rank change from 70th to 81st.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 34.4% of the population in China and 31.5% in Romania.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Romania
2100 -1.65% -0.77%
2099 -1.64% -0.76%
2098 -1.63% -0.75%
2097 -1.61% -0.74%
2096 -1.6% -0.74%
2095 -1.59% -0.72%
2094 -1.59% -0.73%
2093 -1.58% -0.72%
2092 -1.57% -0.71%
2091 -1.57% -0.72%
2090 -1.57% -0.71%
2089 -1.57% -0.71%
2088 -1.57% -0.7%
2087 -1.56% -0.72%
2086 -1.56% -0.72%
2085 -1.55% -0.72%
2084 -1.53% -0.73%
2083 -1.51% -0.73%
2082 -1.5% -0.75%
2081 -1.47% -0.76%
2080 -1.45% -0.76%
2079 -1.42% -0.77%
2078 -1.4% -0.77%
2077 -1.38% -0.78%
2076 -1.36% -0.79%
2075 -1.34% -0.8%
2074 -1.33% -0.8%
2073 -1.31% -0.82%
2072 -1.3% -0.84%
2071 -1.3% -0.85%
2070 -1.29% -0.86%
2069 -1.29% -0.86%
2068 -1.29% -0.88%
2067 -1.28% -0.89%
2066 -1.28% -0.91%
2065 -1.27% -0.91%
2064 -1.26% -0.91%
2063 -1.25% -0.91%
2062 -1.24% -0.9%
2061 -1.22% -0.89%
2060 -1.19% -0.88%
2059 -1.17% -0.86%
2058 -1.13% -0.85%
2057 -1.09% -0.84%
2056 -1.05% -0.82%
2055 -1.01% -0.79%
2054 -0.96% -0.77%
2053 -0.92% -0.77%
2052 -0.87% -0.75%
2051 -0.82% -0.74%
2050 -0.77% -0.74%
2049 -0.73% -0.73%
2048 -0.69% -0.72%
2047 -0.65% -0.71%
2046 -0.62% -0.7%
2045 -0.59% -0.71%
2044 -0.56% -0.7%
2043 -0.54% -0.69%
2042 -0.52% -0.69%
2041 -0.5% -0.68%
2040 -0.48% -0.67%
2039 -0.46% -0.67%
2038 -0.44% -0.66%
2037 -0.42% -0.66%
2036 -0.4% -0.65%
2035 -0.39% -0.63%
2034 -0.37% -0.63%
2033 -0.35% -0.62%
2032 -0.33% -0.61%
2031 -0.3% -0.6%
2030 -0.29% -0.6%
2029 -0.26% -0.59%
2028 -0.24% -0.58%
2027 -0.22% -0.58%
2026 -0.23% -0.57%
2025 -0.22% -0.55%
2024 -0.12% -0.05%
2023 -0.1% 0.07%
2022 -0.01% -0.38%
2021 0.09% -0.74%
2020 0.24% -0.55%
2019 0.36% -0.53%
2018 0.47% -0.59%
2017 0.61% -0.58%
2016 0.57% -0.57%
2015 0.58% -0.47%
2014 0.63% -0.37%
2013 0.67% -0.37%
2012 0.68% -0.44%
2011 0.55% -0.49%
2010 0.48% -0.59%
2009 0.5% -0.83%
2008 0.51% -1.65%
2007 0.52% -1.47%
2006 0.56% -0.59%
2005 0.59% -0.62%
2004 0.6% -0.57%
2003 0.62% -0.72%
2002 0.67% -1.81%
2001 0.73% -1.39%
2000 0.79% -0.13%
1999 0.87% -0.16%
1998 0.96% -0.21%
1997 1.03% -0.29%
1996 1.05% -0.29%
1995 1.09% -0.2%
1994 1.14% -0.15%
1993 1.16% -0.14%
1992 1.23% -0.9%
1991 1.37% -0.86%
1990 1.48% 0.17%
1989 1.54% 0.45%
1988 1.62% 0.47%
1987 1.62% 0.49%
1986 1.5% 0.46%
1985 1.37% 0.41%
1984 1.32% 0.35%
1983 1.46% 0.38%
1982 1.48% 0.55%
1981 1.29% 0.66%
1980 1.26% 0.53%
1979 1.34% 0.63%
1978 1.35% 0.9%
1977 1.37% 0.95%
1976 1.56% 1.21%
1975 1.78% 1.26%
1974 2.09% 0.93%
1973 2.31% 0.86%
1972 2.49% 0.96%
1971 2.78% 1.04%
1970 2.8% 1.21%
1969 2.78% 1.06%
1968 2.65% 1.36%
1967 2.6% 1.66%
1966 2.83% 0.97%
1965 2.41% 0.59%
1964 2.35% 0.65%
1963 2.49% 0.65%
1962 0.82% 0.65%
1961 -1.01% 0.81%

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/romania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Romania's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

China Romania
Current population
1402578808
18839108
Population rank 2/197 70/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.23%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
56.8 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
3.45 minutes
One death every
2.84 seconds
2.17 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 -25
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 -9,258
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 169/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
18.1 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 -29,041
Net migration rank 189/196 163/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 655,579
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 73/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 3.4%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 112/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Romania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Romania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - -29,041
2024 - -318,992 - -28,466
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 -89,587 -27,780
2022 -847,305 -293,846 -93,338 89,076
2021 480,203 -379,749 -141,504 -17,731
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 -100,179 -13,202
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 -60,053 -27,909
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 -62,316 -33,018
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 -50,930 -33,081
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 -53,196 -33,073
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 -59,447 -35,751
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 -55,745 -35,448
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 -59,951 -34,910
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 -54,157 -37,589
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 -56,413 -102,769
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 -46,567 -122,364
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 -34,625 -137,953
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 -30,806 -144,368
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 -37,590 -133,089
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 -38,148 -132,777
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 -40,508 -131,176
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 -42,904 -117,432
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 -56,093 -107,139
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 -58,673 -106,585
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 -37,625 -91,154
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 -22,443 -92,451
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 -31,461 -82,590
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 -33,761 -81,366
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 -42,853 -88,734
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 -56,548 -70,799
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 -36,295 -73,779
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 -18,184 -76,246
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 -13,658 -73,475
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 -4,559 -63,200
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 25,301 -36,824
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 69,605 -38,157
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 122,756 -33,866
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 126,817 -48,911
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 128,517 -42,868
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 134,737 -50,450
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 111,392 -28,108
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 117,731 -24,629
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 87,986 3,093
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 119,121 -4,725
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 156,472 -20,870
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 168,776 -16,668
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 194,397 -29,600
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 204,148 -31,427
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 215,385 -28,135
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 213,361 18,748
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 219,324 9,125
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 235,530 6,725
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 175,020 58,651
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 198,316 61,920
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 206,662 74,473
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 234,905 71,919
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 264,120 74,851
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 338,577 33,601
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 347,709 37,282
1966 19,282,187 4,165 115,293 -25,458
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 114,190 -60,430
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 134,326 -59,500
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 139,104 -58,076
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 130,736 -56,152
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 163,286 -54,642
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 191,431 -55,397

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/romania | 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 Romania 82% is from natural causes (a loss of 766,295 people) and 18% is from migration (a loss of 167,917 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 655,579 people or 3.4% in Romania.

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
Romania
City Population
Bucharest 1.72M
Cluj-Napoca 287K
Iasi 272K
Constanta 264K
Timisoara 251K
Brasov 238K
Craiova 234K
Galati 218K
Oradea 183K
Ploiesti 181K

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/romania | 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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