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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 143,533,851 people in Russia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 141,906,741 in Russia.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 9.88 times bigger than Russia's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Russia is the 9th.
  • The countries together account for 18.6% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 1.71% for Russia.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs -0.02% in Russia.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Russia has declined from 143M to 142M (0.8% decline).

China vs Russia: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Russia
2100 633,320,628 124,983,377
2099 643,959,697 125,086,144
2098 654,691,595 125,186,329
2097 665,517,335 125,264,415
2096 676,438,150 125,354,177
2095 687,457,915 125,422,006
2094 698,589,897 125,474,373
2093 709,852,629 125,529,632
2092 721,251,520 125,604,261
2091 732,791,748 125,652,742
2090 744,501,355 125,707,894
2089 756,404,299 125,760,026
2088 768,478,316 125,810,124
2087 780,707,622 125,858,116
2086 793,081,006 125,926,035
2085 805,608,315 126,001,913
2084 818,268,277 126,076,414
2083 830,972,107 126,151,046
2082 843,721,746 126,234,371
2081 856,534,631 126,317,768
2080 869,351,919 126,414,511
2079 882,146,959 126,534,688
2078 894,889,246 126,674,591
2077 907,592,919 126,830,956
2076 920,280,380 126,982,766
2075 932,956,157 127,165,304
2074 945,631,173 127,362,143
2073 958,352,980 127,576,856
2072 971,115,895 127,802,632
2071 983,938,054 128,080,998
2070 996,853,418 128,353,977
2069 1,009,905,851 128,642,208
2068 1,023,081,790 128,920,237
2067 1,036,420,010 129,203,483
2066 1,049,887,382 129,511,983
2065 1,063,477,623 129,842,007
2064 1,077,206,695 130,177,089
2063 1,090,982,303 130,522,107
2062 1,104,833,556 130,851,664
2061 1,118,682,849 131,200,160
2060 1,132,504,136 131,526,812
2059 1,146,199,736 131,884,461
2058 1,159,714,746 132,247,211
2057 1,172,963,523 132,584,941
2056 1,185,938,083 132,925,501
2055 1,198,550,408 133,271,436
2054 1,210,749,681 133,595,068
2053 1,222,500,569 133,914,243
2052 1,233,808,926 134,180,223
2051 1,244,584,333 134,443,510
2050 1,254,824,040 134,687,487
2049 1,264,598,914 134,909,323
2048 1,273,885,471 135,117,641
2047 1,282,701,271 135,311,492
2046 1,291,133,690 135,482,008
2045 1,299,154,327 135,664,379
2044 1,306,805,350 135,863,165
2043 1,314,176,710 136,085,277
2042 1,321,319,298 136,307,658
2041 1,328,219,755 136,557,818
2040 1,334,857,481 136,821,807
2039 1,341,265,381 137,122,219
2038 1,347,407,165 137,433,644
2037 1,353,377,505 137,770,811
2036 1,359,133,287 138,118,955
2035 1,364,651,508 138,478,809
2034 1,369,940,557 138,852,689
2033 1,375,003,005 139,237,595
2032 1,379,784,204 139,635,142
2031 1,384,301,522 140,058,187
2030 1,388,520,533 140,453,528
2029 1,392,490,007 140,840,370
2028 1,396,163,778 141,214,141
2027 1,399,515,824 141,580,416
2026 1,402,578,808 141,906,741
2025 1,405,826,385 142,772,403
2024 1,408,975,000 143,533,851
2023 1,410,710,000 143,826,130
2022 1,412,175,000 144,236,933
2021 1,412,360,000 144,746,762
2020 1,411,100,000 145,245,148
2019 1,407,745,000 145,453,291
2018 1,402,760,000 145,398,106
2017 1,396,215,000 145,293,260
2016 1,387,790,000 145,015,460
2015 1,379,860,000 144,640,716
2014 1,371,860,000 144,237,223
2013 1,363,240,000 143,805,638
2012 1,354,190,000 143,378,447
2011 1,345,035,000 143,018,195
2010 1,337,705,000 142,849,468
2009 1,331,260,000 142,785,348
2008 1,324,655,000 142,742,366
2007 1,317,885,000 142,805,114
2006 1,311,020,000 143,049,637
2005 1,303,720,000 143,518,814
2004 1,296,075,000 144,067,316
2003 1,288,400,000 144,648,618
2002 1,280,400,000 145,306,497
2001 1,271,850,000 145,976,482
2000 1,262,645,000 146,596,869
1999 1,252,735,000 147,214,776
1998 1,241,935,000 147,670,784
1997 1,230,075,000 147,915,361
1996 1,217,550,000 148,160,129
1995 1,204,855,000 148,375,787
1994 1,191,835,000 148,407,912
1993 1,178,440,000 148,458,777
1992 1,164,970,000 148,538,197
1991 1,150,780,000 148,394,216
1990 1,135,185,000 147,969,406
1989 1,118,650,000 147,721,000
1988 1,101,630,000 146,857,000
1987 1,084,035,000 145,908,000
1986 1,066,790,000 144,894,000
1985 1,051,040,000 143,858,000
1984 1,036,825,000 142,745,000
1983 1,023,310,000 141,668,000
1982 1,008,630,000 140,823,000
1981 993,885,000 139,941,000
1980 981,235,000 139,010,000
1979 969,005,000 138,027,000
1978 956,165,000 137,060,000
1977 943,455,000 136,100,000
1976 930,685,000 135,147,000
1975 916,395,000 134,200,000
1974 900,350,000 133,432,000
1973 881,940,000 132,669,000
1972 862,030,000 131,909,000
1971 841,105,000 131,155,000
1970 818,315,000 130,404,000
1969 796,025,000 129,664,000
1968 774,510,000 128,928,000
1967 754,550,000 128,196,000
1966 735,400,000 127,468,000
1965 715,185,000 126,745,000
1964 698,355,000 125,345,000
1963 682,335,000 123,960,000
1962 665,770,000 122,591,000
1961 660,330,000 121,236,000
1960 667,070,000 119,897,000

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/russia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Russia gained 1,965,823 people (a 1.37% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Russia's population decreased by 3,108,719 people (a 2.14% decline).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Russia was ranked 9th in 2006 and still ranked 9th 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 Russia will decrease by 5.09% to 134,687,487 people and rank change from 9th to 14th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 34.4% of the population in China and 10.5% in Russia.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Russia
2100 -1.65% -0.08%
2099 -1.64% -0.08%
2098 -1.63% -0.06%
2097 -1.61% -0.07%
2096 -1.6% -0.05%
2095 -1.59% -0.04%
2094 -1.59% -0.04%
2093 -1.58% -0.06%
2092 -1.57% -0.04%
2091 -1.57% -0.04%
2090 -1.57% -0.04%
2089 -1.57% -0.04%
2088 -1.57% -0.04%
2087 -1.56% -0.05%
2086 -1.56% -0.06%
2085 -1.55% -0.06%
2084 -1.53% -0.06%
2083 -1.51% -0.07%
2082 -1.5% -0.07%
2081 -1.47% -0.08%
2080 -1.45% -0.09%
2079 -1.42% -0.11%
2078 -1.4% -0.12%
2077 -1.38% -0.12%
2076 -1.36% -0.14%
2075 -1.34% -0.15%
2074 -1.33% -0.17%
2073 -1.31% -0.18%
2072 -1.3% -0.22%
2071 -1.3% -0.21%
2070 -1.29% -0.22%
2069 -1.29% -0.22%
2068 -1.29% -0.22%
2067 -1.28% -0.24%
2066 -1.28% -0.25%
2065 -1.27% -0.26%
2064 -1.26% -0.26%
2063 -1.25% -0.25%
2062 -1.24% -0.27%
2061 -1.22% -0.25%
2060 -1.19% -0.27%
2059 -1.17% -0.27%
2058 -1.13% -0.25%
2057 -1.09% -0.26%
2056 -1.05% -0.26%
2055 -1.01% -0.24%
2054 -0.96% -0.24%
2053 -0.92% -0.2%
2052 -0.87% -0.2%
2051 -0.82% -0.18%
2050 -0.77% -0.16%
2049 -0.73% -0.15%
2048 -0.69% -0.14%
2047 -0.65% -0.13%
2046 -0.62% -0.13%
2045 -0.59% -0.15%
2044 -0.56% -0.16%
2043 -0.54% -0.16%
2042 -0.52% -0.18%
2041 -0.5% -0.19%
2040 -0.48% -0.22%
2039 -0.46% -0.23%
2038 -0.44% -0.24%
2037 -0.42% -0.25%
2036 -0.4% -0.26%
2035 -0.39% -0.27%
2034 -0.37% -0.28%
2033 -0.35% -0.28%
2032 -0.33% -0.3%
2031 -0.3% -0.28%
2030 -0.29% -0.27%
2029 -0.26% -0.26%
2028 -0.24% -0.26%
2027 -0.22% -0.23%
2026 -0.23% -0.61%
2025 -0.22% -0.53%
2024 -0.12% -0.2%
2023 -0.1% -0.28%
2022 -0.01% -0.35%
2021 0.09% -0.34%
2020 0.24% -0.14%
2019 0.36% 0.04%
2018 0.47% 0.07%
2017 0.61% 0.19%
2016 0.57% 0.26%
2015 0.58% 0.28%
2014 0.63% 0.3%
2013 0.67% 0.3%
2012 0.68% 0.25%
2011 0.55% 0.12%
2010 0.48% 0.04%
2009 0.5% 0.03%
2008 0.51% -0.04%
2007 0.52% -0.17%
2006 0.56% -0.33%
2005 0.59% -0.38%
2004 0.6% -0.4%
2003 0.62% -0.45%
2002 0.67% -0.46%
2001 0.73% -0.42%
2000 0.79% -0.42%
1999 0.87% -0.31%
1998 0.96% -0.17%
1997 1.03% -0.17%
1996 1.05% -0.15%
1995 1.09% -0.02%
1994 1.14% -0.03%
1993 1.16% -0.05%
1992 1.23% 0.1%
1991 1.37% 0.29%
1990 1.48% 0.17%
1989 1.54% 0.59%
1988 1.62% 0.65%
1987 1.62% 0.7%
1986 1.5% 0.72%
1985 1.37% 0.78%
1984 1.32% 0.76%
1983 1.46% 0.6%
1982 1.48% 0.63%
1981 1.29% 0.67%
1980 1.26% 0.71%
1979 1.34% 0.71%
1978 1.35% 0.71%
1977 1.37% 0.71%
1976 1.56% 0.71%
1975 1.78% 0.58%
1974 2.09% 0.58%
1973 2.31% 0.58%
1972 2.49% 0.57%
1971 2.78% 0.58%
1970 2.8% 0.57%
1969 2.78% 0.57%
1968 2.65% 0.57%
1967 2.6% 0.57%
1966 2.83% 0.57%
1965 2.41% 1.12%
1964 2.35% 1.12%
1963 2.49% 1.12%
1962 0.82% 1.12%
1961 -1.01% 1.12%

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/russia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Russia's population declined by 0.2%.

Live population counters

China Russia
Current population
1402578808
141906741
Population rank 2/197 9/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 1.71%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
1.8 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
25.5 seconds
One death every
2.84 seconds
18.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline -4,753 -801
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 -292,279
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% -0.2%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 177/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
2.09 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 -251,822
Net migration rank 189/196 187/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 7,605,774
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 10/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 5.3%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 91/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Russia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Russia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - -251,822
2024 - -318,992 - -178,042
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 -503,392 27,807
2022 -847,305 -293,846 -576,948 765,629
2021 480,203 -379,749 -1,027,702 314,112
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 -697,177 334,094
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 -319,997 336,494
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 -232,637 339,972
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 -130,764 396,619
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 0 447,645
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 43,392 384,756
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 28,848 264,698
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 28,761 289,872
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 0 285,977
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 -128,716 309,377
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 -242,844 307,555
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 -257,014 350,206
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 -356,856 360,840
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 -471,257 365,717
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 -686,638 308,370
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 -846,761 263,541
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 -792,370 261,519
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 -896,822 256,804
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 -944,492 1,358,944
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 -963,445 259,614
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 -967,540 550,401
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 -927,453 375,468
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 -694,053 528,135
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 -769,159 541,387
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 -785,248 587,171
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 -845,742 723,875
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 -920,129 1,271,417
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 -757,140 507,229
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 -222,808 -1,129,589
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 103,876 125,505
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 325,533 299,863
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 576,112 89,400
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 778,343 269,862
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 977,583 275,611
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 985,279 283,553
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 762,447 280,614
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 756,548 247,026
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 906,676 200,159
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 830,855 107,520
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 713,700 36,686
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 681,149 10,440
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 690,135 -5,791
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 812,766 108,882
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 832,932 122,316
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 852,237 113,851
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 843,850 80,069
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 883,186 -51,759
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 846,561 -107,568
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 872,050 -111,168
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 854,999 -134,968
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 785,554 -264,464
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 753,088 -64,643
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 787,621 -83,221
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 854,554 -116,029
1966 19,282,187 4,165 989,279 -111,360
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 1,059,335 -138,078
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 1,233,520 -148,595
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 1,436,077 -168,649
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 1,573,701 -177,358
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 1,810,538 -204,349
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 1,962,834 -234,895

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/russia | 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 Russia 48.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 3,416,377 people) and 51.4% is from migration (a gain of 3,611,826 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 7,605,774 people or 5.3% in Russia.

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
Russia
City Population
Moscow 13.3M
Saint Petersburg 5.65M
Novosibirsk 1.64M
Yekaterinburg 1.47M
Kazan 1.33M
Nizhny Novgorod 1.2M
Chelyabinsk 1.18M
Krasnodar 1.15M
Samara 1.15M
Ufa 1.14M

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/russia | 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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