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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 93.7 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 17.1% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

China vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Rwanda
2100 633,320,628 33,092,520
2099 643,959,697 32,987,847
2098 654,691,595 32,907,335
2097 665,517,335 32,832,706
2096 676,438,150 32,747,490
2095 687,457,915 32,615,044
2094 698,589,897 32,529,590
2093 709,852,629 32,396,544
2092 721,251,520 32,274,083
2091 732,791,748 32,171,077
2090 744,501,355 32,068,626
2089 756,404,299 31,872,593
2088 768,478,316 31,726,882
2087 780,707,622 31,533,364
2086 793,081,006 31,379,315
2085 805,608,315 31,235,000
2084 818,268,277 31,092,940
2083 830,972,107 30,917,707
2082 843,721,746 30,733,578
2081 856,534,631 30,557,819
2080 869,351,919 30,367,298
2079 882,146,959 30,176,627
2078 894,889,246 29,997,866
2077 907,592,919 29,800,561
2076 920,280,380 29,627,021
2075 932,956,157 29,423,503
2074 945,631,173 29,225,643
2073 958,352,980 29,007,777
2072 971,115,895 28,780,763
2071 983,938,054 28,560,382
2070 996,853,418 28,316,533
2069 1,009,905,851 28,103,541
2068 1,023,081,790 27,854,906
2067 1,036,420,010 27,591,747
2066 1,049,887,382 27,355,659
2065 1,063,477,623 27,084,704
2064 1,077,206,695 26,821,315
2063 1,090,982,303 26,543,184
2062 1,104,833,556 26,296,132
2061 1,118,682,849 25,985,356
2060 1,132,504,136 25,712,904
2059 1,146,199,736 25,437,446
2058 1,159,714,746 25,106,242
2057 1,172,963,523 24,837,928
2056 1,185,938,083 24,566,784
2055 1,198,550,408 24,266,669
2054 1,210,749,681 23,976,914
2053 1,222,500,569 23,690,426
2052 1,233,808,926 23,406,346
2051 1,244,584,333 23,099,207
2050 1,254,824,040 22,800,250
2049 1,264,598,914 22,484,698
2048 1,273,885,471 22,157,938
2047 1,282,701,271 21,834,786
2046 1,291,133,690 21,540,566
2045 1,299,154,327 21,215,262
2044 1,306,805,350 20,902,695
2043 1,314,176,710 20,535,605
2042 1,321,319,298 20,201,608
2041 1,328,219,755 19,832,577
2040 1,334,857,481 19,463,015
2039 1,341,265,381 19,096,860
2038 1,347,407,165 18,761,626
2037 1,353,377,505 18,421,864
2036 1,359,133,287 18,116,691
2035 1,364,651,508 17,753,910
2034 1,369,940,557 17,421,234
2033 1,375,003,005 17,089,349
2032 1,379,784,204 16,811,505
2031 1,384,301,522 16,485,559
2030 1,388,520,533 16,167,916
2029 1,392,490,007 15,858,862
2028 1,396,163,778 15,544,959
2027 1,399,515,824 15,207,733
2026 1,402,578,808 14,888,776
2025 1,405,826,385 14,560,205
2024 1,408,975,000 14,256,567
2023 1,410,710,000 13,954,471
2022 1,412,175,000 13,651,030
2021 1,412,360,000 13,355,260
2020 1,411,100,000 13,065,837
2019 1,407,745,000 12,776,103
2018 1,402,760,000 12,487,996
2017 1,396,215,000 12,202,060
2016 1,387,790,000 11,919,183
2015 1,379,860,000 11,640,022
2014 1,371,860,000 11,364,757
2013 1,363,240,000 11,093,340
2012 1,354,190,000 10,829,901
2011 1,345,035,000 10,573,733
2010 1,337,705,000 10,317,553
2009 1,331,260,000 10,060,432
2008 1,324,655,000 9,804,269
2007 1,317,885,000 9,549,933
2006 1,311,020,000 9,299,246
2005 1,303,720,000 9,054,528
2004 1,296,075,000 8,816,844
2003 1,288,400,000 8,586,875
2002 1,280,400,000 8,400,180
2001 1,271,850,000 8,287,094
2000 1,262,645,000 8,213,931
1999 1,252,735,000 8,147,912
1998 1,241,935,000 8,081,681
1997 1,230,075,000 7,755,238
1996 1,217,550,000 6,708,764
1995 1,204,855,000 5,674,118
1994 1,191,835,000 6,792,352
1993 1,178,440,000 7,981,132
1992 1,164,970,000 7,683,266
1991 1,150,780,000 7,526,966
1990 1,135,185,000 7,375,307
1989 1,118,650,000 7,184,706
1988 1,101,630,000 6,968,071
1987 1,084,035,000 6,749,493
1986 1,066,790,000 6,531,881
1985 1,051,040,000 6,317,228
1984 1,036,825,000 6,107,627
1983 1,023,310,000 5,905,311
1982 1,008,630,000 5,711,549
1981 993,885,000 5,527,230
1980 981,235,000 5,353,259
1979 969,005,000 5,189,541
1978 956,165,000 5,035,171
1977 943,455,000 4,888,240
1976 930,685,000 4,745,954
1975 916,395,000 4,607,728
1974 900,350,000 4,474,228
1973 881,940,000 4,345,047
1972 862,030,000 4,220,335
1971 841,105,000 4,100,044
1970 818,315,000 3,980,669
1969 796,025,000 3,861,271
1968 774,510,000 3,744,010
1967 754,550,000 3,629,577
1966 735,400,000 3,521,626
1965 715,185,000 3,423,210
1964 698,355,000 3,334,834
1963 682,335,000 3,258,890
1962 665,770,000 3,186,025
1961 660,330,000 3,106,779
1960 667,070,000 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Rwanda is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 33.1M 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
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Rwanda
2100 -1.65% 0.32%
2099 -1.64% 0.24%
2098 -1.63% 0.23%
2097 -1.61% 0.26%
2096 -1.6% 0.41%
2095 -1.59% 0.26%
2094 -1.59% 0.41%
2093 -1.58% 0.38%
2092 -1.57% 0.32%
2091 -1.57% 0.32%
2090 -1.57% 0.62%
2089 -1.57% 0.46%
2088 -1.57% 0.61%
2087 -1.56% 0.49%
2086 -1.56% 0.46%
2085 -1.55% 0.46%
2084 -1.53% 0.57%
2083 -1.51% 0.6%
2082 -1.5% 0.58%
2081 -1.47% 0.63%
2080 -1.45% 0.63%
2079 -1.42% 0.6%
2078 -1.4% 0.66%
2077 -1.38% 0.59%
2076 -1.36% 0.69%
2075 -1.34% 0.68%
2074 -1.33% 0.75%
2073 -1.31% 0.79%
2072 -1.3% 0.77%
2071 -1.3% 0.86%
2070 -1.29% 0.76%
2069 -1.29% 0.89%
2068 -1.29% 0.95%
2067 -1.28% 0.86%
2066 -1.28% 1%
2065 -1.27% 0.98%
2064 -1.26% 1.05%
2063 -1.25% 0.94%
2062 -1.24% 1.2%
2061 -1.22% 1.06%
2060 -1.19% 1.08%
2059 -1.17% 1.32%
2058 -1.13% 1.08%
2057 -1.09% 1.1%
2056 -1.05% 1.24%
2055 -1.01% 1.21%
2054 -0.96% 1.21%
2053 -0.92% 1.21%
2052 -0.87% 1.33%
2051 -0.82% 1.31%
2050 -0.77% 1.4%
2049 -0.73% 1.47%
2048 -0.69% 1.48%
2047 -0.65% 1.37%
2046 -0.62% 1.53%
2045 -0.59% 1.5%
2044 -0.56% 1.79%
2043 -0.54% 1.65%
2042 -0.52% 1.86%
2041 -0.5% 1.9%
2040 -0.48% 1.92%
2039 -0.46% 1.79%
2038 -0.44% 1.84%
2037 -0.42% 1.68%
2036 -0.4% 2.04%
2035 -0.39% 1.91%
2034 -0.37% 1.94%
2033 -0.35% 1.65%
2032 -0.33% 1.98%
2031 -0.3% 1.96%
2030 -0.29% 1.95%
2029 -0.26% 2.02%
2028 -0.24% 2.22%
2027 -0.22% 2.14%
2026 -0.23% 2.26%
2025 -0.22% 2.13%
2024 -0.12% 2.16%
2023 -0.1% 2.22%
2022 -0.01% 2.21%
2021 0.09% 2.22%
2020 0.24% 2.27%
2019 0.36% 2.31%
2018 0.47% 2.34%
2017 0.61% 2.37%
2016 0.57% 2.4%
2015 0.58% 2.42%
2014 0.63% 2.45%
2013 0.67% 2.43%
2012 0.68% 2.42%
2011 0.55% 2.48%
2010 0.48% 2.56%
2009 0.5% 2.61%
2008 0.51% 2.66%
2007 0.52% 2.7%
2006 0.56% 2.7%
2005 0.59% 2.7%
2004 0.6% 2.68%
2003 0.62% 2.22%
2002 0.67% 1.36%
2001 0.73% 0.89%
2000 0.79% 0.81%
1999 0.87% 0.82%
1998 0.96% 4.21%
1997 1.03% 15.6%
1996 1.05% 18.2%
1995 1.09% -16.5%
1994 1.14% -14.9%
1993 1.16% 3.88%
1992 1.23% 2.08%
1991 1.37% 2.06%
1990 1.48% 2.65%
1989 1.54% 3.11%
1988 1.62% 3.24%
1987 1.62% 3.33%
1986 1.5% 3.4%
1985 1.37% 3.43%
1984 1.32% 3.43%
1983 1.46% 3.39%
1982 1.48% 3.33%
1981 1.29% 3.25%
1980 1.26% 3.15%
1979 1.34% 3.07%
1978 1.35% 3.01%
1977 1.37% 3%
1976 1.56% 3%
1975 1.78% 2.98%
1974 2.09% 2.97%
1973 2.31% 2.96%
1972 2.49% 2.93%
1971 2.78% 3%
1970 2.8% 3.09%
1969 2.78% 3.13%
1968 2.65% 3.15%
1967 2.6% 3.07%
1966 2.83% 2.87%
1965 2.41% 2.65%
1964 2.35% 2.33%
1963 2.49% 2.29%
1962 0.82% 2.55%
1961 -1.01% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

China Rwanda
Current population
1402578808
14975051
Population rank 2/197 77/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.18%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
1.74 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
1.33 minutes
One death every
2.84 seconds
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +828
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 45/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -268,126 +6,282
Net migration rank 189/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 6,282
2024 - -318,992 - -15,582
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 312,762 -9,001
2022 -847,305 -293,846 312,145 -9,001
2021 480,203 -379,749 309,895 -21,492
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 312,692 -22,251
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 313,525 -24,492
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 312,512 -25,323
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 310,323 -25,634
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 305,549 -24,474
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 299,114 -21,862
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 292,779 -19,505
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 286,331 -16,779
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 282,584 -25,260
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 282,922 -27,915
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 286,848 -29,501
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 287,034 -30,128
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 287,334 -31,913
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 285,791 -32,537
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 282,149 -34,008
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 275,121 -33,830
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 265,273 -31,214
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 251,243 -25,355
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 239,036 -91,518
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 230,845 -152,197
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 221,276 -153,588
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 210,518 -146,162
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 197,185 -129,089
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 174,687 410,106
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 140,455 1,367,700
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 121,137 439,995
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 183,926 236,110
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 188,025 -12,334
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 196,431 -59,519
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 207,895 -41,483
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 217,632 -2,826
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 223,759 -5,285
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 225,744 -7,062
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 225,526 -8,982
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 223,794 -11,031
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 219,337 -12,899
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 212,750 -14,560
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 205,147 -15,818
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 195,769 -16,453
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 184,988 -16,359
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 174,477 -15,669
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 163,779 -13,838
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 155,011 -11,084
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 147,665 -7,027
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 140,596 -4,791
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 135,743 -4,535
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 131,021 -3,862
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 126,403 -4,156
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 122,567 -4,230
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 119,273 1,149
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 115,394 2,983
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 111,422 4,728
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 108,053 4,655
1966 19,282,187 4,165 105,128 -1,930
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 103,422 -9,774
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 102,562 -19,458
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 94,296 -25,524
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 102,548 -25,594
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 102,051 -20,508
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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