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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 19,009,151 people in Somalia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 20,503,678 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 68.4 times bigger than Somalia's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Somalia is the 66th.
  • The countries together account for 17.2% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.25% for Somalia.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +3.61% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.5M (86.8% growth).

China vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Somalia
2100 633,320,628 68,384,185
2099 643,959,697 68,040,371
2098 654,691,595 67,702,230
2097 665,517,335 67,362,336
2096 676,438,150 66,972,933
2095 687,457,915 66,585,659
2094 698,589,897 66,179,819
2093 709,852,629 65,760,590
2092 721,251,520 65,324,261
2091 732,791,748 64,852,843
2090 744,501,355 64,362,727
2089 756,404,299 63,922,797
2088 768,478,316 63,464,036
2087 780,707,622 62,987,028
2086 793,081,006 62,447,029
2085 805,608,315 61,873,597
2084 818,268,277 61,318,916
2083 830,972,107 60,761,800
2082 843,721,746 60,187,980
2081 856,534,631 59,676,722
2080 869,351,919 59,100,915
2079 882,146,959 58,477,428
2078 894,889,246 57,852,528
2077 907,592,919 57,211,821
2076 920,280,380 56,602,463
2075 932,956,157 56,005,600
2074 945,631,173 55,330,165
2073 958,352,980 54,651,918
2072 971,115,895 53,978,548
2071 983,938,054 53,284,016
2070 996,853,418 52,573,210
2069 1,009,905,851 51,878,214
2068 1,023,081,790 51,197,653
2067 1,036,420,010 50,493,028
2066 1,049,887,382 49,779,172
2065 1,063,477,623 49,024,665
2064 1,077,206,695 48,265,876
2063 1,090,982,303 47,522,361
2062 1,104,833,556 46,785,920
2061 1,118,682,849 46,037,526
2060 1,132,504,136 45,220,507
2059 1,146,199,736 44,397,936
2058 1,159,714,746 43,659,021
2057 1,172,963,523 42,897,422
2056 1,185,938,083 42,121,542
2055 1,198,550,408 41,318,179
2054 1,210,749,681 40,513,141
2053 1,222,500,569 39,744,995
2052 1,233,808,926 38,992,177
2051 1,244,584,333 38,228,872
2050 1,254,824,040 37,471,735
2049 1,264,598,914 36,739,905
2048 1,273,885,471 35,984,999
2047 1,282,701,271 35,218,863
2046 1,291,133,690 34,462,403
2045 1,299,154,327 33,717,596
2044 1,306,805,350 32,977,674
2043 1,314,176,710 32,247,710
2042 1,321,319,298 31,537,272
2041 1,328,219,755 30,794,853
2040 1,334,857,481 30,032,324
2039 1,341,265,381 29,312,883
2038 1,347,407,165 28,583,386
2037 1,353,377,505 27,838,646
2036 1,359,133,287 27,114,453
2035 1,364,651,508 26,385,421
2034 1,369,940,557 25,687,629
2033 1,375,003,005 25,018,509
2032 1,379,784,204 24,338,597
2031 1,384,301,522 23,657,353
2030 1,388,520,533 22,965,742
2029 1,392,490,007 22,299,610
2028 1,396,163,778 21,651,582
2027 1,399,515,824 20,991,860
2026 1,402,578,808 20,322,668
2025 1,405,826,385 19,666,990
2024 1,408,975,000 19,009,151
2023 1,410,710,000 18,358,615
2022 1,412,175,000 17,801,897
2021 1,412,360,000 17,271,431
2020 1,411,100,000 16,651,191
2019 1,407,745,000 16,030,971
2018 1,402,760,000 15,452,487
2017 1,396,215,000 14,916,629
2016 1,387,790,000 14,348,740
2015 1,379,860,000 13,806,963
2014 1,371,860,000 13,339,491
2013 1,363,240,000 12,869,594
2012 1,354,190,000 12,461,160
2011 1,345,035,000 12,348,830
2010 1,337,705,000 12,261,756
2009 1,331,260,000 11,961,201
2008 1,324,655,000 11,663,084
2007 1,317,885,000 11,322,582
2006 1,311,020,000 10,975,502
2005 1,303,720,000 10,644,228
2004 1,296,075,000 10,280,998
2003 1,288,400,000 9,909,157
2002 1,280,400,000 9,550,063
2001 1,271,850,000 9,198,493
2000 1,262,645,000 8,838,713
1999 1,252,735,000 8,492,059
1998 1,241,935,000 8,155,417
1997 1,230,075,000 7,824,525
1996 1,217,550,000 7,554,474
1995 1,204,855,000 7,285,007
1994 1,191,835,000 7,026,797
1993 1,178,440,000 6,681,399
1992 1,164,970,000 6,495,107
1991 1,150,780,000 6,813,760
1990 1,135,185,000 7,082,811
1989 1,118,650,000 7,114,817
1988 1,101,630,000 7,235,360
1987 1,084,035,000 7,228,302
1986 1,066,790,000 6,974,788
1985 1,051,040,000 6,693,289
1984 1,036,825,000 6,428,389
1983 1,023,310,000 6,198,430
1982 1,008,630,000 6,003,840
1981 993,885,000 5,982,849
1980 981,235,000 5,936,154
1979 969,005,000 5,449,117
1978 956,165,000 4,814,892
1977 943,455,000 4,484,050
1976 930,685,000 4,365,812
1975 916,395,000 4,257,535
1974 900,350,000 4,151,842
1973 881,940,000 4,045,592
1972 862,030,000 3,939,436
1971 841,105,000 3,837,691
1970 818,315,000 3,738,448
1969 796,025,000 3,641,015
1968 774,510,000 3,546,590
1967 754,550,000 3,454,537
1966 735,400,000 3,365,106
1965 715,185,000 3,277,874
1964 698,355,000 3,192,796
1963 682,335,000 3,110,361
1962 665,770,000 3,030,091
1961 660,330,000 2,952,054
1960 667,070,000 2,876,331

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/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Somalia gained 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Somalia was ranked 75th in 2006 and ranked 66th 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 Somalia will increase by 82.8% to 37,471,735 people and rank change from 66th to 57th.

Somalia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.4M 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
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Somalia
2100 -1.65% 0.51%
2099 -1.64% 0.5%
2098 -1.63% 0.5%
2097 -1.61% 0.58%
2096 -1.6% 0.58%
2095 -1.59% 0.61%
2094 -1.59% 0.64%
2093 -1.58% 0.67%
2092 -1.57% 0.73%
2091 -1.57% 0.76%
2090 -1.57% 0.69%
2089 -1.57% 0.72%
2088 -1.57% 0.76%
2087 -1.56% 0.86%
2086 -1.56% 0.93%
2085 -1.55% 0.9%
2084 -1.53% 0.92%
2083 -1.51% 0.95%
2082 -1.5% 0.86%
2081 -1.47% 0.97%
2080 -1.45% 1.07%
2079 -1.42% 1.08%
2078 -1.4% 1.12%
2077 -1.38% 1.08%
2076 -1.36% 1.07%
2075 -1.34% 1.22%
2074 -1.33% 1.24%
2073 -1.31% 1.25%
2072 -1.3% 1.3%
2071 -1.3% 1.35%
2070 -1.29% 1.34%
2069 -1.29% 1.33%
2068 -1.29% 1.4%
2067 -1.28% 1.43%
2066 -1.28% 1.54%
2065 -1.27% 1.57%
2064 -1.26% 1.56%
2063 -1.25% 1.57%
2062 -1.24% 1.63%
2061 -1.22% 1.81%
2060 -1.19% 1.85%
2059 -1.17% 1.69%
2058 -1.13% 1.78%
2057 -1.09% 1.84%
2056 -1.05% 1.94%
2055 -1.01% 1.99%
2054 -0.96% 1.93%
2053 -0.92% 1.93%
2052 -0.87% 2%
2051 -0.82% 2.02%
2050 -0.77% 1.99%
2049 -0.73% 2.1%
2048 -0.69% 2.18%
2047 -0.65% 2.2%
2046 -0.62% 2.21%
2045 -0.59% 2.24%
2044 -0.56% 2.26%
2043 -0.54% 2.25%
2042 -0.52% 2.41%
2041 -0.5% 2.54%
2040 -0.48% 2.45%
2039 -0.46% 2.55%
2038 -0.44% 2.68%
2037 -0.42% 2.67%
2036 -0.4% 2.76%
2035 -0.39% 2.72%
2034 -0.37% 2.67%
2033 -0.35% 2.79%
2032 -0.33% 2.88%
2031 -0.3% 3.01%
2030 -0.29% 2.99%
2029 -0.26% 2.99%
2028 -0.24% 3.14%
2027 -0.22% 3.29%
2026 -0.23% 3.33%
2025 -0.22% 3.46%
2024 -0.12% 3.54%
2023 -0.1% 3.13%
2022 -0.01% 3.07%
2021 0.09% 3.72%
2020 0.24% 3.87%
2019 0.36% 3.74%
2018 0.47% 3.59%
2017 0.61% 3.96%
2016 0.57% 3.92%
2015 0.58% 3.5%
2014 0.63% 3.65%
2013 0.67% 3.28%
2012 0.68% 0.91%
2011 0.55% 0.71%
2010 0.48% 2.51%
2009 0.5% 2.56%
2008 0.51% 3.01%
2007 0.52% 3.16%
2006 0.56% 3.11%
2005 0.59% 3.53%
2004 0.6% 3.75%
2003 0.62% 3.76%
2002 0.67% 3.82%
2001 0.73% 4.07%
2000 0.79% 4.08%
1999 0.87% 4.13%
1998 0.96% 4.23%
1997 1.03% 3.57%
1996 1.05% 3.7%
1995 1.09% 3.67%
1994 1.14% 5.17%
1993 1.16% 2.87%
1992 1.23% -4.68%
1991 1.37% -3.8%
1990 1.48% -0.45%
1989 1.54% -1.67%
1988 1.62% 0.1%
1987 1.62% 3.63%
1986 1.5% 4.21%
1985 1.37% 4.12%
1984 1.32% 3.71%
1983 1.46% 3.24%
1982 1.48% 0.35%
1981 1.29% 0.79%
1980 1.26% 8.94%
1979 1.34% 13.2%
1978 1.35% 7.38%
1977 1.37% 2.71%
1976 1.56% 2.54%
1975 1.78% 2.55%
1974 2.09% 2.63%
1973 2.31% 2.69%
1972 2.49% 2.65%
1971 2.78% 2.65%
1970 2.8% 2.68%
1969 2.78% 2.66%
1968 2.65% 2.66%
1967 2.6% 2.66%
1966 2.83% 2.66%
1965 2.41% 2.66%
1964 2.35% 2.65%
1963 2.49% 2.65%
1962 0.82% 2.64%
1961 -1.01% 2.63%

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/somalia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.54%.

Live population counters

China Somalia
Current population
1402578808
20503678
Population rank 2/197 66/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.25%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
48.5 seconds
One birth every
3.5 seconds
40 seconds
One death every
2.84 seconds
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +1,782
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +650,536
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +3.54%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 8/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
43.6 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 +12,077
Net migration rank 189/196 40/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 77,972
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 140/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 180/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Somalia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Somalia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 12,077
2024 - -318,992 - 26,859
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 608,203 46,217
2022 -847,305 -293,846 551,450 -92,434
2021 480,203 -379,749 566,399 35,506
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 561,311 77,259
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 548,756 53,124
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 514,244 40,844
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 478,556 38,067
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 495,132 124,017
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 481,573 -17,178
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 464,481 6,065
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 448,518 20,723
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 399,468 -51,833
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 203,213 -326,192
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 385,571 -88,448
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 405,784 -101,795
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 394,258 -102,035
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 380,303 8,476
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 372,597 -67,200
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 363,117 -5,955
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 351,959 17,353
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 341,192 33,174
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 331,215 12,603
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 319,059 40,274
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 306,651 53,580
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 295,523 37,548
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 284,779 55,426
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 271,894 49,692
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 264,807 -46,291
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 254,509 65,888
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 246,950 -50,921
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 232,960 261,815
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 57,495 -179,675
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 53,052 -568,166
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 225,162 -248,155
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 225,255 -266,281
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 215,599 -415,660
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 231,580 -17,391
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 218,416 74,424
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 207,960 62,183
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 199,017 60,630
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 190,775 9,505
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 182,793 6,115
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 185,211 -332,129
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 174,790 65,519
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 151,016 582,746
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 132,689 402,005
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 124,818 2,170
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 113,319 -3,831
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 108,998 -1,934
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 104,813 -495
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 108,038 143
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 104,493 -351
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 101,196 -1,850
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 98,025 1,104
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 95,045 690
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 92,208 906
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 89,497 1,498
1966 19,282,187 4,165 86,930 941
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 84,448 2,142
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 82,042 1,518
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 79,859 1,449
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 77,737 1,496
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 75,513 1,336
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 73,850 750

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 77,972 people or 0.4% in Somalia.

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
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

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/somalia | 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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