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Population in China compared to South Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 27.2 times bigger than South Korea's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 17.5% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

China vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China South Korea
2100 633,320,628 22,012,503
2099 643,959,697 22,335,528
2098 654,691,595 22,668,719
2097 665,517,335 23,009,661
2096 676,438,150 23,360,151
2095 687,457,915 23,722,747
2094 698,589,897 24,093,391
2093 709,852,629 24,473,038
2092 721,251,520 24,860,975
2091 732,791,748 25,255,379
2090 744,501,355 25,655,577
2089 756,404,299 26,060,945
2088 768,478,316 26,470,073
2087 780,707,622 26,884,813
2086 793,081,006 27,301,913
2085 805,608,315 27,723,736
2084 818,268,277 28,147,480
2083 830,972,107 28,578,182
2082 843,721,746 29,012,953
2081 856,534,631 29,456,022
2080 869,351,919 29,901,880
2079 882,146,959 30,352,062
2078 894,889,246 30,809,176
2077 907,592,919 31,273,700
2076 920,280,380 31,744,480
2075 932,956,157 32,221,226
2074 945,631,173 32,706,020
2073 958,352,980 33,196,556
2072 971,115,895 33,696,490
2071 983,938,054 34,203,935
2070 996,853,418 34,719,324
2069 1,009,905,851 35,241,850
2068 1,023,081,790 35,762,799
2067 1,036,420,010 36,292,307
2066 1,049,887,382 36,826,655
2065 1,063,477,623 37,368,086
2064 1,077,206,695 37,916,439
2063 1,090,982,303 38,469,051
2062 1,104,833,556 39,028,473
2061 1,118,682,849 39,584,621
2060 1,132,504,136 40,149,830
2059 1,146,199,736 40,712,514
2058 1,159,714,746 41,277,134
2057 1,172,963,523 41,833,887
2056 1,185,938,083 42,377,427
2055 1,198,550,408 42,909,302
2054 1,210,749,681 43,427,254
2053 1,222,500,569 43,938,741
2052 1,233,808,926 44,441,106
2051 1,244,584,333 44,923,604
2050 1,254,824,040 45,385,311
2049 1,264,598,914 45,832,153
2048 1,273,885,471 46,258,529
2047 1,282,701,271 46,668,898
2046 1,291,133,690 47,056,404
2045 1,299,154,327 47,433,205
2044 1,306,805,350 47,797,411
2043 1,314,176,710 48,144,730
2042 1,321,319,298 48,478,991
2041 1,328,219,755 48,806,273
2040 1,334,857,481 49,115,658
2039 1,341,265,381 49,412,830
2038 1,347,407,165 49,694,340
2037 1,353,377,505 49,957,504
2036 1,359,133,287 50,200,702
2035 1,364,651,508 50,426,000
2034 1,369,940,557 50,632,962
2033 1,375,003,005 50,821,090
2032 1,379,784,204 50,987,020
2031 1,384,301,522 51,134,940
2030 1,388,520,533 51,267,908
2029 1,392,490,007 51,385,868
2028 1,396,163,778 51,486,791
2027 1,399,515,824 51,576,746
2026 1,402,578,808 51,649,918
2025 1,405,826,385 51,710,062
2024 1,408,975,000 51,751,065
2023 1,410,710,000 51,712,619
2022 1,412,175,000 51,672,569
2021 1,412,360,000 51,769,539
2020 1,411,100,000 51,836,239
2019 1,407,745,000 51,764,822
2018 1,402,760,000 51,585,058
2017 1,396,215,000 51,361,911
2016 1,387,790,000 51,217,803
2015 1,379,860,000 51,014,947
2014 1,371,860,000 50,746,659
2013 1,363,240,000 50,428,893
2012 1,354,190,000 50,199,853
2011 1,345,035,000 49,936,638
2010 1,337,705,000 49,554,112
2009 1,331,260,000 49,307,835
2008 1,324,655,000 49,054,708
2007 1,317,885,000 48,683,638
2006 1,311,020,000 48,438,292
2005 1,303,720,000 48,184,561
2004 1,296,075,000 48,082,519
2003 1,288,400,000 47,892,330
2002 1,280,400,000 47,644,736
2001 1,271,850,000 47,370,164
2000 1,262,645,000 47,008,111
1999 1,252,735,000 46,616,677
1998 1,241,935,000 46,286,503
1997 1,230,075,000 45,953,580
1996 1,217,550,000 45,524,681
1995 1,204,855,000 45,092,991
1994 1,191,835,000 44,641,540
1993 1,178,440,000 44,194,628
1992 1,164,970,000 43,747,962
1991 1,150,780,000 43,295,704
1990 1,135,185,000 42,869,283
1989 1,118,650,000 42,449,038
1988 1,101,630,000 42,031,247
1987 1,084,035,000 41,621,690
1986 1,066,790,000 41,213,674
1985 1,051,040,000 40,805,744
1984 1,036,825,000 40,405,956
1983 1,023,310,000 39,910,403
1982 1,008,630,000 39,326,352
1981 993,885,000 38,723,248
1980 981,235,000 38,123,775
1979 969,005,000 37,534,236
1978 956,165,000 36,969,185
1977 943,455,000 36,411,795
1976 930,685,000 35,848,523
1975 916,395,000 35,280,725
1974 900,350,000 34,692,266
1973 881,940,000 34,103,149
1972 862,030,000 33,505,406
1971 841,105,000 32,882,704
1970 818,315,000 32,240,827
1969 796,025,000 31,544,266
1968 774,510,000 30,838,302
1967 754,550,000 30,130,983
1966 735,400,000 29,435,571
1965 715,185,000 28,704,674
1964 698,355,000 27,984,155
1963 682,335,000 27,261,747
1962 665,770,000 26,513,030
1961 660,330,000 25,765,673
1960 667,070,000 25,012,374

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/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 34.4% of the population in China and 38.5% in South Korea.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China South Korea
2100 -1.65% -1.45%
2099 -1.64% -1.47%
2098 -1.63% -1.48%
2097 -1.61% -1.5%
2096 -1.6% -1.53%
2095 -1.59% -1.54%
2094 -1.59% -1.55%
2093 -1.58% -1.56%
2092 -1.57% -1.56%
2091 -1.57% -1.56%
2090 -1.57% -1.56%
2089 -1.57% -1.55%
2088 -1.57% -1.54%
2087 -1.56% -1.53%
2086 -1.56% -1.52%
2085 -1.55% -1.51%
2084 -1.53% -1.51%
2083 -1.51% -1.5%
2082 -1.5% -1.5%
2081 -1.47% -1.49%
2080 -1.45% -1.48%
2079 -1.42% -1.48%
2078 -1.4% -1.49%
2077 -1.38% -1.48%
2076 -1.36% -1.48%
2075 -1.34% -1.48%
2074 -1.33% -1.48%
2073 -1.31% -1.48%
2072 -1.3% -1.48%
2071 -1.3% -1.48%
2070 -1.29% -1.48%
2069 -1.29% -1.46%
2068 -1.29% -1.46%
2067 -1.28% -1.45%
2066 -1.28% -1.45%
2065 -1.27% -1.45%
2064 -1.26% -1.44%
2063 -1.25% -1.43%
2062 -1.24% -1.4%
2061 -1.22% -1.41%
2060 -1.19% -1.38%
2059 -1.17% -1.37%
2058 -1.13% -1.33%
2057 -1.09% -1.28%
2056 -1.05% -1.24%
2055 -1.01% -1.19%
2054 -0.96% -1.16%
2053 -0.92% -1.13%
2052 -0.87% -1.07%
2051 -0.82% -1.02%
2050 -0.77% -0.97%
2049 -0.73% -0.92%
2048 -0.69% -0.88%
2047 -0.65% -0.82%
2046 -0.62% -0.79%
2045 -0.59% -0.76%
2044 -0.56% -0.72%
2043 -0.54% -0.69%
2042 -0.52% -0.67%
2041 -0.5% -0.63%
2040 -0.48% -0.6%
2039 -0.46% -0.57%
2038 -0.44% -0.53%
2037 -0.42% -0.48%
2036 -0.4% -0.45%
2035 -0.39% -0.41%
2034 -0.37% -0.37%
2033 -0.35% -0.33%
2032 -0.33% -0.29%
2031 -0.3% -0.26%
2030 -0.29% -0.23%
2029 -0.26% -0.2%
2028 -0.24% -0.17%
2027 -0.22% -0.14%
2026 -0.23% -0.12%
2025 -0.22% -0.08%
2024 -0.12% 0.07%
2023 -0.1% 0.08%
2022 -0.01% -0.19%
2021 0.09% -0.13%
2020 0.24% 0.14%
2019 0.36% 0.35%
2018 0.47% 0.43%
2017 0.61% 0.28%
2016 0.57% 0.4%
2015 0.58% 0.53%
2014 0.63% 0.63%
2013 0.67% 0.46%
2012 0.68% 0.53%
2011 0.55% 0.77%
2010 0.48% 0.5%
2009 0.5% 0.52%
2008 0.51% 0.76%
2007 0.52% 0.51%
2006 0.56% 0.53%
2005 0.59% 0.21%
2004 0.6% 0.4%
2003 0.62% 0.52%
2002 0.67% 0.58%
2001 0.73% 0.77%
2000 0.79% 0.84%
1999 0.87% 0.71%
1998 0.96% 0.72%
1997 1.03% 0.94%
1996 1.05% 0.96%
1995 1.09% 1.01%
1994 1.14% 1.01%
1993 1.16% 1.02%
1992 1.23% 1.04%
1991 1.37% 0.99%
1990 1.48% 0.99%
1989 1.54% 0.99%
1988 1.62% 0.98%
1987 1.62% 0.99%
1986 1.5% 1%
1985 1.37% 0.99%
1984 1.32% 1.24%
1983 1.46% 1.49%
1982 1.48% 1.56%
1981 1.29% 1.57%
1980 1.26% 1.57%
1979 1.34% 1.53%
1978 1.35% 1.53%
1977 1.37% 1.57%
1976 1.56% 1.61%
1975 1.78% 1.7%
1974 2.09% 1.73%
1973 2.31% 1.78%
1972 2.49% 1.89%
1971 2.78% 1.99%
1970 2.8% 2.21%
1969 2.78% 2.29%
1968 2.65% 2.35%
1967 2.6% 2.36%
1966 2.83% 2.55%
1965 2.41% 2.57%
1964 2.35% 2.65%
1963 2.49% 2.82%
1962 0.82% 2.9%
1961 -1.01% 3.01%

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/south-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

China South Korea
Current population
1402578808
51649918
Population rank 2/197 31/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.62%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
13.7 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
2.26 minutes
One death every
2.84 seconds
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +105
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 160/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 +65,731
Net migration rank 189/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 65,731
2024 - -318,992 - 75,963
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 -77,569 87,800
2022 -847,305 -293,846 -124,014 87,800
2021 480,203 -379,749 -56,947 -16,778
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 -31,101 112,631
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 10,353 128,622
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 30,951 118,220
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 71,907 104,029
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 122,923 91,568
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 163,248 276,427
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 167,464 308,037
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 166,415 301,926
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 215,859 281,866
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 214,728 269,958
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 213,083 52,042
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 197,231 5,308
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 215,841 -19,630
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 248,286 -42,293
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 203,441 -28,434
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 187,920 -47,821
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 225,988 -42,549
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 244,251 -31,994
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 247,752 -18,105
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 312,643 -28,006
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 390,167 -84,960
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 368,272 -107,448
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 393,436 -98,044
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 422,773 -109,130
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 446,142 -115,705
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 468,967 -208,491
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 473,200 -208,309
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 477,302 -222,802
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 494,352 -265,849
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 467,594 -270,754
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 411,546 79,294
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 403,266 186,120
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 399,297 192,534
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 378,758 198,057
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 395,651 189,782
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 416,219 97,949
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 436,384 101,394
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 514,844 102,167
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 605,626 48,638
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 631,189 18,442
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 583,294 -148,341
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 623,068 -139,566
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 499,084 -85,721
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 578,947 -90,737
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 530,558 -92,314
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 603,300 -52,332
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 673,030 27,005
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 699,115 35,779
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 740,469 25,382
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 789,185 -6,326
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 747,987 -27,999
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 694,227 -21,175
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 684,487 -16,868
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 692,169 -16,484
1966 19,282,187 4,165 623,534 -16,688
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 641,090 -146,386
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 655,501 -102,284
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 685,824 -80,226
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 712,590 -94,606
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 730,173 -93,179
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/south-korea | 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 South Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

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
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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/south-korea | 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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