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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 28.7 times bigger than Spain's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 17.5% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

China vs Spain: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Spain
2100 633,320,628 33,862,981
2099 643,959,697 34,039,965
2098 654,691,595 34,215,187
2097 665,517,335 34,387,116
2096 676,438,150 34,552,002
2095 687,457,915 34,719,411
2094 698,589,897 34,882,039
2093 709,852,629 35,044,043
2092 721,251,520 35,204,657
2091 732,791,748 35,366,895
2090 744,501,355 35,535,838
2089 756,404,299 35,707,942
2088 768,478,316 35,877,681
2087 780,707,622 36,043,209
2086 793,081,006 36,210,710
2085 805,608,315 36,386,207
2084 818,268,277 36,564,622
2083 830,972,107 36,749,680
2082 843,721,746 36,936,644
2081 856,534,631 37,133,976
2080 869,351,919 37,337,517
2079 882,146,959 37,551,557
2078 894,889,246 37,771,135
2077 907,592,919 38,002,963
2076 920,280,380 38,249,247
2075 932,956,157 38,506,040
2074 945,631,173 38,777,715
2073 958,352,980 39,056,249
2072 971,115,895 39,348,447
2071 983,938,054 39,642,346
2070 996,853,418 39,949,413
2069 1,009,905,851 40,256,590
2068 1,023,081,790 40,575,543
2067 1,036,420,010 40,893,798
2066 1,049,887,382 41,218,263
2065 1,063,477,623 41,543,254
2064 1,077,206,695 41,878,338
2063 1,090,982,303 42,208,320
2062 1,104,833,556 42,542,893
2061 1,118,682,849 42,874,096
2060 1,132,504,136 43,191,452
2059 1,146,199,736 43,506,737
2058 1,159,714,746 43,809,907
2057 1,172,963,523 44,112,668
2056 1,185,938,083 44,415,689
2055 1,198,550,408 44,691,749
2054 1,210,749,681 44,958,971
2053 1,222,500,569 45,223,225
2052 1,233,808,926 45,470,541
2051 1,244,584,333 45,695,307
2050 1,254,824,040 45,911,520
2049 1,264,598,914 46,127,777
2048 1,273,885,471 46,322,244
2047 1,282,701,271 46,510,152
2046 1,291,133,690 46,687,914
2045 1,299,154,327 46,858,778
2044 1,306,805,350 47,016,278
2043 1,314,176,710 47,158,325
2042 1,321,319,298 47,301,091
2041 1,328,219,755 47,434,593
2040 1,334,857,481 47,563,236
2039 1,341,265,381 47,685,343
2038 1,347,407,165 47,798,797
2037 1,353,377,505 47,910,899
2036 1,359,133,287 48,020,350
2035 1,364,651,508 48,124,430
2034 1,369,940,557 48,220,051
2033 1,375,003,005 48,311,842
2032 1,379,784,204 48,402,470
2031 1,384,301,522 48,495,278
2030 1,388,520,533 48,579,920
2029 1,392,490,007 48,648,699
2028 1,396,163,778 48,707,969
2027 1,399,515,824 48,758,200
2026 1,402,578,808 48,806,901
2025 1,405,826,385 48,838,057
2024 1,408,975,000 48,848,840
2023 1,410,710,000 48,352,528
2022 1,412,175,000 47,786,102
2021 1,412,360,000 47,443,821
2020 1,411,100,000 47,359,424
2019 1,407,745,000 47,118,501
2018 1,402,760,000 46,782,011
2017 1,396,215,000 46,571,232
2016 1,387,790,000 46,458,139
2015 1,379,860,000 46,422,303
2014 1,371,860,000 46,460,733
2013 1,363,240,000 46,604,197
2012 1,354,190,000 46,773,055
2011 1,345,035,000 46,742,697
2010 1,337,705,000 46,576,897
2009 1,331,260,000 46,362,946
2008 1,324,655,000 45,954,106
2007 1,317,885,000 45,226,803
2006 1,311,020,000 44,397,319
2005 1,303,720,000 43,653,155
2004 1,296,075,000 42,921,895
2003 1,288,400,000 42,187,645
2002 1,280,400,000 41,431,558
2001 1,271,850,000 40,850,412
2000 1,262,645,000 40,567,864
1999 1,252,735,000 40,386,875
1998 1,241,935,000 40,223,509
1997 1,230,075,000 40,057,389
1996 1,217,550,000 39,889,852
1995 1,204,855,000 39,724,050
1994 1,191,835,000 39,549,108
1993 1,178,440,000 39,361,262
1992 1,164,970,000 39,157,685
1991 1,150,780,000 38,966,376
1990 1,135,185,000 38,867,322
1989 1,118,650,000 38,827,764
1988 1,101,630,000 38,766,939
1987 1,084,035,000 38,684,815
1986 1,066,790,000 38,584,624
1985 1,051,040,000 38,469,512
1984 1,036,825,000 38,330,364
1983 1,023,310,000 38,171,525
1982 1,008,630,000 37,986,012
1981 993,885,000 37,758,631
1980 981,235,000 37,491,165
1979 969,005,000 37,191,330
1978 956,165,000 36,864,898
1977 943,455,000 36,511,638
1976 930,685,000 36,137,812
1975 916,395,000 35,757,900
1974 900,350,000 35,373,335
1973 881,940,000 34,988,947
1972 862,030,000 34,604,469
1971 841,105,000 34,224,490
1970 818,315,000 33,814,531
1969 796,025,000 33,441,054
1968 774,510,000 33,113,134
1967 754,550,000 32,682,947
1966 735,400,000 32,283,194
1965 715,185,000 31,954,292
1964 698,355,000 31,609,195
1963 682,335,000 31,296,651
1962 665,770,000 31,023,366
1961 660,330,000 30,739,250
1960 667,070,000 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 34.4% of the population in China and 21.6% in Spain.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Spain
2100 -1.65% -0.52%
2099 -1.64% -0.51%
2098 -1.63% -0.5%
2097 -1.61% -0.48%
2096 -1.6% -0.48%
2095 -1.59% -0.47%
2094 -1.59% -0.46%
2093 -1.58% -0.46%
2092 -1.57% -0.46%
2091 -1.57% -0.48%
2090 -1.57% -0.48%
2089 -1.57% -0.47%
2088 -1.57% -0.46%
2087 -1.56% -0.46%
2086 -1.56% -0.48%
2085 -1.55% -0.49%
2084 -1.53% -0.5%
2083 -1.51% -0.51%
2082 -1.5% -0.53%
2081 -1.47% -0.55%
2080 -1.45% -0.57%
2079 -1.42% -0.58%
2078 -1.4% -0.61%
2077 -1.38% -0.64%
2076 -1.36% -0.67%
2075 -1.34% -0.7%
2074 -1.33% -0.71%
2073 -1.31% -0.74%
2072 -1.3% -0.74%
2071 -1.3% -0.77%
2070 -1.29% -0.76%
2069 -1.29% -0.79%
2068 -1.29% -0.78%
2067 -1.28% -0.79%
2066 -1.28% -0.78%
2065 -1.27% -0.8%
2064 -1.26% -0.78%
2063 -1.25% -0.79%
2062 -1.24% -0.77%
2061 -1.22% -0.73%
2060 -1.19% -0.72%
2059 -1.17% -0.69%
2058 -1.13% -0.69%
2057 -1.09% -0.68%
2056 -1.05% -0.62%
2055 -1.01% -0.59%
2054 -0.96% -0.58%
2053 -0.92% -0.54%
2052 -0.87% -0.49%
2051 -0.82% -0.47%
2050 -0.77% -0.47%
2049 -0.73% -0.42%
2048 -0.69% -0.4%
2047 -0.65% -0.38%
2046 -0.62% -0.36%
2045 -0.59% -0.33%
2044 -0.56% -0.3%
2043 -0.54% -0.3%
2042 -0.52% -0.28%
2041 -0.5% -0.27%
2040 -0.48% -0.26%
2039 -0.46% -0.24%
2038 -0.44% -0.23%
2037 -0.42% -0.23%
2036 -0.4% -0.22%
2035 -0.39% -0.2%
2034 -0.37% -0.19%
2033 -0.35% -0.19%
2032 -0.33% -0.19%
2031 -0.3% -0.17%
2030 -0.29% -0.14%
2029 -0.26% -0.12%
2028 -0.24% -0.1%
2027 -0.22% -0.1%
2026 -0.23% -0.06%
2025 -0.22% -0.02%
2024 -0.12% 1.03%
2023 -0.1% 1.19%
2022 -0.01% 0.72%
2021 0.09% 0.18%
2020 0.24% 0.51%
2019 0.36% 0.72%
2018 0.47% 0.45%
2017 0.61% 0.24%
2016 0.57% 0.08%
2015 0.58% -0.08%
2014 0.63% -0.31%
2013 0.67% -0.36%
2012 0.68% 0.06%
2011 0.55% 0.36%
2010 0.48% 0.46%
2009 0.5% 0.89%
2008 0.51% 1.61%
2007 0.52% 1.87%
2006 0.56% 1.7%
2005 0.59% 1.7%
2004 0.6% 1.74%
2003 0.62% 1.82%
2002 0.67% 1.42%
2001 0.73% 0.7%
2000 0.79% 0.45%
1999 0.87% 0.41%
1998 0.96% 0.41%
1997 1.03% 0.42%
1996 1.05% 0.42%
1995 1.09% 0.44%
1994 1.14% 0.48%
1993 1.16% 0.52%
1992 1.23% 0.49%
1991 1.37% 0.25%
1990 1.48% 0.1%
1989 1.54% 0.16%
1988 1.62% 0.21%
1987 1.62% 0.26%
1986 1.5% 0.3%
1985 1.37% 0.36%
1984 1.32% 0.42%
1983 1.46% 0.49%
1982 1.48% 0.6%
1981 1.29% 0.71%
1980 1.26% 0.81%
1979 1.34% 0.89%
1978 1.35% 0.97%
1977 1.37% 1.03%
1976 1.56% 1.06%
1975 1.78% 1.09%
1974 2.09% 1.1%
1973 2.31% 1.11%
1972 2.49% 1.11%
1971 2.78% 1.21%
1970 2.8% 1.12%
1969 2.78% 0.99%
1968 2.65% 1.32%
1967 2.6% 1.24%
1966 2.83% 1.03%
1965 2.41% 1.09%
1964 2.35% 1%
1963 2.49% 0.88%
1962 0.82% 0.92%
1961 -1.01% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

China Spain
Current population
1402578808
48806901
Population rank 2/197 32/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.59%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
1.06 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
1.62 minutes
One death every
2.84 seconds
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +1,360
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 100/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 +96,630
Net migration rank 189/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 96,630
2024 - -318,992 - 111,674
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 -111,211 119,099
2022 -847,305 -293,846 -133,801 299,779
2021 480,203 -379,749 -113,865 144,385
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 -151,551 236,854
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 -56,542 464,783
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 -56,139 337,467
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 -32,600 201,135
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 0 106,474
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 -4,642 -1,979
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 32,522 -97,870
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 37,284 -250,741
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 51,450 -153,486
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 84,137 60,761
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 102,469 69,406
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 106,635 129,557
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 133,267 434,135
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 108,545 772,317
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 110,994 659,720
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 78,576 629,803
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 85,844 661,158
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 54,844 658,428
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 53,861 737,880
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 44,936 181,307
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 36,512 176,269
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 8,077 178,559
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 4,022 182,926
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 20,028 165,345
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 11,967 162,704
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 15,889 162,434
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 31,639 160,407
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 47,234 160,907
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 62,652 177,544
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 58,450 122,841
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 66,075 -30,684
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 81,538 -25,892
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 100,794 -17,663
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 116,054 -12,681
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 131,188 -13,540
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 146,184 -589
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 172,487 2,754
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 183,223 1,241
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 231,714 -7,384
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 237,879 2,563
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 281,184 20,166
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 312,407 -5,929
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 339,157 -2,504
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 361,465 -1,332
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 375,834 2,804
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 371,882 -218
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 396,182 105,838
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 374,381 8,624
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 391,030 7,935
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 369,625 7,363
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 378,723 -60,580
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 367,851 -49,956
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 387,423 -46,088
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 402,001 -42,344
1966 19,282,187 4,165 397,084 -41,467
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 405,819 -42,476
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 429,885 -41,461
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 394,338 -44,446
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 384,690 -45,211
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 396,537 -46,517
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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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