Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 9,005,582 people in Switzerland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 9,107,866 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 154 times bigger than Switzerland's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 17% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +0.98% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.11M (21.7% growth).

China vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Switzerland
2100 633,320,628 9,234,296
2099 643,959,697 9,226,472
2098 654,691,595 9,220,109
2097 665,517,335 9,212,728
2096 676,438,150 9,208,997
2095 687,457,915 9,203,477
2094 698,589,897 9,199,095
2093 709,852,629 9,196,672
2092 721,251,520 9,194,082
2091 732,791,748 9,191,145
2090 744,501,355 9,189,122
2089 756,404,299 9,188,754
2088 768,478,316 9,190,102
2087 780,707,622 9,189,763
2086 793,081,006 9,191,494
2085 805,608,315 9,195,728
2084 818,268,277 9,199,983
2083 830,972,107 9,204,908
2082 843,721,746 9,210,695
2081 856,534,631 9,217,065
2080 869,351,919 9,223,475
2079 882,146,959 9,230,920
2078 894,889,246 9,237,649
2077 907,592,919 9,245,300
2076 920,280,380 9,250,248
2075 932,956,157 9,255,753
2074 945,631,173 9,266,455
2073 958,352,980 9,275,439
2072 971,115,895 9,283,185
2071 983,938,054 9,292,913
2070 996,853,418 9,303,843
2069 1,009,905,851 9,311,935
2068 1,023,081,790 9,320,335
2067 1,036,420,010 9,327,741
2066 1,049,887,382 9,339,455
2065 1,063,477,623 9,351,481
2064 1,077,206,695 9,362,413
2063 1,090,982,303 9,372,441
2062 1,104,833,556 9,383,258
2061 1,118,682,849 9,395,036
2060 1,132,504,136 9,403,920
2059 1,146,199,736 9,414,241
2058 1,159,714,746 9,422,560
2057 1,172,963,523 9,428,212
2056 1,185,938,083 9,435,441
2055 1,198,550,408 9,443,890
2054 1,210,749,681 9,451,268
2053 1,222,500,569 9,456,389
2052 1,233,808,926 9,456,418
2051 1,244,584,333 9,456,395
2050 1,254,824,040 9,454,544
2049 1,264,598,914 9,451,083
2048 1,273,885,471 9,444,091
2047 1,282,701,271 9,437,061
2046 1,291,133,690 9,430,954
2045 1,299,154,327 9,425,155
2044 1,306,805,350 9,418,152
2043 1,314,176,710 9,410,763
2042 1,321,319,298 9,400,808
2041 1,328,219,755 9,393,857
2040 1,334,857,481 9,382,662
2039 1,341,265,381 9,373,984
2038 1,347,407,165 9,365,030
2037 1,353,377,505 9,354,254
2036 1,359,133,287 9,342,450
2035 1,364,651,508 9,328,907
2034 1,369,940,557 9,312,054
2033 1,375,003,005 9,294,881
2032 1,379,784,204 9,276,221
2031 1,384,301,522 9,253,034
2030 1,388,520,533 9,228,188
2029 1,392,490,007 9,201,743
2028 1,396,163,778 9,170,620
2027 1,399,515,824 9,135,740
2026 1,402,578,808 9,097,532
2025 1,405,826,385 9,053,983
2024 1,408,975,000 9,005,582
2023 1,410,710,000 8,888,822
2022 1,412,175,000 8,777,088
2021 1,412,360,000 8,704,546
2020 1,411,100,000 8,638,167
2019 1,407,745,000 8,575,280
2018 1,402,760,000 8,514,329
2017 1,396,215,000 8,451,840
2016 1,387,790,000 8,373,338
2015 1,379,860,000 8,282,396
2014 1,371,860,000 8,188,649
2013 1,363,240,000 8,089,346
2012 1,354,190,000 7,996,861
2011 1,345,035,000 7,912,398
2010 1,337,705,000 7,824,909
2009 1,331,260,000 7,743,831
2008 1,324,655,000 7,647,675
2007 1,317,885,000 7,551,117
2006 1,311,020,000 7,483,934
2005 1,303,720,000 7,437,115
2004 1,296,075,000 7,389,625
2003 1,288,400,000 7,339,001
2002 1,280,400,000 7,284,753
2001 1,271,850,000 7,229,854
2000 1,262,645,000 7,184,250
1999 1,252,735,000 7,143,991
1998 1,241,935,000 7,110,001
1997 1,230,075,000 7,088,906
1996 1,217,550,000 7,071,850
1995 1,204,855,000 7,040,687
1994 1,191,835,000 6,993,795
1993 1,178,440,000 6,938,265
1992 1,164,970,000 6,875,364
1991 1,150,780,000 6,799,978
1990 1,135,185,000 6,715,519
1989 1,118,650,000 6,646,912
1988 1,101,630,000 6,593,386
1987 1,084,035,000 6,545,106
1986 1,066,790,000 6,504,124
1985 1,051,040,000 6,470,365
1984 1,036,825,000 6,441,865
1983 1,023,310,000 6,418,773
1982 1,008,630,000 6,391,309
1981 993,885,000 6,354,074
1980 981,235,000 6,319,408
1979 969,005,000 6,294,365
1978 956,165,000 6,281,738
1977 943,455,000 6,281,174
1976 930,685,000 6,302,504
1975 916,395,000 6,338,632
1974 900,350,000 6,341,405
1973 881,940,000 6,307,347
1972 862,030,000 6,260,956
1971 841,105,000 6,213,399
1970 818,315,000 6,180,877
1969 796,025,000 6,136,387
1968 774,510,000 6,067,714
1967 754,550,000 5,991,785
1966 735,400,000 5,918,002
1965 715,185,000 5,856,472
1964 698,355,000 5,789,228
1963 682,335,000 5,694,247
1962 665,770,000 5,573,815
1961 660,330,000 5,434,294
1960 667,070,000 5,327,827

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/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 734,528 people (a 8.77% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Switzerland will increase by 3.81% to 9,454,544 people and rank change from 100th to 103rd.

Switzerland is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 9.46M 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
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Switzerland
2100 -1.65% 0.08%
2099 -1.64% 0.07%
2098 -1.63% 0.08%
2097 -1.61% 0.04%
2096 -1.6% 0.06%
2095 -1.59% 0.05%
2094 -1.59% 0.03%
2093 -1.58% 0.03%
2092 -1.57% 0.03%
2091 -1.57% 0.02%
2090 -1.57% 0.004%
2089 -1.57% -0.01%
2088 -1.57% 0.004%
2087 -1.56% -0.02%
2086 -1.56% -0.05%
2085 -1.55% -0.05%
2084 -1.53% -0.05%
2083 -1.51% -0.06%
2082 -1.5% -0.07%
2081 -1.47% -0.07%
2080 -1.45% -0.08%
2079 -1.42% -0.07%
2078 -1.4% -0.08%
2077 -1.38% -0.05%
2076 -1.36% -0.06%
2075 -1.34% -0.12%
2074 -1.33% -0.1%
2073 -1.31% -0.08%
2072 -1.3% -0.1%
2071 -1.3% -0.12%
2070 -1.29% -0.09%
2069 -1.29% -0.09%
2068 -1.29% -0.08%
2067 -1.28% -0.13%
2066 -1.28% -0.13%
2065 -1.27% -0.12%
2064 -1.26% -0.11%
2063 -1.25% -0.12%
2062 -1.24% -0.13%
2061 -1.22% -0.09%
2060 -1.19% -0.11%
2059 -1.17% -0.09%
2058 -1.13% -0.06%
2057 -1.09% -0.08%
2056 -1.05% -0.09%
2055 -1.01% -0.08%
2054 -0.96% -0.05%
2053 -0.92% -0%
2052 -0.87% 0%
2051 -0.82% 0.02%
2050 -0.77% 0.04%
2049 -0.73% 0.07%
2048 -0.69% 0.07%
2047 -0.65% 0.06%
2046 -0.62% 0.06%
2045 -0.59% 0.07%
2044 -0.56% 0.08%
2043 -0.54% 0.11%
2042 -0.52% 0.07%
2041 -0.5% 0.12%
2040 -0.48% 0.09%
2039 -0.46% 0.1%
2038 -0.44% 0.12%
2037 -0.42% 0.13%
2036 -0.4% 0.15%
2035 -0.39% 0.18%
2034 -0.37% 0.18%
2033 -0.35% 0.2%
2032 -0.33% 0.25%
2031 -0.3% 0.27%
2030 -0.29% 0.29%
2029 -0.26% 0.34%
2028 -0.24% 0.38%
2027 -0.22% 0.42%
2026 -0.23% 0.48%
2025 -0.22% 0.54%
2024 -0.12% 1.31%
2023 -0.1% 1.27%
2022 -0.01% 0.83%
2021 0.09% 0.77%
2020 0.24% 0.73%
2019 0.36% 0.72%
2018 0.47% 0.74%
2017 0.61% 0.94%
2016 0.57% 1.1%
2015 0.58% 1.14%
2014 0.63% 1.23%
2013 0.67% 1.16%
2012 0.68% 1.07%
2011 0.55% 1.12%
2010 0.48% 1.05%
2009 0.5% 1.26%
2008 0.51% 1.28%
2007 0.52% 0.9%
2006 0.56% 0.63%
2005 0.59% 0.64%
2004 0.6% 0.69%
2003 0.62% 0.74%
2002 0.67% 0.76%
2001 0.73% 0.63%
2000 0.79% 0.56%
1999 0.87% 0.48%
1998 0.96% 0.3%
1997 1.03% 0.24%
1996 1.05% 0.44%
1995 1.09% 0.67%
1994 1.14% 0.8%
1993 1.16% 0.91%
1992 1.23% 1.11%
1991 1.37% 1.26%
1990 1.48% 1.03%
1989 1.54% 0.81%
1988 1.62% 0.74%
1987 1.62% 0.63%
1986 1.5% 0.52%
1985 1.37% 0.44%
1984 1.32% 0.36%
1983 1.46% 0.43%
1982 1.48% 0.59%
1981 1.29% 0.55%
1980 1.26% 0.4%
1979 1.34% 0.2%
1978 1.35% 0.009%
1977 1.37% -0.34%
1976 1.56% -0.57%
1975 1.78% -0.04%
1974 2.09% 0.54%
1973 2.31% 0.74%
1972 2.49% 0.77%
1971 2.78% 0.53%
1970 2.8% 0.73%
1969 2.78% 1.13%
1968 2.65% 1.27%
1967 2.6% 1.25%
1966 2.83% 1.05%
1965 2.41% 1.16%
1964 2.35% 1.67%
1963 2.49% 2.16%
1962 0.82% 2.57%
1961 -1.01% 2%

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/switzerland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Switzerland's population grew by 1.31%.

Live population counters

China Switzerland
Current population
1402578808
9107866
Population rank 2/197 100/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.11%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
4.5 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
6.57 minutes
One death every
2.84 seconds
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +320
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +116,760
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +1.31%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 81/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 +37,253
Net migration rank 189/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 37,253
2024 - -318,992 - 40,099
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 8,000 45,098
2022 -847,305 -293,846 7,899 96,424
2021 480,203 -379,749 18,279 50,665
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 9,502 55,523
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 18,008 44,517
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 20,434 41,253
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 20,284 45,658
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 22,608 71,009
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 19,050 71,876
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 21,290 78,122
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 17,797 83,823
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 18,393 67,840
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 18,990 67,194
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 17,997 76,388
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 15,487 69,324
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 15,295 94,430
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 13,592 72,475
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 12,723 37,308
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 11,899 33,203
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 13,302 39,484
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 8,807 42,567
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 10,199 49,650
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 10,845 35,420
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 15,806 24,463
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 16,431 25,599
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 16,353 11,325
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 17,722 -1,939
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 19,801 -131
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 19,010 25,343
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 20,982 30,274
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 21,509 40,267
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 24,064 42,014
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 23,800 69,738
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 20,146 58,428
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 19,941 34,432
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 21,099 34,602
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 15,708 27,081
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 16,261 23,242
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 14,882 14,402
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 16,105 12,532
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 12,837 5,663
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 15,339 21,929
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 13,979 24,229
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 14,535 17,841
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 14,477 4,262
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 13,820 -6,552
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 16,959 -22,516
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 17,017 -54,255
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 22,820 -58,187
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 27,902 2,008
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 30,906 8,158
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 35,061 19,991
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 38,523 2,636
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 42,648 -18,326
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 44,182 20,754
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 47,328 25,828
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 52,128 27,697
1966 19,282,187 4,165 53,854 14,979
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 56,222 -1,351
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 59,050 21,455
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 52,956 58,415
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 49,050 82,798
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 48,365 101,278
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 42,090 22,313

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/switzerland | 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 Switzerland 21.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 165,354 people) and 78.4% is from migration (a gain of 600,145 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

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
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/switzerland | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.