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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 52.3 times bigger than Syria's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 17.2% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

China vs Syria: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Syria
2100 633,320,628 44,620,090
2099 643,959,697 44,690,260
2098 654,691,595 44,750,249
2097 665,517,335 44,813,148
2096 676,438,150 44,867,740
2095 687,457,915 44,895,489
2094 698,589,897 44,945,231
2093 709,852,629 44,974,311
2092 721,251,520 45,003,795
2091 732,791,748 45,016,478
2090 744,501,355 45,048,083
2089 756,404,299 45,047,102
2088 768,478,316 45,041,864
2087 780,707,622 45,049,516
2086 793,081,006 45,068,928
2085 805,608,315 45,034,847
2084 818,268,277 44,999,929
2083 830,972,107 44,971,600
2082 843,721,746 44,910,859
2081 856,534,631 44,843,908
2080 869,351,919 44,744,718
2079 882,146,959 44,687,371
2078 894,889,246 44,649,760
2077 907,592,919 44,604,175
2076 920,280,380 44,520,132
2075 932,956,157 44,426,423
2074 945,631,173 44,328,795
2073 958,352,980 44,221,016
2072 971,115,895 44,084,262
2071 983,938,054 43,939,848
2070 996,853,418 43,795,999
2069 1,009,905,851 43,648,130
2068 1,023,081,790 43,465,442
2067 1,036,420,010 43,271,173
2066 1,049,887,382 43,060,752
2065 1,063,477,623 42,810,442
2064 1,077,206,695 42,559,554
2063 1,090,982,303 42,311,907
2062 1,104,833,556 42,062,193
2061 1,118,682,849 41,808,082
2060 1,132,504,136 41,522,274
2059 1,146,199,736 41,208,825
2058 1,159,714,746 40,925,728
2057 1,172,963,523 40,643,453
2056 1,185,938,083 40,332,578
2055 1,198,550,408 40,026,632
2054 1,210,749,681 39,691,425
2053 1,222,500,569 39,348,020
2052 1,233,808,926 39,045,268
2051 1,244,584,333 38,733,827
2050 1,254,824,040 38,410,423
2049 1,264,598,914 38,089,455
2048 1,273,885,471 37,784,449
2047 1,282,701,271 37,492,636
2046 1,291,133,690 37,181,526
2045 1,299,154,327 36,843,579
2044 1,306,805,350 36,526,509
2043 1,314,176,710 36,188,225
2042 1,321,319,298 35,825,419
2041 1,328,219,755 35,447,414
2040 1,334,857,481 35,042,107
2039 1,341,265,381 34,626,945
2038 1,347,407,165 34,183,740
2037 1,353,377,505 33,703,682
2036 1,359,133,287 33,223,843
2035 1,364,651,508 32,696,648
2034 1,369,940,557 32,148,814
2033 1,375,003,005 31,562,427
2032 1,379,784,204 30,967,322
2031 1,384,301,522 30,329,874
2030 1,388,520,533 29,672,629
2029 1,392,490,007 28,949,535
2028 1,396,163,778 28,217,748
2027 1,399,515,824 27,428,807
2026 1,402,578,808 26,607,148
2025 1,405,826,385 25,689,551
2024 1,408,975,000 24,672,760
2023 1,410,710,000 23,594,623
2022 1,412,175,000 22,462,173
2021 1,412,360,000 21,628,839
2020 1,411,100,000 21,049,429
2019 1,407,745,000 20,353,534
2018 1,402,760,000 19,577,845
2017 1,396,215,000 19,224,668
2016 1,387,790,000 19,193,834
2015 1,379,860,000 19,424,618
2014 1,371,860,000 20,273,659
2013 1,363,240,000 21,666,917
2012 1,354,190,000 22,759,763
2011 1,345,035,000 22,878,098
2010 1,337,705,000 22,482,421
2009 1,331,260,000 21,976,969
2008 1,324,655,000 21,636,564
2007 1,317,885,000 20,884,125
2006 1,311,020,000 19,637,022
2005 1,303,720,000 18,814,091
2004 1,296,075,000 18,336,875
2003 1,288,400,000 17,889,296
2002 1,280,400,000 17,468,332
2001 1,271,850,000 17,051,338
2000 1,262,645,000 16,637,888
1999 1,252,735,000 16,228,061
1998 1,241,935,000 15,820,413
1997 1,230,075,000 15,417,542
1996 1,217,550,000 15,018,104
1995 1,204,855,000 14,616,801
1994 1,191,835,000 14,208,583
1993 1,178,440,000 13,795,686
1992 1,164,970,000 13,385,571
1991 1,150,780,000 12,980,821
1990 1,135,185,000 12,579,208
1989 1,118,650,000 12,179,060
1988 1,101,630,000 11,782,264
1987 1,084,035,000 11,388,923
1986 1,066,790,000 11,002,844
1985 1,051,040,000 10,625,672
1984 1,036,825,000 10,258,398
1983 1,023,310,000 9,904,809
1982 1,008,630,000 9,572,511
1981 993,885,000 9,260,189
1980 981,235,000 8,957,663
1979 969,005,000 8,661,909
1978 956,165,000 8,372,759
1977 943,455,000 8,090,501
1976 930,685,000 7,817,320
1975 916,395,000 7,554,364
1974 900,350,000 7,302,160
1973 881,940,000 7,060,321
1972 862,030,000 6,826,024
1971 841,105,000 6,598,094
1970 818,315,000 6,380,609
1969 796,025,000 6,175,166
1968 774,510,000 5,978,742
1967 754,550,000 5,790,198
1966 735,400,000 5,609,047
1965 715,185,000 5,435,267
1964 698,355,000 5,269,087
1963 682,335,000 5,110,467
1962 665,770,000 4,959,340
1961 660,330,000 4,815,466
1960 667,070,000 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Syria is projected to reach its peak in 2086 at 45.1M 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
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Syria
2100 -1.65% -0.16%
2099 -1.64% -0.13%
2098 -1.63% -0.14%
2097 -1.61% -0.12%
2096 -1.6% -0.06%
2095 -1.59% -0.11%
2094 -1.59% -0.06%
2093 -1.58% -0.07%
2092 -1.57% -0.03%
2091 -1.57% -0.07%
2090 -1.57% 0.002%
2089 -1.57% 0.01%
2088 -1.57% -0.02%
2087 -1.56% -0.04%
2086 -1.56% 0.08%
2085 -1.55% 0.08%
2084 -1.53% 0.06%
2083 -1.51% 0.14%
2082 -1.5% 0.15%
2081 -1.47% 0.22%
2080 -1.45% 0.13%
2079 -1.42% 0.08%
2078 -1.4% 0.1%
2077 -1.38% 0.19%
2076 -1.36% 0.21%
2075 -1.34% 0.22%
2074 -1.33% 0.24%
2073 -1.31% 0.31%
2072 -1.3% 0.33%
2071 -1.3% 0.33%
2070 -1.29% 0.34%
2069 -1.29% 0.42%
2068 -1.29% 0.45%
2067 -1.28% 0.49%
2066 -1.28% 0.58%
2065 -1.27% 0.59%
2064 -1.26% 0.59%
2063 -1.25% 0.59%
2062 -1.24% 0.61%
2061 -1.22% 0.69%
2060 -1.19% 0.76%
2059 -1.17% 0.69%
2058 -1.13% 0.69%
2057 -1.09% 0.77%
2056 -1.05% 0.76%
2055 -1.01% 0.84%
2054 -0.96% 0.87%
2053 -0.92% 0.78%
2052 -0.87% 0.8%
2051 -0.82% 0.84%
2050 -0.77% 0.84%
2049 -0.73% 0.81%
2048 -0.69% 0.78%
2047 -0.65% 0.84%
2046 -0.62% 0.92%
2045 -0.59% 0.87%
2044 -0.56% 0.93%
2043 -0.54% 1.01%
2042 -0.52% 1.07%
2041 -0.5% 1.16%
2040 -0.48% 1.2%
2039 -0.46% 1.3%
2038 -0.44% 1.42%
2037 -0.42% 1.44%
2036 -0.4% 1.61%
2035 -0.39% 1.7%
2034 -0.37% 1.86%
2033 -0.35% 1.92%
2032 -0.33% 2.1%
2031 -0.3% 2.21%
2030 -0.29% 2.5%
2029 -0.26% 2.59%
2028 -0.24% 2.88%
2027 -0.22% 3.09%
2026 -0.23% 3.57%
2025 -0.22% 4.12%
2024 -0.12% 4.57%
2023 -0.1% 5.04%
2022 -0.01% 3.85%
2021 0.09% 2.75%
2020 0.24% 3.42%
2019 0.36% 3.96%
2018 0.47% 1.84%
2017 0.61% 0.16%
2016 0.57% -1.19%
2015 0.58% -4.19%
2014 0.63% -6.43%
2013 0.67% -4.8%
2012 0.68% -0.52%
2011 0.55% 1.76%
2010 0.48% 2.3%
2009 0.5% 1.57%
2008 0.51% 3.6%
2007 0.52% 6.35%
2006 0.56% 4.37%
2005 0.59% 2.6%
2004 0.6% 2.5%
2003 0.62% 2.41%
2002 0.67% 2.45%
2001 0.73% 2.48%
2000 0.79% 2.53%
1999 0.87% 2.58%
1998 0.96% 2.61%
1997 1.03% 2.66%
1996 1.05% 2.75%
1995 1.09% 2.87%
1994 1.14% 2.99%
1993 1.16% 3.06%
1992 1.23% 3.12%
1991 1.37% 3.19%
1990 1.48% 3.29%
1989 1.54% 3.37%
1988 1.62% 3.45%
1987 1.62% 3.51%
1986 1.5% 3.55%
1985 1.37% 3.58%
1984 1.32% 3.57%
1983 1.46% 3.47%
1982 1.48% 3.37%
1981 1.29% 3.38%
1980 1.26% 3.41%
1979 1.34% 3.45%
1978 1.35% 3.49%
1977 1.37% 3.49%
1976 1.56% 3.48%
1975 1.78% 3.45%
1974 2.09% 3.43%
1973 2.31% 3.43%
1972 2.49% 3.45%
1971 2.78% 3.41%
1970 2.8% 3.33%
1969 2.78% 3.29%
1968 2.65% 3.26%
1967 2.6% 3.23%
1966 2.83% 3.2%
1965 2.41% 3.15%
1964 2.35% 3.1%
1963 2.49% 3.05%
1962 0.82% 2.99%
1961 -1.01% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

China Syria
Current population
1402578808
26829400
Population rank 2/197 56/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.32%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
29.3 seconds
One birth every
3.5 seconds
1.01 minutes
One death every
2.84 seconds
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +2,954
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 6/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 +421,693
Net migration rank 189/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 421,693
2024 - -318,992 - 546,494
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 402,713 757,309
2022 -847,305 -293,846 369,750 735,142
2021 480,203 -379,749 350,560 211,220
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 327,992 269,050
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 293,762 500,985
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 242,530 514,102
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 237,214 -287,501
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 236,007 -124,063
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 253,977 -827,496
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 475,520 -999,267
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 543,950 -256,888
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 558,666 -54,359
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 559,314 -52,703
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 576,593 -402,393
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 529,162 801,514
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 480,616 682,911
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 468,960 13,382
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 461,209 10,881
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 457,000 -33,920
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 453,967 -35,096
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 451,503 -36,383
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 446,211 -34,425
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 439,261 -31,394
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 433,447 -26,025
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 429,887 -31,571
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 430,765 -30,197
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 430,172 -28,122
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 426,996 -12,630
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 420,244 -8,828
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 412,878 -4,063
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 410,830 -10,154
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 409,177 -6,620
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 406,111 -8,379
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 404,285 -8,426
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 399,159 -8,335
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 390,821 -9,485
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 379,231 -6,221
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 366,768 -5,245
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 355,375 -9,729
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 319,664 -721
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 330,237 -24,536
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 332,464 -33,114
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 324,943 -32,793
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 316,724 -30,567
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 306,630 -28,275
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 294,267 -26,268
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 282,299 -24,389
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 270,735 -24,242
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 254,687 -17,502
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 249,027 -17,610
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 239,610 -15,167
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 230,117 -19,594
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 219,114 -18,749
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 209,454 -16,968
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 199,223 -14,618
1966 19,282,187 4,165 191,122 -13,434
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 182,560 -12,704
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 174,549 -12,044
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 166,555 -11,817
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 159,155 -11,641
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 151,485 -11,237
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

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
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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