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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 71,668,011 people in Thailand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 71,571,743 in Thailand.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 19.6 times bigger than Thailand's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Thailand is the 21st.
  • The countries together account for 17.8% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.86% for Thailand.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +0.23% in Thailand.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Thailand has grown from 66.6M to 71.6M (7.52% growth).

China vs Thailand: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Thailand
2100 633,320,628 45,712,111
2099 643,959,697 46,056,854
2098 654,691,595 46,406,925
2097 665,517,335 46,761,683
2096 676,438,150 47,122,446
2095 687,457,915 47,487,866
2094 698,589,897 47,857,414
2093 709,852,629 48,230,566
2092 721,251,520 48,609,149
2091 732,791,748 48,988,448
2090 744,501,355 49,372,024
2089 756,404,299 49,760,635
2088 768,478,316 50,146,313
2087 780,707,622 50,536,233
2086 793,081,006 50,929,394
2085 805,608,315 51,326,092
2084 818,268,277 51,728,619
2083 830,972,107 52,131,789
2082 843,721,746 52,537,598
2081 856,534,631 52,942,608
2080 869,351,919 53,352,029
2079 882,146,959 53,766,821
2078 894,889,246 54,181,891
2077 907,592,919 54,599,508
2076 920,280,380 55,019,721
2075 932,956,157 55,442,571
2074 945,631,173 55,872,412
2073 958,352,980 56,304,891
2072 971,115,895 56,739,842
2071 983,938,054 57,177,118
2070 996,853,418 57,621,370
2069 1,009,905,851 58,066,637
2068 1,023,081,790 58,516,959
2067 1,036,420,010 58,967,738
2066 1,049,887,382 59,418,676
2065 1,063,477,623 59,878,082
2064 1,077,206,695 60,336,709
2063 1,090,982,303 60,797,201
2062 1,104,833,556 61,262,000
2061 1,118,682,849 61,724,999
2060 1,132,504,136 62,192,387
2059 1,146,199,736 62,656,203
2058 1,159,714,746 63,118,413
2057 1,172,963,523 63,577,864
2056 1,185,938,083 64,032,675
2055 1,198,550,408 64,478,337
2054 1,210,749,681 64,917,436
2053 1,222,500,569 65,343,383
2052 1,233,808,926 65,763,356
2051 1,244,584,333 66,167,939
2050 1,254,824,040 66,558,274
2049 1,264,598,914 66,936,876
2048 1,273,885,471 67,296,897
2047 1,282,701,271 67,641,907
2046 1,291,133,690 67,972,603
2045 1,299,154,327 68,287,399
2044 1,306,805,350 68,585,177
2043 1,314,176,710 68,870,333
2042 1,321,319,298 69,139,548
2041 1,328,219,755 69,396,419
2040 1,334,857,481 69,632,464
2039 1,341,265,381 69,854,146
2038 1,347,407,165 70,062,543
2037 1,353,377,505 70,256,027
2036 1,359,133,287 70,435,348
2035 1,364,651,508 70,604,705
2034 1,369,940,557 70,756,791
2033 1,375,003,005 70,897,217
2032 1,379,784,204 71,025,384
2031 1,384,301,522 71,140,609
2030 1,388,520,533 71,247,320
2029 1,392,490,007 71,342,891
2028 1,396,163,778 71,428,869
2027 1,399,515,824 71,505,168
2026 1,402,578,808 71,571,743
2025 1,405,826,385 71,625,629
2024 1,408,975,000 71,668,011
2023 1,410,710,000 71,702,435
2022 1,412,175,000 71,735,329
2021 1,412,360,000 71,727,332
2020 1,411,100,000 71,641,484
2019 1,407,745,000 71,522,271
2018 1,402,760,000 71,376,079
2017 1,396,215,000 71,160,187
2016 1,387,790,000 70,859,841
2015 1,379,860,000 70,540,795
2014 1,371,860,000 70,216,367
2013 1,363,240,000 69,845,114
2012 1,354,190,000 69,436,098
2011 1,345,035,000 69,007,208
2010 1,337,705,000 68,579,447
2009 1,331,260,000 68,121,080
2008 1,324,655,000 67,619,830
2007 1,317,885,000 67,102,394
2006 1,311,020,000 66,567,687
2005 1,303,720,000 66,017,420
2004 1,296,075,000 65,452,047
2003 1,288,400,000 64,868,166
2002 1,280,400,000 64,266,437
2001 1,271,850,000 63,651,141
2000 1,262,645,000 63,007,815
1999 1,252,735,000 62,299,043
1998 1,241,935,000 61,522,630
1997 1,230,075,000 60,724,584
1996 1,217,550,000 59,920,064
1995 1,204,855,000 59,098,232
1994 1,191,835,000 58,260,854
1993 1,178,440,000 57,408,198
1992 1,164,970,000 56,528,834
1991 1,150,780,000 55,637,434
1990 1,135,185,000 54,738,329
1989 1,118,650,000 53,848,956
1988 1,101,630,000 52,969,595
1987 1,084,035,000 52,074,105
1986 1,066,790,000 51,177,834
1985 1,051,040,000 50,270,753
1984 1,036,825,000 49,351,708
1983 1,023,310,000 48,423,309
1982 1,008,630,000 47,494,577
1981 993,885,000 46,575,855
1980 981,235,000 45,650,022
1979 969,005,000 44,718,434
1978 956,165,000 43,788,976
1977 943,455,000 42,843,974
1976 930,685,000 41,896,504
1975 916,395,000 40,940,005
1974 900,350,000 39,952,891
1973 881,940,000 38,947,787
1972 862,030,000 37,933,929
1971 841,105,000 36,937,387
1970 818,315,000 35,954,408
1969 796,025,000 34,973,782
1968 774,510,000 34,002,560
1967 754,550,000 33,037,801
1966 735,400,000 32,086,071
1965 715,185,000 31,149,337
1964 698,355,000 30,232,141
1963 682,335,000 29,342,322
1962 665,770,000 28,481,040
1961 660,330,000 27,650,334
1960 667,070,000 26,851,747

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/thailand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Thailand gained 4,292,154 people (a 6.45% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Thailand's population increased by 711,902 people (a 1% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Thailand was ranked 19th in 2006 and ranked 21st 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 Thailand will decrease by 7% to 66,558,274 people and rank change from 21st to 31st.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 34.4% of the population in China and 23.1% in Thailand.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Thailand
2100 -1.65% -0.75%
2099 -1.64% -0.75%
2098 -1.63% -0.76%
2097 -1.61% -0.77%
2096 -1.6% -0.77%
2095 -1.59% -0.77%
2094 -1.59% -0.77%
2093 -1.58% -0.78%
2092 -1.57% -0.77%
2091 -1.57% -0.78%
2090 -1.57% -0.78%
2089 -1.57% -0.77%
2088 -1.57% -0.77%
2087 -1.56% -0.77%
2086 -1.56% -0.77%
2085 -1.55% -0.78%
2084 -1.53% -0.77%
2083 -1.51% -0.77%
2082 -1.5% -0.76%
2081 -1.47% -0.77%
2080 -1.45% -0.77%
2079 -1.42% -0.77%
2078 -1.4% -0.76%
2077 -1.38% -0.76%
2076 -1.36% -0.76%
2075 -1.34% -0.77%
2074 -1.33% -0.77%
2073 -1.31% -0.77%
2072 -1.3% -0.76%
2071 -1.3% -0.77%
2070 -1.29% -0.77%
2069 -1.29% -0.77%
2068 -1.29% -0.76%
2067 -1.28% -0.76%
2066 -1.28% -0.77%
2065 -1.27% -0.76%
2064 -1.26% -0.76%
2063 -1.25% -0.76%
2062 -1.24% -0.75%
2061 -1.22% -0.75%
2060 -1.19% -0.74%
2059 -1.17% -0.73%
2058 -1.13% -0.72%
2057 -1.09% -0.71%
2056 -1.05% -0.69%
2055 -1.01% -0.68%
2054 -0.96% -0.65%
2053 -0.92% -0.64%
2052 -0.87% -0.61%
2051 -0.82% -0.59%
2050 -0.77% -0.57%
2049 -0.73% -0.53%
2048 -0.69% -0.51%
2047 -0.65% -0.49%
2046 -0.62% -0.46%
2045 -0.59% -0.43%
2044 -0.56% -0.41%
2043 -0.54% -0.39%
2042 -0.52% -0.37%
2041 -0.5% -0.34%
2040 -0.48% -0.32%
2039 -0.46% -0.3%
2038 -0.44% -0.28%
2037 -0.42% -0.25%
2036 -0.4% -0.24%
2035 -0.39% -0.21%
2034 -0.37% -0.2%
2033 -0.35% -0.18%
2032 -0.33% -0.16%
2031 -0.3% -0.15%
2030 -0.29% -0.13%
2029 -0.26% -0.12%
2028 -0.24% -0.11%
2027 -0.22% -0.09%
2026 -0.23% -0.08%
2025 -0.22% -0.06%
2024 -0.12% -0.05%
2023 -0.1% -0.05%
2022 -0.01% 0.01%
2021 0.09% 0.12%
2020 0.24% 0.17%
2019 0.36% 0.2%
2018 0.47% 0.3%
2017 0.61% 0.42%
2016 0.57% 0.45%
2015 0.58% 0.46%
2014 0.63% 0.53%
2013 0.67% 0.59%
2012 0.68% 0.62%
2011 0.55% 0.62%
2010 0.48% 0.67%
2009 0.5% 0.74%
2008 0.51% 0.77%
2007 0.52% 0.8%
2006 0.56% 0.83%
2005 0.59% 0.86%
2004 0.6% 0.9%
2003 0.62% 0.94%
2002 0.67% 0.97%
2001 0.73% 1.02%
2000 0.79% 1.14%
1999 0.87% 1.26%
1998 0.96% 1.31%
1997 1.03% 1.34%
1996 1.05% 1.39%
1995 1.09% 1.44%
1994 1.14% 1.49%
1993 1.16% 1.56%
1992 1.23% 1.6%
1991 1.37% 1.64%
1990 1.48% 1.65%
1989 1.54% 1.66%
1988 1.62% 1.72%
1987 1.62% 1.75%
1986 1.5% 1.8%
1985 1.37% 1.86%
1984 1.32% 1.92%
1983 1.46% 1.96%
1982 1.48% 1.97%
1981 1.29% 2.03%
1980 1.26% 2.08%
1979 1.34% 2.12%
1978 1.35% 2.21%
1977 1.37% 2.26%
1976 1.56% 2.34%
1975 1.78% 2.47%
1974 2.09% 2.58%
1973 2.31% 2.67%
1972 2.49% 2.7%
1971 2.78% 2.73%
1970 2.8% 2.8%
1969 2.78% 2.86%
1968 2.65% 2.92%
1967 2.6% 2.97%
1966 2.83% 3.01%
1965 2.41% 3.03%
1964 2.35% 3.03%
1963 2.49% 3.02%
1962 0.82% 3%
1961 -1.01% 2.97%

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/thailand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Thailand's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

China Thailand
Current population
1402578808
71571743
Population rank 2/197 21/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.86%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
15.3 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
53.3 seconds
One death every
2.84 seconds
49.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline -4,753 -94
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 -34,424
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 168/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
19.2 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 +27,509
Net migration rank 189/196 30/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 3,179,399
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 21/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 4.4%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 100/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Thailand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Thailand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 27,509
2024 - -318,992 - 23,321
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 -46,105 19,648
2022 -847,305 -293,846 -61,046 21,683
2021 480,203 -379,749 57,382 -2,093
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 84,107 32,277
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 116,867 5,221
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 159,383 10,984
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 194,695 66,805
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 226,255 112,978
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 266,362 32,500
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 294,628 55,358
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 325,059 67,452
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 351,485 74,033
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 365,670 66,607
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 370,466 52,791
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 382,636 110,883
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 401,730 107,333
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 425,362 100,486
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 441,211 102,362
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 456,378 100,542
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 466,542 107,199
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 488,003 105,917
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 504,299 105,215
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 524,230 96,817
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 543,884 121,640
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 578,073 173,924
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 617,318 183,471
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 644,834 150,411
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 661,397 152,397
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 682,703 147,226
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 712,589 132,271
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 737,696 122,746
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 754,999 143,318
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 760,508 124,034
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 760,808 152,916
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 774,563 90,497
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 765,252 128,469
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 774,498 122,791
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 783,430 111,820
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 776,935 141,963
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 779,856 139,345
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 794,239 143,393
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 817,951 101,885
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 839,297 78,337
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 845,575 88,478
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 843,434 85,693
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 847,799 82,011
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 871,232 88,937
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 894,072 40,656
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 911,980 66,306
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 923,151 72,801
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 933,540 80,704
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 940,420 73,082
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 936,215 43,400
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 937,116 49,221
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 948,314 26,551
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 953,806 13,718
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 944,980 17,005
1966 19,282,187 4,165 929,469 12,016
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 909,000 22,995
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 885,137 17,249
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 860,728 16,494
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 828,741 16,605
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 801,140 14,968
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 774,190 6,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/thailand | 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 Thailand 78.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,292,528 people) and 21.6% is from migration (a gain of 355,361 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 3,179,399 people or 4.4% in Thailand.

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
Thailand
City Population
Bangkok 5.68M
Chiang Mai 1.2M
Nonthaburi 256K
Pak Kret 190K
Hat Yai 159K
Nakhon Ratchasima 134K
Chaophraya Surasak 133K
Surat Thani 131K
Udon Thani 130K
Klaeng 130K

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/thailand | 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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