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Population in China compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 120 times bigger than the United Arab Emirates'.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 17.1% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).

China vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China UAE
2100 633,320,628 26,368,750
2099 643,959,697 26,130,374
2098 654,691,595 25,894,010
2097 665,517,335 25,660,062
2096 676,438,150 25,427,961
2095 687,457,915 25,197,670
2094 698,589,897 24,968,891
2093 709,852,629 24,741,434
2092 721,251,520 24,515,086
2091 732,791,748 24,289,496
2090 744,501,355 24,064,404
2089 756,404,299 23,839,033
2088 768,478,316 23,613,963
2087 780,707,622 23,388,786
2086 793,081,006 23,163,641
2085 805,608,315 22,938,169
2084 818,268,277 22,711,804
2083 830,972,107 22,484,154
2082 843,721,746 22,255,625
2081 856,534,631 22,026,183
2080 869,351,919 21,796,073
2079 882,146,959 21,565,118
2078 894,889,246 21,333,574
2077 907,592,919 21,101,274
2076 920,280,380 20,868,733
2075 932,956,157 20,636,203
2074 945,631,173 20,404,044
2073 958,352,980 20,171,659
2072 971,115,895 19,940,853
2071 983,938,054 19,710,934
2070 996,853,418 19,483,026
2069 1,009,905,851 19,256,572
2068 1,023,081,790 19,032,681
2067 1,036,420,010 18,811,331
2066 1,049,887,382 18,593,017
2065 1,063,477,623 18,377,364
2064 1,077,206,695 18,164,584
2063 1,090,982,303 17,955,352
2062 1,104,833,556 17,749,596
2061 1,118,682,849 17,547,827
2060 1,132,504,136 17,349,620
2059 1,146,199,736 17,153,273
2058 1,159,714,746 16,959,263
2057 1,172,963,523 16,767,893
2056 1,185,938,083 16,579,195
2055 1,198,550,408 16,392,558
2054 1,210,749,681 16,207,309
2053 1,222,500,569 16,024,789
2052 1,233,808,926 15,844,357
2051 1,244,584,333 15,665,362
2050 1,254,824,040 15,487,008
2049 1,264,598,914 15,309,031
2048 1,273,885,471 15,132,784
2047 1,282,701,271 14,958,209
2046 1,291,133,690 14,788,046
2045 1,299,154,327 14,620,902
2044 1,306,805,350 14,454,466
2043 1,314,176,710 14,289,021
2042 1,321,319,298 14,124,515
2041 1,328,219,755 13,961,010
2040 1,334,857,481 13,798,651
2039 1,341,265,381 13,637,499
2038 1,347,407,165 13,477,450
2037 1,353,377,505 13,319,346
2036 1,359,133,287 13,163,073
2035 1,364,651,508 13,009,160
2034 1,369,940,557 12,857,729
2033 1,375,003,005 12,709,520
2032 1,379,784,204 12,564,906
2031 1,384,301,522 12,424,286
2030 1,388,520,533 12,288,186
2029 1,392,490,007 12,148,661
2028 1,396,163,778 11,999,549
2027 1,399,515,824 11,831,082
2026 1,402,578,808 11,632,806
2025 1,405,826,385 11,367,504
2024 1,408,975,000 10,986,400
2023 1,410,710,000 10,483,751
2022 1,412,175,000 10,074,977
2021 1,412,360,000 9,575,152
2020 1,411,100,000 9,401,038
2019 1,407,745,000 9,445,785
2018 1,402,760,000 9,346,701
2017 1,396,215,000 9,223,225
2016 1,387,790,000 8,935,095
2015 1,379,860,000 8,505,237
2014 1,371,860,000 8,059,440
2013 1,363,240,000 7,693,031
2012 1,354,190,000 7,391,448
2011 1,345,035,000 7,104,538
2010 1,337,705,000 6,869,838
2009 1,331,260,000 6,707,058
2008 1,324,655,000 6,302,664
2007 1,317,885,000 5,624,635
2006 1,311,020,000 5,009,100
2005 1,303,720,000 4,664,790
2004 1,296,075,000 4,428,967
2003 1,288,400,000 4,192,457
2002 1,280,400,000 3,956,826
2001 1,271,850,000 3,723,590
2000 1,262,645,000 3,493,575
1999 1,252,735,000 3,266,009
1998 1,241,935,000 3,040,421
1997 1,230,075,000 2,817,410
1996 1,217,550,000 2,597,564
1995 1,204,855,000 2,434,662
1994 1,191,835,000 2,328,188
1993 1,178,440,000 2,222,093
1992 1,164,970,000 2,114,730
1991 1,150,780,000 2,006,626
1990 1,135,185,000 1,898,220
1989 1,118,650,000 1,789,851
1988 1,101,630,000 1,681,788
1987 1,084,035,000 1,574,244
1986 1,066,790,000 1,467,383
1985 1,051,040,000 1,377,911
1984 1,036,825,000 1,305,996
1983 1,023,310,000 1,235,305
1982 1,008,630,000 1,166,370
1981 993,885,000 1,099,855
1980 981,235,000 1,015,700
1979 969,005,000 912,010
1978 956,165,000 809,274
1977 943,455,000 710,209
1976 930,685,000 615,866
1975 916,395,000 542,856
1974 900,350,000 489,087
1973 881,940,000 436,399
1972 862,030,000 385,014
1971 841,105,000 335,027
1970 818,315,000 286,536
1969 796,025,000 239,660
1968 774,510,000 199,416
1967 754,550,000 179,700
1966 735,400,000 173,976
1965 715,185,000 167,103
1964 698,355,000 159,692
1963 682,335,000 152,211
1962 665,770,000 144,946
1961 660,330,000 137,989
1960 667,070,000 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

The United Arab Emirates is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 26.4M 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
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China UAE
2100 -1.65% 0.91%
2099 -1.64% 0.91%
2098 -1.63% 0.91%
2097 -1.61% 0.91%
2096 -1.6% 0.91%
2095 -1.59% 0.92%
2094 -1.59% 0.92%
2093 -1.58% 0.92%
2092 -1.57% 0.93%
2091 -1.57% 0.94%
2090 -1.57% 0.95%
2089 -1.57% 0.95%
2088 -1.57% 0.96%
2087 -1.56% 0.97%
2086 -1.56% 0.98%
2085 -1.55% 1%
2084 -1.53% 1.01%
2083 -1.51% 1.03%
2082 -1.5% 1.04%
2081 -1.47% 1.06%
2080 -1.45% 1.07%
2079 -1.42% 1.09%
2078 -1.4% 1.1%
2077 -1.38% 1.11%
2076 -1.36% 1.13%
2075 -1.34% 1.14%
2074 -1.33% 1.15%
2073 -1.31% 1.16%
2072 -1.3% 1.17%
2071 -1.3% 1.17%
2070 -1.29% 1.18%
2069 -1.29% 1.18%
2068 -1.29% 1.18%
2067 -1.28% 1.17%
2066 -1.28% 1.17%
2065 -1.27% 1.17%
2064 -1.26% 1.17%
2063 -1.25% 1.16%
2062 -1.24% 1.15%
2061 -1.22% 1.14%
2060 -1.19% 1.14%
2059 -1.17% 1.14%
2058 -1.13% 1.14%
2057 -1.09% 1.14%
2056 -1.05% 1.14%
2055 -1.01% 1.14%
2054 -0.96% 1.14%
2053 -0.92% 1.14%
2052 -0.87% 1.14%
2051 -0.82% 1.15%
2050 -0.77% 1.16%
2049 -0.73% 1.16%
2048 -0.69% 1.17%
2047 -0.65% 1.15%
2046 -0.62% 1.14%
2045 -0.59% 1.15%
2044 -0.56% 1.16%
2043 -0.54% 1.16%
2042 -0.52% 1.17%
2041 -0.5% 1.18%
2040 -0.48% 1.18%
2039 -0.46% 1.19%
2038 -0.44% 1.19%
2037 -0.42% 1.19%
2036 -0.4% 1.18%
2035 -0.39% 1.18%
2034 -0.37% 1.17%
2033 -0.35% 1.15%
2032 -0.33% 1.13%
2031 -0.3% 1.11%
2030 -0.29% 1.15%
2029 -0.26% 1.24%
2028 -0.24% 1.42%
2027 -0.22% 1.7%
2026 -0.23% 2.33%
2025 -0.22% 3.47%
2024 -0.12% 4.79%
2023 -0.1% 4.06%
2022 -0.01% 5.22%
2021 0.09% 1.85%
2020 0.24% -0.47%
2019 0.36% 1.06%
2018 0.47% 1.34%
2017 0.61% 3.22%
2016 0.57% 5.05%
2015 0.58% 5.53%
2014 0.63% 4.76%
2013 0.67% 4.08%
2012 0.68% 4.04%
2011 0.55% 3.42%
2010 0.48% 2.43%
2009 0.5% 6.42%
2008 0.51% 12.1%
2007 0.52% 12.3%
2006 0.56% 7.38%
2005 0.59% 5.32%
2004 0.6% 5.64%
2003 0.62% 5.96%
2002 0.67% 6.26%
2001 0.73% 6.58%
2000 0.79% 6.97%
1999 0.87% 7.42%
1998 0.96% 7.92%
1997 1.03% 8.46%
1996 1.05% 6.69%
1995 1.09% 4.57%
1994 1.14% 4.77%
1993 1.16% 5.08%
1992 1.23% 5.39%
1991 1.37% 5.71%
1990 1.48% 6.05%
1989 1.54% 6.43%
1988 1.62% 6.83%
1987 1.62% 7.28%
1986 1.5% 6.49%
1985 1.37% 5.51%
1984 1.32% 5.72%
1983 1.46% 5.91%
1982 1.48% 6.05%
1981 1.29% 8.29%
1980 1.26% 11.4%
1979 1.34% 12.7%
1978 1.35% 13.9%
1977 1.37% 15.3%
1976 1.56% 13.4%
1975 1.78% 11%
1974 2.09% 12.1%
1973 2.31% 13.3%
1972 2.49% 14.9%
1971 2.78% 16.9%
1970 2.8% 19.6%
1969 2.78% 20.2%
1968 2.65% 11%
1967 2.6% 3.29%
1966 2.83% 4.11%
1965 2.41% 4.64%
1964 2.35% 4.91%
1963 2.49% 5.01%
1962 0.82% 5.04%
1961 -1.01% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

China UAE
Current population
1402578808
11686438
Population rank 2/197 84/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.14%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
1.05 minutes
One birth every
3.5 seconds
5.13 minutes
One death every
2.84 seconds
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +1,377
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 3/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 +158,634
Net migration rank 189/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 158,634
2024 - -318,992 - 278,439
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 92,698 300,004
2022 -847,305 -293,846 81,758 322,773
2021 480,203 -379,749 76,802 421,663
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 87,871 92,541
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 86,296 -125,186
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 86,840 14,611
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 89,382 34,155
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 87,028 195,317
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 85,044 342,468
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 84,277 360,174
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 82,977 279,269
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 78,682 225,921
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 73,496 215,183
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 69,907 161,842
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 66,521 163,643
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 55,426 523,207
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 55,048 722,380
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 54,338 399,306
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 60,046 174,926
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 60,344 176,319
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 59,118 177,237
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 55,922 178,988
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 52,789 178,779
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 49,993 178,469
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 46,198 180,469
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 41,176 183,329
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 38,207 183,310
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 37,886 180,296
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 38,685 68,938
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 42,976 62,352
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 41,324 65,545
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 42,119 65,739
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 41,409 66,943
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 41,339 67,118
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 40,148 68,132
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 38,861 68,991
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 37,741 69,493
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 36,829 69,655
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 34,855 37,605
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 33,250 38,124
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 31,480 38,536
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 29,585 38,276
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 27,560 37,600
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 25,005 78,148
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 21,987 82,238
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 18,879 82,359
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 15,787 81,111
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 12,876 78,903
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 11,859 42,380
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 10,835 42,474
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 9,822 42,243
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 8,818 41,888
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 7,839 41,425
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 6,922 40,792
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 6,138 39,902
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 5,588 28,866
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 5,264 -283
1966 19,282,187 4,165 4,955 1,516
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 4,675 2,598
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 4,410 3,126
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 4,157 3,264
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 3,901 3,212
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 3,657 3,141
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

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
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/united-arab-emirates | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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