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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,406,585,000 in 2025 vs 69,487,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,403,335,670 people compared to 70,071,289 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 20 times bigger than the United Kingdom's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 17.7% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.84% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.23% per year vs +0.66% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (7.04% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.1M (15.2% growth).

China vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China United Kingdom
2100 633,662,382 74,517,005
2099 644,307,192 74,647,273
2098 655,044,881 74,766,073
2097 665,876,462 74,879,923
2096 676,803,171 74,991,940
2095 687,828,883 75,102,041
2094 698,966,872 75,198,597
2093 710,235,681 75,296,704
2092 721,640,723 75,390,038
2091 733,187,178 75,480,137
2090 744,903,105 75,566,962
2089 756,812,472 75,649,353
2088 768,893,004 75,721,067
2087 781,128,909 75,791,990
2086 793,508,970 75,859,854
2085 806,043,039 75,918,647
2084 818,709,832 75,969,065
2083 831,420,518 76,018,614
2082 844,177,036 76,059,464
2081 856,996,835 76,086,593
2080 869,821,040 76,118,679
2079 882,622,985 76,147,352
2078 895,372,147 76,165,841
2077 908,082,676 76,183,437
2076 920,776,984 76,185,828
2075 933,459,600 76,198,349
2074 946,141,456 76,209,676
2073 958,870,128 76,218,781
2072 971,639,931 76,211,187
2071 984,469,009 76,200,495
2070 997,391,342 76,190,801
2069 1,010,450,818 76,184,140
2068 1,023,633,867 76,183,288
2067 1,036,979,285 76,175,881
2066 1,050,453,924 76,168,987
2065 1,064,051,499 76,168,193
2064 1,077,787,979 76,165,129
2063 1,091,571,021 76,165,534
2062 1,105,429,748 76,158,910
2061 1,119,286,514 76,156,587
2060 1,133,115,260 76,157,104
2059 1,146,818,251 76,157,593
2058 1,160,340,554 76,139,384
2057 1,173,596,480 76,119,478
2056 1,186,578,041 76,086,799
2055 1,199,197,172 76,047,952
2054 1,211,403,028 75,980,524
2053 1,223,160,257 75,907,047
2052 1,234,474,716 75,815,200
2051 1,245,255,938 75,709,173
2050 1,255,501,171 75,591,218
2049 1,265,281,319 75,460,140
2048 1,274,572,888 75,313,837
2047 1,283,393,445 75,153,802
2046 1,291,830,414 74,986,563
2045 1,299,855,379 74,808,886
2044 1,307,510,531 74,623,687
2043 1,314,885,869 74,424,133
2042 1,322,032,311 74,224,922
2041 1,328,936,491 74,020,934
2040 1,335,577,799 73,812,680
2039 1,341,989,157 73,600,788
2038 1,348,134,255 73,378,310
2037 1,354,107,817 73,155,497
2036 1,359,866,705 72,921,995
2035 1,365,387,904 72,671,687
2034 1,370,679,807 72,418,766
2033 1,375,744,986 72,145,065
2032 1,380,528,766 71,869,259
2031 1,385,048,521 71,581,519
2030 1,389,269,809 71,267,237
2029 1,393,241,425 70,948,992
2028 1,396,917,178 70,609,246
2027 1,400,271,033 70,248,858
2026 1,403,335,670 69,883,746
2025 1,406,585,000 69,487,000
2024 1,408,975,000 69,281,000
2023 1,410,710,000 68,526,000
2022 1,412,175,000 67,636,000
2021 1,412,360,000 66,978,000
2020 1,411,100,000 66,740,000
2019 1,407,745,000 66,628,000
2018 1,402,760,000 66,287,000
2017 1,396,215,000 65,964,000
2016 1,387,790,000 65,606,000
2015 1,379,860,000 65,087,000
2014 1,371,860,000 64,619,000
2013 1,363,240,000 64,138,000
2012 1,354,190,000 63,711,000
2011 1,345,035,000 63,258,810
2010 1,337,705,000 62,766,365
2009 1,331,260,000 62,276,270
2008 1,324,655,000 61,806,995
2007 1,317,885,000 61,322,463
2006 1,311,020,000 60,846,820
2005 1,303,720,000 60,401,206
2004 1,296,075,000 59,987,905
2003 1,288,400,000 59,647,577
2002 1,280,400,000 59,370,479
2001 1,271,850,000 59,119,673
2000 1,262,645,000 58,892,514
1999 1,252,735,000 58,682,466
1998 1,241,935,000 58,487,141
1997 1,230,075,000 58,316,954
1996 1,217,550,000 58,166,950
1995 1,204,855,000 58,019,030
1994 1,191,835,000 57,865,745
1993 1,178,440,000 57,718,614
1992 1,164,970,000 57,580,402
1991 1,150,780,000 57,424,897
1990 1,135,185,000 57,247,586
1989 1,118,650,000 57,076,711
1988 1,101,630,000 56,928,327
1987 1,084,035,000 56,802,050
1986 1,066,790,000 56,681,396
1985 1,051,040,000 56,550,268
1984 1,036,825,000 56,422,072
1983 1,023,310,000 56,332,848
1982 1,008,630,000 56,313,641
1981 993,885,000 56,333,829
1980 981,235,000 56,314,216
1979 969,005,000 56,246,951
1978 956,165,000 56,196,504
1977 943,455,000 56,193,492
1976 930,685,000 56,211,968
1975 916,395,000 56,225,800
1974 900,350,000 56,229,974
1973 881,940,000 56,194,527
1972 862,030,000 56,086,065
1971 841,105,000 55,896,223
1970 818,315,000 55,663,250
1969 796,025,000 55,441,750
1968 774,510,000 55,211,700
1967 754,550,000 54,943,600
1966 735,400,000 54,648,500
1965 715,185,000 54,348,050
1964 698,355,000 54,000,000
1963 682,335,000 53,650,000
1962 665,770,000 53,250,000
1961 660,330,000 52,800,000
1960 667,070,000 52,400,000

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/china/united-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while the United Kingdom gained 4,759,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,465,289 people (a 6.81% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) China's population will shrink by 10.5% to 1,255,501,171 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of the United Kingdom will increase by 7.88% to 75,591,218 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

The United Kingdom is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 76.2M people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 634M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

China
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China United Kingdom
2100 -1.65% -0.17%
2099 -1.64% -0.16%
2098 -1.63% -0.15%
2097 -1.61% -0.15%
2096 -1.6% -0.15%
2095 -1.59% -0.13%
2094 -1.59% -0.13%
2093 -1.58% -0.12%
2092 -1.57% -0.12%
2091 -1.57% -0.11%
2090 -1.57% -0.11%
2089 -1.57% -0.09%
2088 -1.57% -0.09%
2087 -1.56% -0.09%
2086 -1.56% -0.08%
2085 -1.55% -0.07%
2084 -1.53% -0.07%
2083 -1.51% -0.05%
2082 -1.5% -0.04%
2081 -1.47% -0.04%
2080 -1.45% -0.04%
2079 -1.42% -0.02%
2078 -1.4% -0.02%
2077 -1.38% -0.003%
2076 -1.36% -0.02%
2075 -1.34% -0.01%
2074 -1.33% -0.01%
2073 -1.31% 0.01%
2072 -1.3% 0.01%
2071 -1.3% 0.01%
2070 -1.29% 0.009%
2069 -1.29% 0.001%
2068 -1.29% 0.01%
2067 -1.28% 0.009%
2066 -1.28% 0.001%
2065 -1.27% 0.004%
2064 -1.26% -0%
2063 -1.25% 0.009%
2062 -1.24% 0.003%
2061 -1.22% -0.001%
2060 -1.19% -0.001%
2059 -1.17% 0.02%
2058 -1.13% 0.03%
2057 -1.09% 0.04%
2056 -1.05% 0.05%
2055 -1.01% 0.09%
2054 -0.96% 0.1%
2053 -0.92% 0.12%
2052 -0.87% 0.14%
2051 -0.82% 0.16%
2050 -0.77% 0.17%
2049 -0.73% 0.19%
2048 -0.69% 0.21%
2047 -0.65% 0.22%
2046 -0.62% 0.24%
2045 -0.59% 0.25%
2044 -0.56% 0.27%
2043 -0.54% 0.27%
2042 -0.52% 0.28%
2041 -0.5% 0.28%
2040 -0.48% 0.29%
2039 -0.46% 0.3%
2038 -0.44% 0.3%
2037 -0.42% 0.32%
2036 -0.4% 0.34%
2035 -0.39% 0.35%
2034 -0.37% 0.38%
2033 -0.35% 0.38%
2032 -0.33% 0.4%
2031 -0.3% 0.44%
2030 -0.29% 0.45%
2029 -0.26% 0.48%
2028 -0.24% 0.51%
2027 -0.22% 0.52%
2026 -0.23% 0.57%
2025 -0.17% 0.3%
2024 -0.12% 1.1%
2023 -0.1% 1.32%
2022 -0.01% 0.98%
2021 0.09% 0.36%
2020 0.24% 0.17%
2019 0.36% 0.51%
2018 0.47% 0.49%
2017 0.61% 0.55%
2016 0.57% 0.8%
2015 0.58% 0.72%
2014 0.63% 0.75%
2013 0.67% 0.67%
2012 0.68% 0.71%
2011 0.55% 0.78%
2010 0.48% 0.79%
2009 0.5% 0.76%
2008 0.51% 0.79%
2007 0.52% 0.78%
2006 0.56% 0.74%
2005 0.59% 0.69%
2004 0.6% 0.57%
2003 0.62% 0.47%
2002 0.67% 0.42%
2001 0.73% 0.39%
2000 0.79% 0.36%
1999 0.87% 0.33%
1998 0.96% 0.29%
1997 1.03% 0.26%
1996 1.05% 0.25%
1995 1.09% 0.26%
1994 1.14% 0.25%
1993 1.16% 0.24%
1992 1.23% 0.27%
1991 1.37% 0.31%
1990 1.48% 0.3%
1989 1.54% 0.26%
1988 1.62% 0.22%
1987 1.62% 0.21%
1986 1.5% 0.23%
1985 1.37% 0.23%
1984 1.32% 0.16%
1983 1.46% 0.03%
1982 1.48% -0.04%
1981 1.29% 0.03%
1980 1.26% 0.12%
1979 1.34% 0.09%
1978 1.35% 0.005%
1977 1.37% -0.03%
1976 1.56% -0.02%
1975 1.78% -0.007%
1974 2.09% 0.06%
1973 2.31% 0.19%
1972 2.49% 0.34%
1971 2.78% 0.42%
1970 2.8% 0.4%
1969 2.78% 0.42%
1968 2.65% 0.49%
1967 2.6% 0.54%
1966 2.83% 0.55%
1965 2.41% 0.64%
1964 2.35% 0.65%
1963 2.49% 0.75%
1962 0.82% 0.85%
1961 -1.01% 0.76%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/china/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2025, the population of China declined by 0.17%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 0.3%.

Live population counters

China United Kingdom
Current population
1403335670
70071289
Population rank 2/197 22/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.84%
One net population change
13.2 seconds
2.56 minutes
One birth every
3.31 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
2.88 seconds
46.9 seconds
Daily growth/decline -6,548 +564
Annual growth/decline -2,390,000 +206,000
Annual growth/decline rate -0.17% +0.3%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 145/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 +389,911
Net migration rank 189/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 389,911
2024 -1,394,886 -318,992 13,233 417,114
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 34,606 445,523
2022 -847,305 -293,846 39,770 487,029
2021 480,203 -379,749 30,609 462,967
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 -4,272 144,221
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 108,338 232,727
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 119,317 259,744
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 145,121 272,311
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 177,136 324,649
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 175,735 347,839
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 206,781 306,091
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 198,827 237,272
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 248,473 172,088
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 259,361 228,773
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 251,066 274,811
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 230,422 249,639
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 216,325 263,390
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 196,232 309,385
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 176,455 288,923
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 144,963 308,279
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 131,974 276,077
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 89,471 211,846
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 65,308 203,577
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 65,032 175,133
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 70,671 153,917
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 64,551 152,653
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 87,730 125,541
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 99,138 59,723
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 98,884 54,964
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 87,028 61,385
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 127,304 45,339
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 103,893 27,403
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 149,709 17,846
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 143,562 27,601
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 154,569 57,132
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 119,861 49,586
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 136,628 13,952
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 136,325 8,266
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 90,690 41,836
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 79,170 83,164
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 84,633 71,107
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 61,966 27,063
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 56,314 -61,152
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 73,234 -83,876
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 95,734 -25,187
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 61,872 11,255
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 16,859 3,783
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 0 -21,636
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 -5,621 -19,135
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 33,735 -40,241
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 67,476 -65,710
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 112,389 -33,840
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 162,650 -1,406
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 257,123 1,175
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 244,918 -15,254
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 260,577 -60,655
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 292,622 -38,852
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 346,145 -39,659
1966 19,282,187 4,165 333,356 -27,935
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 364,132 -24,955
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 405,000 -23,885
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 337,995 8,271
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 340,800 76,443
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 311,519 52,295
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 314,400 19,953

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/china/united-kingdom | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 90.3% of the population change in China is from natural causes (a gain of 31,814,462 people) and 9.66% is from migration (a loss of 3,400,807 people). In the United Kingdom 19.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 839,593 people) and 80.2% is from migration (a gain of 3,394,124 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

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
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/china/united-kingdom | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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