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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 341,784,857 people in the United States in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 344,023,146 in the United States.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 4.08 times bigger than the United States'.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while the United States is the 3rd.
  • The countries together account for 21.1% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 4.15% for the United States.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +0.65% in the United States.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while the United States has grown from 298M to 344M (15.3% growth).

China vs United States: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China United States
2100 633,320,628 415,429,771
2099 643,959,697 414,829,167
2098 654,691,595 414,231,720
2097 665,517,335 413,576,381
2096 676,438,150 412,927,393
2095 687,457,915 412,225,379
2094 698,589,897 411,498,749
2093 709,852,629 410,785,729
2092 721,251,520 410,051,921
2091 732,791,748 409,320,183
2090 744,501,355 408,613,732
2089 756,404,299 407,885,645
2088 768,478,316 407,129,733
2087 780,707,622 406,421,298
2086 793,081,006 405,715,343
2085 805,608,315 405,059,379
2084 818,268,277 404,343,130
2083 830,972,107 403,612,785
2082 843,721,746 402,871,293
2081 856,534,631 402,054,554
2080 869,351,919 401,319,194
2079 882,146,959 400,554,914
2078 894,889,246 399,737,968
2077 907,592,919 398,906,565
2076 920,280,380 398,035,750
2075 932,956,157 397,109,170
2074 945,631,173 396,226,412
2073 958,352,980 395,307,725
2072 971,115,895 394,393,561
2071 983,938,054 393,415,363
2070 996,853,418 392,469,727
2069 1,009,905,851 391,479,981
2068 1,023,081,790 390,517,695
2067 1,036,420,010 389,543,856
2066 1,049,887,382 388,597,719
2065 1,063,477,623 387,685,327
2064 1,077,206,695 386,805,026
2063 1,090,982,303 385,911,917
2062 1,104,833,556 385,032,627
2061 1,118,682,849 384,170,837
2060 1,132,504,136 383,361,269
2059 1,146,199,736 382,542,030
2058 1,159,714,746 381,704,804
2057 1,172,963,523 380,907,023
2056 1,185,938,083 380,159,777
2055 1,198,550,408 379,430,756
2054 1,210,749,681 378,682,851
2053 1,222,500,569 377,878,421
2052 1,233,808,926 377,073,303
2051 1,244,584,333 376,229,840
2050 1,254,824,040 375,373,155
2049 1,264,598,914 374,493,150
2048 1,273,885,471 373,590,762
2047 1,282,701,271 372,626,259
2046 1,291,133,690 371,644,809
2045 1,299,154,327 370,602,914
2044 1,306,805,350 369,518,897
2043 1,314,176,710 368,375,680
2042 1,321,319,298 367,158,772
2041 1,328,219,755 365,937,822
2040 1,334,857,481 364,671,837
2039 1,341,265,381 363,367,337
2038 1,347,407,165 361,997,023
2037 1,353,377,505 360,606,236
2036 1,359,133,287 359,193,245
2035 1,364,651,508 357,750,686
2034 1,369,940,557 356,266,726
2033 1,375,003,005 354,775,032
2032 1,379,784,204 353,259,037
2031 1,384,301,522 351,721,511
2030 1,388,520,533 350,155,042
2029 1,392,490,007 348,564,667
2028 1,396,163,778 346,906,294
2027 1,399,515,824 345,257,605
2026 1,402,578,808 343,565,426
2025 1,405,826,385 341,784,857
2024 1,408,975,000 340,110,988
2023 1,410,710,000 334,914,895
2022 1,412,175,000 333,271,411
2021 1,412,360,000 331,893,745
2020 1,411,100,000 331,526,933
2019 1,407,745,000 328,329,953
2018 1,402,760,000 326,838,199
2017 1,396,215,000 325,122,128
2016 1,387,790,000 323,071,755
2015 1,379,860,000 320,738,994
2014 1,371,860,000 318,386,329
2013 1,363,240,000 316,059,947
2012 1,354,190,000 313,877,662
2011 1,345,035,000 311,583,481
2010 1,337,705,000 309,327,143
2009 1,331,260,000 306,771,529
2008 1,324,655,000 304,093,966
2007 1,317,885,000 301,231,207
2006 1,311,020,000 298,379,912
2005 1,303,720,000 295,516,599
2004 1,296,075,000 292,805,298
2003 1,288,400,000 290,107,933
2002 1,280,400,000 287,625,193
2001 1,271,850,000 284,968,955
2000 1,262,645,000 282,162,411
1999 1,252,735,000 279,294,713
1998 1,241,935,000 276,115,288
1997 1,230,075,000 272,911,760
1996 1,217,550,000 269,667,391
1995 1,204,855,000 266,557,091
1994 1,191,835,000 263,435,673
1993 1,178,440,000 260,255,352
1992 1,164,970,000 256,894,189
1991 1,150,780,000 253,492,503
1990 1,135,185,000 250,131,894
1989 1,118,650,000 246,819,222
1988 1,101,630,000 244,499,004
1987 1,084,035,000 242,288,936
1986 1,066,790,000 240,132,831
1985 1,051,040,000 237,923,734
1984 1,036,825,000 235,824,908
1983 1,023,310,000 233,792,014
1982 1,008,630,000 231,664,432
1981 993,885,000 229,465,744
1980 981,235,000 226,542,250
1979 969,005,000 225,055,487
1978 956,165,000 222,584,545
1977 943,455,000 220,239,425
1976 930,685,000 218,035,164
1975 916,395,000 215,973,199
1974 900,350,000 213,853,928
1973 881,940,000 211,908,788
1972 862,030,000 209,896,021
1971 841,105,000 207,660,677
1970 818,315,000 205,052,174
1969 796,025,000 202,676,946
1968 774,510,000 200,706,052
1967 754,550,000 198,712,056
1966 735,400,000 196,560,338
1965 715,185,000 194,302,963
1964 698,355,000 191,888,791
1963 682,335,000 189,241,798
1962 665,770,000 186,537,737
1961 660,330,000 183,691,481
1960 667,070,000 180,671,158

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while the United States gained 24,691,843 people (a 8.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while the United States' population increased by 20,951,391 people (a 6.49% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. The United States was ranked 3rd in 2006 and still ranked 3rd 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 States will increase by 9.11% to 375,373,155 people and will still be ranked 3rd.

The United States is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 415M 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 States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China United States
2100 -1.65% 0.14%
2099 -1.64% 0.14%
2098 -1.63% 0.16%
2097 -1.61% 0.16%
2096 -1.6% 0.17%
2095 -1.59% 0.18%
2094 -1.59% 0.17%
2093 -1.58% 0.18%
2092 -1.57% 0.18%
2091 -1.57% 0.17%
2090 -1.57% 0.18%
2089 -1.57% 0.19%
2088 -1.57% 0.17%
2087 -1.56% 0.17%
2086 -1.56% 0.16%
2085 -1.55% 0.18%
2084 -1.53% 0.18%
2083 -1.51% 0.18%
2082 -1.5% 0.2%
2081 -1.47% 0.18%
2080 -1.45% 0.19%
2079 -1.42% 0.2%
2078 -1.4% 0.21%
2077 -1.38% 0.22%
2076 -1.36% 0.23%
2075 -1.34% 0.22%
2074 -1.33% 0.23%
2073 -1.31% 0.23%
2072 -1.3% 0.25%
2071 -1.3% 0.24%
2070 -1.29% 0.25%
2069 -1.29% 0.25%
2068 -1.29% 0.25%
2067 -1.28% 0.24%
2066 -1.28% 0.24%
2065 -1.27% 0.23%
2064 -1.26% 0.23%
2063 -1.25% 0.23%
2062 -1.24% 0.22%
2061 -1.22% 0.21%
2060 -1.19% 0.21%
2059 -1.17% 0.22%
2058 -1.13% 0.21%
2057 -1.09% 0.2%
2056 -1.05% 0.19%
2055 -1.01% 0.2%
2054 -0.96% 0.21%
2053 -0.92% 0.21%
2052 -0.87% 0.22%
2051 -0.82% 0.23%
2050 -0.77% 0.23%
2049 -0.73% 0.24%
2048 -0.69% 0.26%
2047 -0.65% 0.26%
2046 -0.62% 0.28%
2045 -0.59% 0.29%
2044 -0.56% 0.31%
2043 -0.54% 0.33%
2042 -0.52% 0.33%
2041 -0.5% 0.35%
2040 -0.48% 0.36%
2039 -0.46% 0.38%
2038 -0.44% 0.39%
2037 -0.42% 0.39%
2036 -0.4% 0.4%
2035 -0.39% 0.42%
2034 -0.37% 0.42%
2033 -0.35% 0.43%
2032 -0.33% 0.44%
2031 -0.3% 0.45%
2030 -0.29% 0.46%
2029 -0.26% 0.48%
2028 -0.24% 0.48%
2027 -0.22% 0.49%
2026 -0.23% 0.52%
2025 -0.22% 0.49%
2024 -0.12% 1.55%
2023 -0.1% 0.49%
2022 -0.01% 0.42%
2021 0.09% 0.11%
2020 0.24% 0.97%
2019 0.36% 0.46%
2018 0.47% 0.53%
2017 0.61% 0.63%
2016 0.57% 0.73%
2015 0.58% 0.74%
2014 0.63% 0.74%
2013 0.67% 0.7%
2012 0.68% 0.74%
2011 0.55% 0.73%
2010 0.48% 0.83%
2009 0.5% 0.88%
2008 0.51% 0.95%
2007 0.52% 0.96%
2006 0.56% 0.97%
2005 0.59% 0.93%
2004 0.6% 0.93%
2003 0.62% 0.86%
2002 0.67% 0.93%
2001 0.73% 0.99%
2000 0.79% 1.03%
1999 0.87% 1.15%
1998 0.96% 1.17%
1997 1.03% 1.2%
1996 1.05% 1.17%
1995 1.09% 1.18%
1994 1.14% 1.22%
1993 1.16% 1.31%
1992 1.23% 1.34%
1991 1.37% 1.34%
1990 1.48% 1.34%
1989 1.54% 0.95%
1988 1.62% 0.91%
1987 1.62% 0.9%
1986 1.5% 0.93%
1985 1.37% 0.89%
1984 1.32% 0.87%
1983 1.46% 0.92%
1982 1.48% 0.96%
1981 1.29% 1.29%
1980 1.26% 0.66%
1979 1.34% 1.11%
1978 1.35% 1.06%
1977 1.37% 1.01%
1976 1.56% 0.95%
1975 1.78% 0.99%
1974 2.09% 0.92%
1973 2.31% 0.96%
1972 2.49% 1.08%
1971 2.78% 1.27%
1970 2.8% 1.17%
1969 2.78% 0.98%
1968 2.65% 1%
1967 2.6% 1.09%
1966 2.83% 1.16%
1965 2.41% 1.26%
1964 2.35% 1.4%
1963 2.49% 1.45%
1962 0.82% 1.55%
1961 -1.01% 1.67%
1960 - 1.6%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2025, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while the United States' population grew by 0.49%.

Live population counters

China United States
Current population
1402578808
344023146
Population rank 2/197 3/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 4.15%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
18.9 seconds
One birth every
3.5 seconds
8.8 seconds
One death every
2.84 seconds
10.2 seconds
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +4,586
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +1,673,869
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +0.49%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 134/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
25.7 seconds
Annual migration change -268,126 +1,230,663
Net migration rank 189/196 2/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 52,375,047
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 1/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 15.2%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 41/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
United States
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China United States
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 1,230,663
2024 - -318,992 - 1,286,132
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 502,372 1,322,668
2022 -847,305 -293,846 399,926 1,319,009
2021 480,203 -379,749 199,137 674,787
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 208,862 329,769
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 887,476 1,774,500
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 955,022 1,764,961
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 1,028,037 1,864,738
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 1,197,627 1,889,129
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 1,270,126 1,722,127
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 1,357,281 1,672,598
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 1,322,711 1,663,885
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 1,411,822 1,632,007
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 1,441,697 1,624,033
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 1,548,182 1,594,453
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 1,717,920 1,387,306
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 1,794,154 1,416,841
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 1,897,757 1,371,353
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 1,849,955 1,347,750
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 1,684,445 1,369,224
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 1,698,271 1,313,467
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 1,653,615 1,331,376
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 1,581,938 1,336,518
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 1,595,826 1,312,455
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 1,664,758 1,248,392
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 1,564,050 1,156,311
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 1,573,857 1,225,134
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 1,501,014 1,116,922
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 1,510,137 1,141,648
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 1,546,031 1,173,016
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 1,633,302 1,179,309
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 1,717,685 1,228,478
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 1,875,328 1,304,880
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 1,926,543 1,202,426
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 2,026,068 1,084,720
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 1,875,826 400,998
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 1,735,943 460,778
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 1,720,252 480,815
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 1,656,917 493,082
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 1,689,258 598,777
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 1,627,192 622,793
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 1,636,544 662,840
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 1,714,317 600,149
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 1,652,153 583,070
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 1,608,450 595,916
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 1,597,894 503,559
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 1,402,283 556,521
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 1,431,556 577,060
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 1,264,604 635,590
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 1,252,644 655,078
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 1,218,968 706,978
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 1,165,499 783,163
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 1,301,355 833,543
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 1,640,519 833,549
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 1,824,965 744,902
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 1,702,487 523,740
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 1,565,507 594,514
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 1,669,181 585,410
1966 19,282,187 4,165 1,749,387 637,692
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 1,943,030 644,902
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 2,245,099 618,635
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 2,289,826 639,495
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 2,406,337 625,617
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 2,571,681 580,333
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 2,565,530 422,708

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/population/china/united-states | 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 States 35.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,005,866 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 14,334,286 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 52,375,047 people or 15.2% in the United States.

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 States
City Population
New York 8.8M
Los Angeles 3.9M
Chicago 2.75M
Houston 2.3M
Phoenix 1.61M
Philadelphia 1.6M
San Antonio 1.43M
San Diego 1.39M
Dallas 1.3M
San Jose 1.01M

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-states | 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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