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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,408,975,000 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,402,578,808 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 61.8 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 17.2% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.3% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (6.98% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

China vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Zambia
2100 633,320,628 65,217,429
2099 643,959,697 64,871,545
2098 654,691,595 64,515,891
2097 665,517,335 64,148,736
2096 676,438,150 63,777,313
2095 687,457,915 63,393,169
2094 698,589,897 62,992,652
2093 709,852,629 62,590,327
2092 721,251,520 62,175,930
2091 732,791,748 61,750,591
2090 744,501,355 61,321,399
2089 756,404,299 60,880,148
2088 768,478,316 60,434,676
2087 780,707,622 59,970,107
2086 793,081,006 59,499,234
2085 805,608,315 59,023,040
2084 818,268,277 58,535,857
2083 830,972,107 58,040,512
2082 843,721,746 57,538,672
2081 856,534,631 57,027,491
2080 869,351,919 56,506,421
2079 882,146,959 55,983,242
2078 894,889,246 55,449,777
2077 907,592,919 54,906,771
2076 920,280,380 54,361,075
2075 932,956,157 53,806,856
2074 945,631,173 53,246,777
2073 958,352,980 52,677,348
2072 971,115,895 52,101,139
2071 983,938,054 51,519,691
2070 996,853,418 50,931,614
2069 1,009,905,851 50,334,700
2068 1,023,081,790 49,737,479
2067 1,036,420,010 49,135,488
2066 1,049,887,382 48,530,443
2065 1,063,477,623 47,918,592
2064 1,077,206,695 47,299,740
2063 1,090,982,303 46,677,439
2062 1,104,833,556 46,048,819
2061 1,118,682,849 45,416,657
2060 1,132,504,136 44,777,347
2059 1,146,199,736 44,137,306
2058 1,159,714,746 43,494,451
2057 1,172,963,523 42,851,923
2056 1,185,938,083 42,206,898
2055 1,198,550,408 41,558,284
2054 1,210,749,681 40,906,492
2053 1,222,500,569 40,255,629
2052 1,233,808,926 39,603,888
2051 1,244,584,333 38,949,958
2050 1,254,824,040 38,294,607
2049 1,264,598,914 37,634,194
2048 1,273,885,471 36,971,309
2047 1,282,701,271 36,309,749
2046 1,291,133,690 35,645,868
2045 1,299,154,327 34,981,812
2044 1,306,805,350 34,316,981
2043 1,314,176,710 33,652,420
2042 1,321,319,298 32,990,657
2041 1,328,219,755 32,329,447
2040 1,334,857,481 31,664,262
2039 1,341,265,381 31,001,305
2038 1,347,407,165 30,335,662
2037 1,353,377,505 29,668,561
2036 1,359,133,287 29,000,264
2035 1,364,651,508 28,333,498
2034 1,369,940,557 27,671,195
2033 1,375,003,005 27,011,974
2032 1,379,784,204 26,356,580
2031 1,384,301,522 25,702,812
2030 1,388,520,533 25,055,216
2029 1,392,490,007 24,414,405
2028 1,396,163,778 23,780,809
2027 1,399,515,824 23,151,479
2026 1,402,578,808 22,529,742
2025 1,405,826,385 21,918,187
2024 1,408,975,000 21,314,956
2023 1,410,710,000 20,723,965
2022 1,412,175,000 20,152,938
2021 1,412,360,000 19,603,607
2020 1,411,100,000 19,059,395
2019 1,407,745,000 18,513,839
2018 1,402,760,000 17,973,569
2017 1,396,215,000 17,441,320
2016 1,387,790,000 16,914,423
2015 1,379,860,000 16,399,089
2014 1,371,860,000 15,895,315
2013 1,363,240,000 15,398,997
2012 1,354,190,000 14,913,629
2011 1,345,035,000 14,437,796
2010 1,337,705,000 13,965,594
2009 1,331,260,000 13,490,389
2008 1,324,655,000 13,021,324
2007 1,317,885,000 12,565,085
2006 1,311,020,000 12,129,553
2005 1,303,720,000 11,718,819
2004 1,296,075,000 11,338,198
2003 1,288,400,000 10,983,595
2002 1,280,400,000 10,647,949
2001 1,271,850,000 10,325,185
2000 1,262,645,000 10,017,631
1999 1,252,735,000 9,740,005
1998 1,241,935,000 9,482,408
1997 1,230,075,000 9,237,063
1996 1,217,550,000 9,004,053
1995 1,204,855,000 8,785,763
1994 1,191,835,000 8,576,269
1993 1,178,440,000 8,373,921
1992 1,164,970,000 8,176,680
1991 1,150,780,000 7,981,650
1990 1,135,185,000 7,786,169
1989 1,118,650,000 7,589,216
1988 1,101,630,000 7,391,440
1987 1,084,035,000 7,191,282
1986 1,066,790,000 6,986,471
1985 1,051,040,000 6,780,953
1984 1,036,825,000 6,580,490
1983 1,023,310,000 6,381,038
1982 1,008,630,000 6,178,637
1981 993,885,000 5,983,289
1980 981,235,000 5,802,833
1979 969,005,000 5,631,728
1978 956,165,000 5,465,374
1977 943,455,000 5,302,480
1976 930,685,000 5,143,842
1975 916,395,000 4,990,086
1974 900,350,000 4,842,746
1973 881,940,000 4,702,693
1972 862,030,000 4,569,309
1971 841,105,000 4,442,525
1970 818,315,000 4,321,718
1969 796,025,000 4,197,116
1968 774,510,000 4,065,593
1967 754,550,000 3,936,343
1966 735,400,000 3,812,003
1965 715,185,000 3,692,086
1964 698,355,000 3,577,017
1963 682,335,000 3,465,907
1962 665,770,000 3,358,099
1961 660,330,000 3,254,086
1960 667,070,000 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Zambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 65.2M 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
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Zambia
2100 -1.65% 0.53%
2099 -1.64% 0.55%
2098 -1.63% 0.57%
2097 -1.61% 0.58%
2096 -1.6% 0.61%
2095 -1.59% 0.64%
2094 -1.59% 0.64%
2093 -1.58% 0.67%
2092 -1.57% 0.69%
2091 -1.57% 0.7%
2090 -1.57% 0.72%
2089 -1.57% 0.74%
2088 -1.57% 0.77%
2087 -1.56% 0.79%
2086 -1.56% 0.81%
2085 -1.55% 0.83%
2084 -1.53% 0.85%
2083 -1.51% 0.87%
2082 -1.5% 0.9%
2081 -1.47% 0.92%
2080 -1.45% 0.93%
2079 -1.42% 0.96%
2078 -1.4% 0.99%
2077 -1.38% 1%
2076 -1.36% 1.03%
2075 -1.34% 1.05%
2074 -1.33% 1.08%
2073 -1.31% 1.11%
2072 -1.3% 1.13%
2071 -1.3% 1.15%
2070 -1.29% 1.19%
2069 -1.29% 1.2%
2068 -1.29% 1.23%
2067 -1.28% 1.25%
2066 -1.28% 1.28%
2065 -1.27% 1.31%
2064 -1.26% 1.33%
2063 -1.25% 1.37%
2062 -1.24% 1.39%
2061 -1.22% 1.43%
2060 -1.19% 1.45%
2059 -1.17% 1.48%
2058 -1.13% 1.5%
2057 -1.09% 1.53%
2056 -1.05% 1.56%
2055 -1.01% 1.59%
2054 -0.96% 1.62%
2053 -0.92% 1.65%
2052 -0.87% 1.68%
2051 -0.82% 1.71%
2050 -0.77% 1.75%
2049 -0.73% 1.79%
2048 -0.69% 1.82%
2047 -0.65% 1.86%
2046 -0.62% 1.9%
2045 -0.59% 1.94%
2044 -0.56% 1.97%
2043 -0.54% 2.01%
2042 -0.52% 2.05%
2041 -0.5% 2.1%
2040 -0.48% 2.14%
2039 -0.46% 2.19%
2038 -0.44% 2.25%
2037 -0.42% 2.3%
2036 -0.4% 2.35%
2035 -0.39% 2.39%
2034 -0.37% 2.44%
2033 -0.35% 2.49%
2032 -0.33% 2.54%
2031 -0.3% 2.58%
2030 -0.29% 2.62%
2029 -0.26% 2.66%
2028 -0.24% 2.72%
2027 -0.22% 2.76%
2026 -0.23% 2.79%
2025 -0.22% 2.83%
2024 -0.12% 2.85%
2023 -0.1% 2.83%
2022 -0.01% 2.8%
2021 0.09% 2.86%
2020 0.24% 2.95%
2019 0.36% 3.01%
2018 0.47% 3.05%
2017 0.61% 3.12%
2016 0.57% 3.14%
2015 0.58% 3.17%
2014 0.63% 3.22%
2013 0.67% 3.25%
2012 0.68% 3.3%
2011 0.55% 3.38%
2010 0.48% 3.52%
2009 0.5% 3.6%
2008 0.51% 3.63%
2007 0.52% 3.59%
2006 0.56% 3.5%
2005 0.59% 3.36%
2004 0.6% 3.23%
2003 0.62% 3.15%
2002 0.67% 3.13%
2001 0.73% 3.07%
2000 0.79% 2.85%
1999 0.87% 2.72%
1998 0.96% 2.66%
1997 1.03% 2.59%
1996 1.05% 2.48%
1995 1.09% 2.44%
1994 1.14% 2.42%
1993 1.16% 2.41%
1992 1.23% 2.44%
1991 1.37% 2.51%
1990 1.48% 2.6%
1989 1.54% 2.68%
1988 1.62% 2.78%
1987 1.62% 2.93%
1986 1.5% 3.03%
1985 1.37% 3.05%
1984 1.32% 3.13%
1983 1.46% 3.28%
1982 1.48% 3.26%
1981 1.29% 3.11%
1980 1.26% 3.04%
1979 1.34% 3.04%
1978 1.35% 3.07%
1977 1.37% 3.08%
1976 1.56% 3.08%
1975 1.78% 3.04%
1974 2.09% 2.98%
1973 2.31% 2.92%
1972 2.49% 2.85%
1971 2.78% 2.8%
1970 2.8% 2.97%
1969 2.78% 3.24%
1968 2.65% 3.28%
1967 2.6% 3.26%
1966 2.83% 3.25%
1965 2.41% 3.22%
1964 2.35% 3.21%
1963 2.49% 3.21%
1962 0.82% 3.2%
1961 -1.01% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of China declined by 0.12%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

China Zambia
Current population
1402578808
22697916
Population rank 2/197 62/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.27%
One net population change
18.2 seconds
53.4 seconds
One birth every
3.5 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
2.84 seconds
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline -4,753 +1,619
Annual growth/decline -1,735,000 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate -0.12% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 173/197 21/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -268,126 +6,562
Net migration rank 189/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - 6,562
2024 - -318,992 - 7,381
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 577,660 9,521
2022 -847,305 -293,846 563,456 -8,566
2021 480,203 -379,749 535,629 8,143
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 536,484 8,156
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 528,089 18,385
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 515,644 18,431
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 504,630 25,789
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 497,521 25,860
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 491,021 16,261
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 483,663 16,574
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 476,846 15,542
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 469,406 8,958
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 459,743 13,569
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 448,337 22,761
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 434,458 44,867
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 419,560 39,249
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 403,729 49,945
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 387,891 29,517
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 368,756 35,316
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 349,352 7,819
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 331,189 20,845
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 316,041 3,206
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 302,682 23,582
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 293,186 -4,338
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 283,297 -16,888
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 275,568 -26,796
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 268,198 -26,276
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 262,468 -38,358
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 257,897 -45,423
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 252,023 -45,504
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 245,917 -47,739
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 239,953 -43,656
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 237,957 -44,203
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 235,835 -38,619
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 233,429 -36,736
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 230,118 -31,270
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 227,813 -26,338
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 224,768 -16,610
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 221,351 -18,474
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 216,695 -18,652
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 212,712 -11,849
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 207,621 -3,676
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 202,822 -16,072
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 198,817 -24,664
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 197,578 -29,515
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 194,933 -30,284
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 191,557 -30,423
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 186,762 -30,612
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 182,258 -30,886
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 174,484 -31,178
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 168,258 -31,472
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 161,648 -31,672
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 155,249 -31,651
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 149,380 -31,370
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 142,660 -11,469
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 137,315 -5,447
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 131,938 -5,298
1966 19,282,187 4,165 127,164 -5,129
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 122,814 -5,023
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 117,197 -4,851
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 114,555 -4,676
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 110,173 -4,428
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 106,318 -4,043
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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