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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,406,585,000 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,403,335,670 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 61.4 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 +0.23% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (7.04% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

China vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Zambia
2100 633,662,382 65,204,593
2099 644,307,192 64,858,778
2098 655,044,881 64,503,193
2097 665,876,462 64,136,110
2096 676,803,171 63,764,760
2095 687,828,883 63,380,692
2094 698,966,872 62,980,254
2093 710,235,681 62,578,008
2092 721,640,723 62,163,693
2091 733,187,178 61,738,437
2090 744,903,105 61,309,330
2089 756,812,472 60,868,166
2088 768,893,004 60,422,781
2087 781,128,909 59,958,303
2086 793,508,970 59,487,524
2085 806,043,039 59,011,423
2084 818,709,832 58,524,337
2083 831,420,518 58,029,088
2082 844,177,036 57,527,347
2081 856,996,835 57,016,267
2080 869,821,040 56,495,299
2079 882,622,985 55,972,223
2078 895,372,147 55,438,864
2077 908,082,676 54,895,964
2076 920,776,984 54,350,375
2075 933,459,600 53,796,265
2074 946,141,456 53,236,297
2073 958,870,128 52,666,980
2072 971,639,931 52,090,884
2071 984,469,009 51,509,551
2070 997,391,342 50,921,590
2069 1,010,450,818 50,324,793
2068 1,023,633,867 49,727,689
2067 1,036,979,285 49,125,817
2066 1,050,453,924 48,520,891
2065 1,064,051,499 47,909,160
2064 1,077,787,979 47,290,430
2063 1,091,571,021 46,668,252
2062 1,105,429,748 46,039,755
2061 1,119,286,514 45,407,718
2060 1,133,115,260 44,768,534
2059 1,146,818,251 44,128,619
2058 1,160,340,554 43,485,891
2057 1,173,596,480 42,843,489
2056 1,186,578,041 42,198,591
2055 1,199,197,172 41,550,105
2054 1,211,403,028 40,898,440
2053 1,223,160,257 40,247,706
2052 1,234,474,716 39,596,094
2051 1,245,255,938 38,942,292
2050 1,255,501,171 38,287,070
2049 1,265,281,319 37,626,787
2048 1,274,572,888 36,964,032
2047 1,283,393,445 36,302,603
2046 1,291,830,414 35,638,852
2045 1,299,855,379 34,974,927
2044 1,307,510,531 34,310,227
2043 1,314,885,869 33,645,797
2042 1,322,032,311 32,984,164
2041 1,328,936,491 32,323,084
2040 1,335,577,799 31,658,029
2039 1,341,989,157 30,995,204
2038 1,348,134,255 30,329,691
2037 1,354,107,817 29,662,721
2036 1,359,866,705 28,994,556
2035 1,365,387,904 28,327,922
2034 1,370,679,807 27,665,749
2033 1,375,744,986 27,006,658
2032 1,380,528,766 26,351,393
2031 1,385,048,521 25,697,754
2030 1,389,269,809 25,050,285
2029 1,393,241,425 24,409,600
2028 1,396,917,178 23,776,128
2027 1,400,271,033 23,146,922
2026 1,403,335,670 22,525,308
2025 1,406,585,000 21,913,874
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% 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 1,255,501,171 people and will still be ranked 2nd. The population of Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 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 634M 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 -0.17% 2.81%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/china/zambia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of China declined by 0.17%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

China Zambia
Current population
1403335670
22844606
Population rank 2/197 62/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.27%
One net population change
13.2 seconds
52.8 seconds
One birth every
3.31 seconds
45.2 seconds
One death every
2.88 seconds
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline -6,548 +1,641
Annual growth/decline -2,390,000 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate -0.17% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 19/197
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 -1,394,886 -318,992 587,419 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/china/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 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 (1960–2025, 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/zambia | 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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