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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of China was 1,406,585,000 in 2025 vs 16,950,795 people in Zimbabwe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current China's population is 1,403,335,670 people compared to 17,443,108 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 80.5 times bigger than Zimbabwe's.
  • China is ranked the 2nd most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 17.1% of the world: 16.9% for China vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, China has had an average growth rate of +0.23% per year vs +1.62% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of China has increased from 1.31B people to 1.4B (7.04% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (38% growth).

China vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

China
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
China Zimbabwe
2100 633,662,382 37,486,352
2099 644,307,192 37,415,690
2098 655,044,881 37,331,540
2097 665,876,462 37,238,819
2096 676,803,171 37,146,184
2095 687,828,883 37,035,388
2094 698,966,872 36,915,996
2093 710,235,681 36,814,133
2092 721,640,723 36,691,740
2091 733,187,178 36,570,481
2090 744,903,105 36,428,812
2089 756,812,472 36,284,166
2088 768,893,004 36,144,627
2087 781,128,909 35,980,805
2086 793,508,970 35,811,286
2085 806,043,039 35,640,228
2084 818,709,832 35,459,328
2083 831,420,518 35,271,139
2082 844,177,036 35,081,992
2081 856,996,835 34,876,198
2080 869,821,040 34,662,013
2079 882,622,985 34,442,751
2078 895,372,147 34,220,306
2077 908,082,676 33,985,899
2076 920,776,984 33,742,198
2075 933,459,600 33,498,815
2074 946,141,456 33,247,764
2073 958,870,128 32,981,390
2072 971,639,931 32,708,937
2071 984,469,009 32,448,602
2070 997,391,342 32,183,952
2069 1,010,450,818 31,909,601
2068 1,023,633,867 31,633,783
2067 1,036,979,285 31,348,096
2066 1,050,453,924 31,065,618
2065 1,064,051,499 30,769,538
2064 1,077,787,979 30,482,622
2063 1,091,571,021 30,178,760
2062 1,105,429,748 29,870,308
2061 1,119,286,514 29,559,670
2060 1,133,115,260 29,254,998
2059 1,146,818,251 28,947,636
2058 1,160,340,554 28,634,199
2057 1,173,596,480 28,309,796
2056 1,186,578,041 27,993,176
2055 1,199,197,172 27,661,321
2054 1,211,403,028 27,334,325
2053 1,223,160,257 26,989,310
2052 1,234,474,716 26,645,898
2051 1,245,255,938 26,289,905
2050 1,255,501,171 25,937,176
2049 1,265,281,319 25,587,491
2048 1,274,572,888 25,230,302
2047 1,283,393,445 24,876,838
2046 1,291,830,414 24,515,600
2045 1,299,855,379 24,149,762
2044 1,307,510,531 23,785,181
2043 1,314,885,869 23,404,024
2042 1,322,032,311 23,037,316
2041 1,328,936,491 22,649,943
2040 1,335,577,799 22,275,480
2039 1,341,989,157 21,904,908
2038 1,348,134,255 21,532,024
2037 1,354,107,817 21,161,527
2036 1,359,866,705 20,792,863
2035 1,365,387,904 20,415,452
2034 1,370,679,807 20,049,783
2033 1,375,744,986 19,678,070
2032 1,380,528,766 19,313,685
2031 1,385,048,521 18,960,968
2030 1,389,269,809 18,615,376
2029 1,393,241,425 18,271,657
2028 1,396,917,178 17,935,044
2027 1,400,271,033 17,602,533
2026 1,403,335,670 17,274,728
2025 1,406,585,000 16,950,795
2024 1,408,975,000 16,634,373
2023 1,410,710,000 16,340,822
2022 1,412,175,000 16,069,056
2021 1,412,360,000 15,797,210
2020 1,411,100,000 15,526,888
2019 1,407,745,000 15,271,368
2018 1,402,760,000 15,034,452
2017 1,396,215,000 14,812,482
2016 1,387,790,000 14,600,294
2015 1,379,860,000 14,399,013
2014 1,371,860,000 14,207,359
2013 1,363,240,000 14,013,808
2012 1,354,190,000 13,817,887
2011 1,345,035,000 13,595,424
2010 1,337,705,000 13,356,548
2009 1,331,260,000 13,142,790
2008 1,324,655,000 12,959,149
2007 1,317,885,000 12,804,058
2006 1,311,020,000 12,636,445
2005 1,303,720,000 12,483,432
2004 1,296,075,000 12,365,896
2003 1,288,400,000 12,232,323
2002 1,280,400,000 12,087,653
2001 1,271,850,000 11,971,901
2000 1,262,645,000 11,892,055
1999 1,252,735,000 11,783,458
1998 1,241,935,000 11,594,297
1997 1,230,075,000 11,369,827
1996 1,217,550,000 11,158,360
1995 1,204,855,000 10,974,599
1994 1,191,835,000 10,873,148
1993 1,178,440,000 10,860,288
1992 1,164,970,000 10,702,700
1991 1,150,780,000 10,404,816
1990 1,135,185,000 10,137,281
1989 1,118,650,000 9,864,798
1988 1,101,630,000 9,583,094
1987 1,084,035,000 9,284,644
1986 1,066,790,000 8,982,578
1985 1,051,040,000 8,686,813
1984 1,036,825,000 8,391,488
1983 1,023,310,000 8,098,404
1982 1,008,630,000 7,796,496
1981 993,885,000 7,498,635
1980 981,235,000 7,041,303
1979 969,005,000 6,647,556
1978 956,165,000 6,543,575
1977 943,455,000 6,449,512
1976 930,685,000 6,287,105
1975 916,395,000 6,098,658
1974 900,350,000 5,908,328
1973 881,940,000 5,720,404
1972 862,030,000 5,542,445
1971 841,105,000 5,374,712
1970 818,315,000 5,215,918
1969 796,025,000 5,058,181
1968 774,510,000 4,900,440
1967 754,550,000 4,748,307
1966 735,400,000 4,601,217
1965 715,185,000 4,458,462
1964 698,355,000 4,320,006
1963 682,335,000 4,185,877
1962 665,770,000 4,055,959
1961 660,330,000 3,930,401
1960 667,070,000 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of China increased by 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, China gained 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,842,814 people (a 19.5% growth).

China was ranked 1st most populous country in 2006 and is 2nd in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 48.7% to 25,937,176 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Zimbabwe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 37.5M 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
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
China Zimbabwe
2100 -1.65% 0.19%
2099 -1.64% 0.23%
2098 -1.63% 0.25%
2097 -1.61% 0.25%
2096 -1.6% 0.3%
2095 -1.59% 0.32%
2094 -1.59% 0.28%
2093 -1.58% 0.33%
2092 -1.57% 0.33%
2091 -1.57% 0.39%
2090 -1.57% 0.4%
2089 -1.57% 0.39%
2088 -1.57% 0.46%
2087 -1.56% 0.47%
2086 -1.56% 0.48%
2085 -1.55% 0.51%
2084 -1.53% 0.53%
2083 -1.51% 0.54%
2082 -1.5% 0.59%
2081 -1.47% 0.62%
2080 -1.45% 0.64%
2079 -1.42% 0.65%
2078 -1.4% 0.69%
2077 -1.38% 0.72%
2076 -1.36% 0.73%
2075 -1.34% 0.76%
2074 -1.33% 0.81%
2073 -1.31% 0.83%
2072 -1.3% 0.8%
2071 -1.3% 0.82%
2070 -1.29% 0.86%
2069 -1.29% 0.87%
2068 -1.29% 0.91%
2067 -1.28% 0.91%
2066 -1.28% 0.96%
2065 -1.27% 0.94%
2064 -1.26% 1.01%
2063 -1.25% 1.03%
2062 -1.24% 1.05%
2061 -1.22% 1.04%
2060 -1.19% 1.06%
2059 -1.17% 1.09%
2058 -1.13% 1.15%
2057 -1.09% 1.13%
2056 -1.05% 1.2%
2055 -1.01% 1.2%
2054 -0.96% 1.28%
2053 -0.92% 1.29%
2052 -0.87% 1.35%
2051 -0.82% 1.36%
2050 -0.77% 1.37%
2049 -0.73% 1.42%
2048 -0.69% 1.42%
2047 -0.65% 1.47%
2046 -0.62% 1.51%
2045 -0.59% 1.53%
2044 -0.56% 1.63%
2043 -0.54% 1.59%
2042 -0.52% 1.71%
2041 -0.5% 1.68%
2040 -0.48% 1.69%
2039 -0.46% 1.73%
2038 -0.44% 1.75%
2037 -0.42% 1.77%
2036 -0.4% 1.85%
2035 -0.39% 1.82%
2034 -0.37% 1.89%
2033 -0.35% 1.89%
2032 -0.33% 1.86%
2031 -0.3% 1.86%
2030 -0.29% 1.88%
2029 -0.26% 1.88%
2028 -0.24% 1.89%
2027 -0.22% 1.9%
2026 -0.23% 1.91%
2025 -0.17% 1.9%
2024 -0.12% 1.8%
2023 -0.1% 1.69%
2022 -0.01% 1.72%
2021 0.09% 1.74%
2020 0.24% 1.67%
2019 0.36% 1.58%
2018 0.47% 1.5%
2017 0.61% 1.45%
2016 0.57% 1.4%
2015 0.58% 1.35%
2014 0.63% 1.38%
2013 0.67% 1.42%
2012 0.68% 1.64%
2011 0.55% 1.79%
2010 0.48% 1.63%
2009 0.5% 1.42%
2008 0.51% 1.21%
2007 0.52% 1.33%
2006 0.56% 1.23%
2005 0.59% 0.95%
2004 0.6% 1.09%
2003 0.62% 1.2%
2002 0.67% 0.97%
2001 0.73% 0.67%
2000 0.79% 0.92%
1999 0.87% 1.63%
1998 0.96% 1.97%
1997 1.03% 1.9%
1996 1.05% 1.67%
1995 1.09% 0.93%
1994 1.14% 0.12%
1993 1.16% 1.47%
1992 1.23% 2.86%
1991 1.37% 2.64%
1990 1.48% 2.76%
1989 1.54% 2.94%
1988 1.62% 3.21%
1987 1.62% 3.36%
1986 1.5% 3.4%
1985 1.37% 3.52%
1984 1.32% 3.62%
1983 1.46% 3.87%
1982 1.48% 3.97%
1981 1.29% 6.49%
1980 1.26% 5.92%
1979 1.34% 1.59%
1978 1.35% 1.46%
1977 1.37% 2.58%
1976 1.56% 3.09%
1975 1.78% 3.22%
1974 2.09% 3.29%
1973 2.31% 3.21%
1972 2.49% 3.12%
1971 2.78% 3.04%
1970 2.8% 3.12%
1969 2.78% 3.22%
1968 2.65% 3.2%
1967 2.6% 3.2%
1966 2.83% 3.2%
1965 2.41% 3.2%
1964 2.35% 3.2%
1963 2.49% 3.2%
1962 0.82% 3.19%
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2025, the population of China declined by 0.17%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.9%.

Live population counters

China Zimbabwe
Current population
1403335670
17443108
Population rank 2/197 74/197
Percent of world population 16.9% 0.21%
One net population change
13.2 seconds
1.67 minutes
One birth every
3.31 seconds
1.06 minutes
One death every
2.88 seconds
4.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline -6,548 +867
Annual growth/decline -2,390,000 +316,422
Annual growth/decline rate -0.17% +1.9%
Population growth rate rank 174/197 53/197
One migration net change every
1.97 minutes
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -268,126 -54,555
Net migration rank 189/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 1,638,718 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 43/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.1% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 192/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

China
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
China Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -268,126 - -54,555
2024 -1,394,886 -318,992 372,494 -60,528
2023 -2,087,851 -567,724 372,505 -97,380
2022 -847,305 -293,846 371,243 -102,828
2021 480,203 -379,749 349,908 -74,623
2020 2,046,095 -91,577 354,790 -89,440
2019 4,673,713 -656,091 348,798 -103,107
2018 5,302,433 -198,206 345,883 -117,758
2017 7,790,880 -94,625 344,035 -128,241
2016 9,062,269 -153,056 348,772 -140,181
2015 6,788,911 -646,941 356,203 -162,220
2014 9,205,180 -371,108 366,350 -177,029
2013 8,043,116 -188,951 374,757 -176,972
2012 10,075,174 -58,864 371,135 -177,061
2011 8,245,065 -416,189 359,572 -108,714
2010 6,407,607 -184,144 335,570 -108,671
2009 6,483,236 -177,135 309,316 -108,689
2008 6,729,247 -764,370 280,527 -113,858
2007 6,813,465 -1,042,019 261,805 -118,299
2006 6,922,185 -759,559 248,963 -57,257
2005 7,678,911 -103,701 248,545 -134,212
2004 7,607,960 -770,977 248,307 -127,550
2003 7,743,284 -613,223 243,057 -96,667
2002 8,258,580 -761,291 244,170 -101,212
2001 8,839,358 -176,419 227,909 -139,361
2000 9,570,849 -62,622 236,343 -165,181
1999 10,247,372 -96,102 232,393 -86,343
1998 11,351,286 -40,472 225,614 6,645
1997 12,374,554 -279,251 216,288 395
1996 12,686,872 -250,750 205,269 978
1995 12,711,220 -365,986 206,695 -45,428
1994 13,360,470 -723,641 216,343 -174,723
1993 13,493,138 -373,316 228,045 -243,947
1992 13,548,601 -142,985 255,291 75,788
1991 14,937,124 -544,650 260,943 3,749
1990 16,335,313 -11,187 265,444 4,948
1989 16,824,495 -313,476 270,838 3,736
1988 17,328,640 -282,194 277,498 11,327
1987 18,005,821 -169,170 286,766 21,308
1986 16,609,920 -79,190 289,894 6,154
1985 14,987,830 -60,929 290,756 4,718
1984 13,561,671 -51,961 290,052 5,124
1983 13,599,789 -43,756 286,545 4,456
1982 15,815,318 -36,181 279,934 32,899
1981 14,461,027 -28,016 271,361 11,523
1980 11,647,260 -20,129 241,179 390,593
1979 11,250,148 -13,704 223,657 -67,937
1978 11,473,980 -9,916 222,979 -170,727
1977 11,378,068 -15,323 225,139 -89,270
1976 11,782,472 -55,109 221,419 -32,495
1975 14,378,237 -115,173 216,947 -28,988
1974 15,738,118 -175,239 208,806 -16,105
1973 18,423,727 -214,997 201,885 -18,733
1972 19,102,585 -215,650 193,725 -20,959
1971 19,622,980 -180,153 185,427 -22,719
1970 21,137,076 -126,510 178,979 -24,102
1969 20,760,332 -72,836 172,626 -12,028
1968 21,206,083 -37,290 166,865 -11,997
1967 19,263,662 1,246,654 161,205 -11,814
1966 19,282,187 4,165 156,014 -11,211
1965 20,296,950 -130,900 151,164 -10,465
1964 19,302,532 -1,250,441 145,848 -9,631
1963 22,742,225 -31,383 140,984 -8,936
1962 17,969,132 -31,305 136,317 -8,529
1961 2,496,047 -25,578 131,531 -8,204
1960 -3,048,510 -16,927 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/china/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 76.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,564,631 people) and 23.2% is from migration (a loss of 1,076,306 people).

As of 2024, 1,638,718 residents or 0.1% of the population were not native-born in China, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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