PopulationTracker

China vs United States: population comparison

Current population of China

1,403,948,354

Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures

Births today
5,429
Deaths today
6,223
Change today (UTC)
−1,361

Current population of United States

343,756,314

Live estimate, extrapolated from the latest official figures

Births today
2,065
Deaths today
1,753
Change today (UTC)
+1,018

China has a population of 1,406,585,000 and United States has 341,784,857 (2025 estimates). China is currently larger by 1,064,800,143 people — about 4 times United States's population. They rank 2 and 3 in the world respectively.

Their trajectories differ: United States grows at +0.52% per year versus −0.17% for China. One population is expanding while the other shrinks — the gap between them widens every year.

Beyond size, the structures differ: United States is the younger society (median age 38.5 vs 40.1); China is far more crowded at 150 people per km² against 37.

China vs United States population, 1960–2025

ChinaUnited States
0300M600M900M1.2B1.5B19601970198019902000201020202025: 341.78M2025: 1.41B1960: 667,070,0001961: 660,330,0001962: 665,770,0001963: 682,335,0001964: 698,355,0001965: 715,185,0001966: 735,400,0001967: 754,550,0001968: 774,510,0001969: 796,025,0001970: 818,315,0001971: 841,105,0001972: 862,030,0001973: 881,940,0001974: 900,350,0001975: 916,395,0001976: 930,685,0001977: 943,455,0001978: 956,165,0001979: 969,005,0001980: 981,235,0001981: 993,885,0001982: 1,008,630,0001983: 1,023,310,0001984: 1,036,825,0001985: 1,051,040,0001986: 1,066,790,0001987: 1,084,035,0001988: 1,101,630,0001989: 1,118,650,0001990: 1,135,185,0001991: 1,150,780,0001992: 1,164,970,0001993: 1,178,440,0001994: 1,191,835,0001995: 1,204,855,0001996: 1,217,550,0001997: 1,230,075,0001998: 1,241,935,0001999: 1,252,735,0002000: 1,262,645,0002001: 1,271,850,0002002: 1,280,400,0002003: 1,288,400,0002004: 1,296,075,0002005: 1,303,720,0002006: 1,311,020,0002007: 1,317,885,0002008: 1,324,655,0002009: 1,331,260,0002010: 1,337,705,0002011: 1,345,035,0002012: 1,354,190,0002013: 1,363,240,0002014: 1,371,860,0002015: 1,379,860,0002016: 1,387,790,0002017: 1,396,215,0002018: 1,402,760,0002019: 1,407,745,0002020: 1,411,100,0002021: 1,412,360,0002022: 1,412,175,0002023: 1,410,710,0002024: 1,408,975,0002025: 1,406,585,0001960: 180,671,0001961: 183,691,0001962: 186,538,0001963: 189,242,0001964: 191,889,0001965: 194,303,0001966: 196,560,0001967: 198,712,0001968: 200,706,0001969: 202,677,0001970: 205,052,0001971: 207,661,0001972: 209,896,0001973: 211,909,0001974: 213,854,0001975: 215,973,0001976: 218,035,0001977: 220,239,0001978: 222,585,0001979: 225,055,0001980: 227,225,0001981: 229,466,0001982: 231,664,0001983: 233,792,0001984: 235,825,0001985: 237,924,0001986: 240,133,0001987: 242,289,0001988: 244,499,0001989: 246,819,0001990: 249,623,0001991: 252,981,0001992: 256,514,0001993: 259,919,0001994: 263,126,0001995: 266,278,0001996: 269,394,0001997: 272,657,0001998: 275,854,0001999: 279,040,0002000: 282,162,4112001: 284,968,9552002: 287,625,1932003: 290,107,9332004: 292,805,2982005: 295,516,5992006: 298,379,9122007: 301,231,2072008: 304,093,9662009: 306,771,5292010: 309,378,2272011: 311,839,4612012: 314,339,0992013: 316,726,2822014: 319,257,5602015: 321,815,1212016: 324,353,3402017: 326,608,6092018: 328,529,5772019: 330,226,2272020: 331,578,1042021: 332,100,1662022: 333,996,3042023: 336,755,0522024: 340,003,7972025: 341,784,857

Side by side

China and United States compared across demographic indicators
IndicatorChinaUnited States
Population1,406,585,000341,784,857
Annual growth−0.17%+0.52%
Yearly change−2,390,000+1,781,060
Density (P/km²)15037
Land area (km²)9,388,2109,147,420
Median age40.1 yrs38.5 yrs
Fertility rate1.011.63
Life expectancy78.0 yrs78.9 yrs
Urban population66%80%
World share17.12%4.16%
2050 projection (UN)1,260,289,093380,846,910

Latest World Bank estimates; median age and 2050 projections from UN WPP 2024. Full profiles: China · United States

China vs United States FAQ

Is China bigger than United States by population?

China currently has the larger population: 1,406,585,000 versus 341,784,857 (2025 estimates) — a gap of 1.06 billion people.

Which grows faster, China or United States?

United States currently grows faster: +0.52% per year versus −0.17%.

How do China and United States compare in 2050?

UN medium-variant projections put China at 1,260,289,093 and United States at 380,846,910 in 2050.

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