China population
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
- World rank
- 2nd of 218
- 17.12% of world population
- Population
- 1,406,585,000
- 2025 estimate
- Annual growth
- −0.17%
- 2025
- Density
- 150 /km²
- 2023
- Land area
- 9,388,210 km²
- Urban population
- 66%
- 2025
- Median age
- 40.1 yrs
- 2025 (UN WPP)
- Fertility rate
- 1.01
- births per woman, 2024
- Life expectancy
- 78.0 yrs
- 2024
- Net migration
- −268,126
- 2025
- Capital
- Beijing
- Region
- East Asia & Pacific
Population of China: overview
China has a population of 1,406,585,000 (2025 estimate), the 2nd largest in the world — one of the ten most populous countries on Earth. Roughly 17.1% of humanity — about one in every 6 people on the planet — lives in China. China is part of the East Asia & Pacific region and its capital is Beijing.
The population has essentially plateaued, changing by just −0.17% per year. That translates to a loss of roughly 2,390,000 people over the past year.
Population density is relatively high at about 150 people per km², spread across 9,388,210 km² of land. A slim urban majority has emerged, with 66% of people living in cities.
The population is maturing, with a median age of 40.1 years. At 1.01 children per woman, fertility is among the lowest recorded anywhere. Life expectancy at birth is 78.0 years (2024).
UN projections point downward: 1.26 billion people by 2050, 10% fewer than today. The 2030 projection is 1,398,153,832.
China population, 1960–2025 and projections
| Year | Population | Growth rate | Annual change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,406,585,000 | −0.17% | −2,390,000 |
| 2024 | 1,408,975,000 | −0.12% | −1,735,000 |
| 2023 | 1,410,710,000 | −0.10% | −1,465,000 |
| 2022 | 1,412,175,000 | −0.01% | −185,000 |
| 2021 | 1,412,360,000 | +0.09% | +1,260,000 |
| 2020 | 1,411,100,000 | +0.24% | +3,355,000 |
| 2019 | 1,407,745,000 | +0.35% | +4,985,000 |
| 2018 | 1,402,760,000 | +0.47% | +6,545,000 |
| 2017 | 1,396,215,000 | +0.61% | +8,425,000 |
| 2016 | 1,387,790,000 | +0.57% | +7,930,000 |
| 2015 | 1,379,860,000 | +0.58% | +8,000,000 |
| 2014 | 1,371,860,000 | +0.63% | +8,620,000 |
| 2010 | 1,337,705,000 | +0.48% | +6,445,000 |
| 2005 | 1,303,720,000 | +0.59% | +7,645,000 |
| 2000 | 1,262,645,000 | +0.79% | +9,910,000 |
| 1995 | 1,204,855,000 | +1.09% | +13,020,000 |
| 1990 | 1,135,185,000 | +1.47% | +16,535,000 |
| 1985 | 1,051,040,000 | +1.36% | +14,215,000 |
| 1980 | 981,235,000 | +1.25% | +12,230,000 |
| 1975 | 916,395,000 | +1.77% | +16,045,000 |
| 1970 | 818,315,000 | +2.76% | +22,290,000 |
| 1965 | 715,185,000 | +2.38% | +16,830,000 |
| 1960 | 667,070,000 | – | – |
Recent years annually, earlier years at five-year steps. Annual change compares against the immediately preceding year.
China population forecast
United Nations World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant.
| Year | Projected population | vs today |
|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 1,398,153,832 | −0.6% |
| 2050 | 1,260,289,093 | −10.4% |
China population pyramid (2025)
Age and sex structure from UN World Population Prospects 2024: 15.4% of China's population is under 15, 69.7% is of working age (15–64), and 14.9% is 65 or older. Hover any bar for the group's size.
China population FAQ
What is the population of China in 2026?
China's population is estimated at about 1.4 billion in 2026, extrapolated from the latest official figure of 1,406,585,000 (2025). China ranks 2nd in the world by population.
Is the population of China growing or shrinking?
China's population is essentially flat, changing by only −0.17% per year.
How densely populated is China?
China has about 150 people per square kilometre across a land area of 9,388,210 km².
What share of the world's population lives in China?
About 17.1% of the world's population lives in China — roughly one in every 6 people on Earth.
What is China's projected population in 2050?
United Nations medium-variant projections put China's population at 1,260,289,093 in 2050, passing through 1,398,153,832 in 2030.
What is the median age in China?
The median age in China is 40.1 years (2025 estimate) — half the population is younger and half older than that.
Sources: World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0); median age and projections from UN World Population Prospects 2024. Live figures are estimates extrapolated from the latest official data — see methodology.