199 countries 39,402 visa rules 72,668 airports 7,028 languages 235 holiday calendars 1,260 news stories Visa data verified 13 Oct 2026
Free Passport Photo Maker
Travel photo of China

Population · Asia · 2025 data

Flag of ChinaChina Population

China had a population of 1.407 billion in 2025, ranking #2 of 216 countries and territories (17.17% of the world). The population grew by 1.9% over the past ten years and peaked in 2021 at 1.412 billion.

1.407 billion
Population (2025) · #2
-0.17%
Annual growth
150
People per km²
66%
Live in cities

Population of China, 1960–2025

Values in billions · World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0)

Population by year (table)
YearPopulationChange
20251,406,585,000-0.17%
20241,408,975,000-0.12%
20231,410,710,000-0.10%
20221,412,175,000-0.01%
20211,412,360,000+0.09%
20201,411,100,000+0.24%
20191,407,745,000+0.36%
20181,402,760,000+0.47%
20171,396,215,000+0.61%
20161,387,790,000+0.57%
20151,379,860,000+0.58%
20141,371,860,000+0.63%
20131,363,240,000+0.67%
20121,354,190,000+0.68%
20111,345,035,000+0.55%
20101,337,705,000+0.48%
20091,331,260,000+0.50%
20081,324,655,000+0.51%
20071,317,885,000+0.52%
20061,311,020,000+0.56%
20051,303,720,000+0.59%
20041,296,075,000+0.60%
20031,288,400,000+0.62%
20021,280,400,000+0.67%
20011,271,850,000+0.73%
20001,262,645,000+0.79%
19991,252,735,000+0.87%
19981,241,935,000+0.96%
19971,230,075,000+1.03%
19961,217,550,000+1.05%
19951,204,855,000+1.09%
19941,191,835,000+1.14%
19931,178,440,000+1.16%
19921,164,970,000+1.23%
19911,150,780,000+1.37%
19901,135,185,000+1.48%
19891,118,650,000+1.54%
19881,101,630,000+1.62%
19871,084,035,000+1.62%
19861,066,790,000+1.50%
19851,051,040,000+1.37%
19841,036,825,000+1.32%
19831,023,310,000+1.46%
19821,008,630,000+1.48%
1981993,885,000+1.29%
1980981,235,000+1.26%
1979969,005,000+1.34%
1978956,165,000+1.35%
1977943,455,000+1.37%
1976930,685,000+1.56%
1975916,395,000+1.78%
1974900,350,000+2.09%
1973881,940,000+2.31%
1972862,030,000+2.49%
1971841,105,000+2.78%
1970818,315,000+2.80%
1969796,025,000+2.78%
1968774,510,000+2.65%
1967754,550,000+2.60%
1966735,400,000+2.83%
1965715,185,000+2.41%
1964698,355,000+2.35%
1963682,335,000+2.49%
1962665,770,000+0.82%
1961660,330,000-1.01%
1960667,070,000—

Demographics of China

78.0
Life expectancy (years)
1.01
Births per woman (below replacement)
14.9%
Aged 65 and over
40.8 years
Median age

Ethnic groups

Han Chinese 91.1%, ethnic minorities 8.9% (includes Zhang, Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities) (2021 est.)

Languages

Standard Chinese or Mandarin (official; Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages; note - Zhuang is official in Guangxi Zhuang, Yue is official in Guangdong, Mongolian is official in Nei Mongol, Uyghur is official in Xinjiang Uygur, Kyrgyz is official in Xinjiang Uyghur, and Tibetan is official in Xizang (Tibet)

Religions

folk religion 21.9%, Buddhist 18.2%, Christian 5.1%, Muslim 1.8%, Hindu < 0.1%, Jewish < 0.1%, other 0.7% (includes Daoist (Taoist)), unaffiliated 52.1% (2021 est.)

Where people live

Urban population: 64.6% of total population (2023).

Largest cities

1
Shanghai
29.2 million
2
Beijing Capital
21.8 million
3
Chongqing
17.3 million
4
Guangzhou
14.3 million
5
Tianjin
14.2 million
6
Shenzhen
13.1 million

China and its neighbours

#2Flag of China1.41 billion
#1Flag of India1.46 billion
#5Flag of Pakistan255.2 million
#9Flag of Russia143.5 million
#16Flag of Vietnam101.6 million
#27Flag of Myanmar54.9 million
#36Flag of Afghanistan43.8 million
#52Flag of Nepal29.6 million
#56Flag of North Korea26.6 million
#64Flag of Kazakhstan20.8 million
#90Flag of Tajikistan10.8 million
#102Flag of Laos7.9 million
#106Flag of Kyrgyzstan7.3 million
#132Flag of Mongolia3.6 million
#165Flag of Bhutan796,682

Frequently asked questions about the population of China

What is the population of China?

China had a population of 1.407 billion in 2025, ranking #2 of 216 countries and territories (17.17% of the world).

Is the population of China growing?

No. The population grew by 1.9% over the past ten years and peaked in 2021 at 1.412 billion. Annual growth in 2025: -0.17%.

How has the population of China changed since 1960?

It has grown 2.1-fold, from 667.07 million in 1960 to 1.407 billion in 2025.

How densely populated is China?

About 150 people per km² of land (2024).

What is the largest city in China?

Shanghai — about 29.2 million people in its urban area.

Population and demographics: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). Cities, ethnic groups, languages and religions: CIA World Factbook (public domain).