China vs USSR: Population (Our World)
China
1.42 billion
in 2023
USSR
292.66 million
in 1991
China rank
2nd
USSR rank
4th
Population (Our World) over time
- China
- USSR
How they compare
China currently reports 1.42 billion against 292.66 million in USSR, a difference of 1.13 billion.
That makes China's figure about 4.9 times USSR's.
Across all 209 years both countries report, China has been ahead every year.
China ranks 2nd and USSR ranks 4th of 239 countries.
China has averaged higher in every one of the 37 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | USSR | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 36.59 million | 6.88 million | 29.71 million | China |
| 1100s | 90.18 million | 9.14 million | 81.03 million | China |
| 1200s | 103.06 million | 12.34 million | 90.72 million | China |
| 1300s | 79.97 million | 13.04 million | 66.93 million | China |
| 1400s | 71.25 million | 13.05 million | 58.20 million | China |
| 1500s | 91.26 million | 16.20 million | 75.06 million | China |
| 1600s | 98.05 million | 19.76 million | 78.30 million | China |
| 1700s | 99.43 million | 23.29 million | 76.14 million | China |
| 1710s | 104.05 million | 25.85 million | 78.20 million | China |
| 1720s | 119.50 million | 28.88 million | 90.62 million | China |
| 1730s | 127.05 million | 31.96 million | 95.09 million | China |
| 1740s | 142.98 million | 35.10 million | 107.88 million | China |
| 1750s | 178.33 million | 38.30 million | 140.03 million | China |
| 1760s | 197.05 million | 41.56 million | 155.49 million | China |
| 1770s | 220.13 million | 44.90 million | 175.24 million | China |
| 1780s | 275.68 million | 48.31 million | 227.37 million | China |
| 1790s | 298.73 million | 51.81 million | 246.92 million | China |
| 1800s | 337.01 million | 54.97 million | 282.04 million | China |
| 1810s | 361.46 million | 55.21 million | 306.26 million | China |
| 1820s | 393.32 million | 57.72 million | 335.61 million | China |
| 1830s | 410.14 million | 63.03 million | 347.10 million | China |
| 1840s | 411.90 million | 69.22 million | 342.69 million | China |
| 1850s | 395.39 million | 76.00 million | 319.39 million | China |
| 1860s | 367.43 million | 83.45 million | 283.99 million | China |
| 1870s | 360.85 million | 91.58 million | 269.27 million | China |
| 1880s | 370.70 million | 100.56 million | 270.13 million | China |
| 1890s | 385.36 million | 110.46 million | 274.90 million | China |
| 1900s | 405.63 million | 121.33 million | 284.29 million | China |
| 1910s | 438.78 million | 132.22 million | 306.56 million | China |
| 1920s | 472.62 million | 143.82 million | 328.80 million | China |
| 1930s | 495.30 million | 157.28 million | 338.02 million | China |
| 1940s | 523.96 million | 171.95 million | 352.01 million | China |
| 1950s | 597.80 million | 195.05 million | 402.75 million | China |
| 1960s | 717.50 million | 227.71 million | 489.79 million | China |
| 1970s | 902.94 million | 252.41 million | 650.53 million | China |
| 1980s | 1.05 billion | 276.90 million | 778.09 million | China |
| 1990s | 1.16 billion | 291.87 million | 870.32 million | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher population, China or USSR?
- China, at 1.42 billion against 292.66 million in USSR as of 2023.
- What is the difference in population between China and USSR?
- 1.13 billion, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and USSR?
- 209 years are reported by both, from 1000 to 1991.
- How do China and USSR rank globally for population?
- China ranks 2nd and USSR ranks 4th of 239 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Population. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.