China vs India: Urban and rural population
China
939.48 million
in 2025
India
522.44 million
in 2025
China rank
1st
India rank
2nd
Urban and rural population over time
- China
- India
How they compare
China currently reports 939.48 million against 522.44 million in India, a difference of 417.04 million.
That makes China's figure about 1.8 times India's.
Across all 76 years both countries report, China has been ahead every year.
China ranks 1st and India ranks 2nd of 236 countries.
China has averaged higher in every one of the 8 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | India | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 84.56 million | 67.56 million | 17.00 million | China |
| 1960s | 129.10 million | 90.29 million | 38.81 million | China |
| 1970s | 158.49 million | 129.75 million | 28.74 million | China |
| 1980s | 244.11 million | 187.82 million | 56.29 million | China |
| 1990s | 360.37 million | 252.15 million | 108.22 million | China |
| 2000s | 554.74 million | 332.11 million | 222.62 million | China |
| 2010s | 786.56 million | 427.44 million | 359.13 million | China |
| 2020s | 927.59 million | 500.21 million | 427.38 million | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher urban and rural population, China or India?
- China, at 939.48 million against 522.44 million in India as of 2025.
- What is the difference in urban and rural population between China and India?
- 417.04 million, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and India?
- 76 years are reported by both, from 1950 to 2025.
- How do China and India rank globally for urban and rural population?
- China ranks 1st and India ranks 2nd of 236 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Urban and rural population. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.