China vs United States: Urban and rural population
China
939.48 million
in 2025
United States
278.49 million
in 2025
China rank
1st
United States rank
3rd
Urban and rural population over time
- China
- United States
How they compare
China currently reports 939.48 million against 278.49 million in United States, a difference of 660.99 million.
That makes China's figure about 3.4 times United States's.
The two have swapped places 3 times across 76 shared years of data; in 1950 it was United States ahead.
China ranks 1st and United States ranks 3rd of 229 countries.
Across the 8 decades both report, China averaged higher in 5 and United States in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 84.56 million | 110.60 million | 26.04 million | United States |
| 1960s | 129.10 million | 139.33 million | 10.24 million | United States |
| 1970s | 158.49 million | 160.44 million | 1.95 million | United States |
| 1980s | 244.11 million | 178.63 million | 65.48 million | China |
| 1990s | 360.37 million | 205.29 million | 155.08 million | China |
| 2000s | 554.74 million | 235.66 million | 319.08 million | China |
| 2010s | 786.56 million | 261.36 million | 525.20 million | China |
| 2020s | 927.59 million | 274.55 million | 653.04 million | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher urban and rural population, China or United States?
- China, at 939.48 million against 278.49 million in United States as of 2025.
- What is the difference in urban and rural population between China and United States?
- 660.99 million, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States?
- 76 years are reported by both, from 1950 to 2025.
- How do China and United States rank globally for urban and rural population?
- China ranks 1st and United States ranks 3rd of 229 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.