Annual growth rate of urban population share in China
China: Annual growth rate of urban population share was 0.6929 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.6929
Change on year
up 7.1%
World rank
63rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
11.01
in 1959
All-time low
-7.56
in 1962
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Annual growth rate of urban population share in China, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
China recorded 0.6929 for annual growth rate of urban population share in 2025.
That represents a change of up 7.1% on the previous year and down 74.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual growth rate of urban population share in China peaked at 11.01 in 1959 and was at its lowest, -7.56, in 1962.
China ranks 63rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual growth rate of urban population share in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 8.13 | — |
| 1951 | 5.29 | -35.0% |
| 1952 | 4.87 | -7.9% |
| 1953 | 5.27 | +8.2% |
| 1954 | 1.21 | -77.0% |
| 1955 | 2.55 | +110.1% |
| 1956 | 7.48 | +193.3% |
| 1957 | 4.86 | -35.1% |
| 1958 | 9.14 | +88.1% |
| 1959 | 11.01 | +20.5% |
| 1960 | 1.69 | -84.6% |
| 1961 | -6.84 | -504.6% |
| 1962 | -7.56 | +10.5% |
| 1963 | 3.39 | -144.9% |
| 1964 | 3.33 | -1.7% |
| 1965 | -1.38 | -141.5% |
| 1966 | -0.6429 | -53.5% |
| 1967 | -0.6726 | +4.6% |
| 1968 | -0.6845 | +1.8% |
| 1969 | -0.6872 | +0.4% |
| 1970 | -0.6836 | -0.5% |
| 1971 | -0.8123 | +18.8% |
| 1972 | -0.0838 | -89.7% |
| 1973 | 0.0936 | -211.7% |
| 1974 | 0.3297 | +252.2% |
| 1975 | 0.8893 | +169.7% |
| 1976 | 0.5257 | -40.9% |
| 1977 | 1.15 | +119.2% |
| 1978 | 4.11 | +256.6% |
| 1979 | 4.01 | -2.4% |
| 1980 | 3.04 | -24.1% |
| 1981 | 2.88 | -5.3% |
| 1982 | 3.21 | +11.5% |
| 1983 | 6.16 | +91.8% |
| 1984 | 4.5 | -27.0% |
| 1985 | 3.06 | -32.0% |
| 1986 | 3.42 | +11.6% |
| 1987 | 2.54 | -25.6% |
| 1988 | 1.86 | -26.9% |
| 1989 | 0.5186 | -72.0% |
| 1990 | 1.09 | +111.1% |
| 1991 | 2.68 | +144.7% |
| 1992 | 1.87 | -30.2% |
| 1993 | 1.88 | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 1.73 | -7.6% |
| 1995 | 3.2 | +84.5% |
| 1996 | 4.99 | +55.9% |
| 1997 | 4.5 | -9.8% |
| 1998 | 4.28 | -4.9% |
| 1999 | 4.43 | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 4.17 | -5.8% |
| 2001 | 3.28 | -21.3% |
| 2002 | 3.77 | +14.9% |
| 2003 | 3.29 | -12.6% |
| 2004 | 2.9 | -12.0% |
| 2005 | 2.98 | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 3.35 | +12.7% |
| 2007 | 2.87 | -14.5% |
| 2008 | 2.6 | -9.3% |
| 2009 | 2.34 | -10.2% |
| 2010 | 2.63 | +12.4% |
| 2011 | 4.75 | +80.9% |
| 2012 | 2.37 | -50.0% |
| 2013 | 2.41 | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 2.53 | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 2.75 | +8.6% |
| 2016 | 2.48 | -9.6% |
| 2017 | 2.2 | -11.3% |
| 2018 | 2.04 | -7.5% |
| 2019 | 1.6 | -21.3% |
| 2020 | 1.43 | -10.7% |
| 2021 | 1.5 | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 0.5718 | -61.8% |
| 2023 | 0.4643 | -18.8% |
| 2024 | 0.6471 | +39.4% |
| 2025 | 0.6929 | +7.1% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 0.6929 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.3526, 2.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 0.6929 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.2441, 2.8× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual growth rate of urban population share in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -504.6% | 1.69 | -6.84 |
| 1978 | +256.6% | 1.15 | 4.11 |
| 1974 | +252.2% | 0.0936 | 0.3297 |
| 1973 | +211.7% | -0.0838 | 0.0936 |
| 1956 | +193.3% | 2.55 | 7.48 |
| 1975 | +169.7% | 0.3297 | 0.8893 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 5.98 | 1.21 | 11.01 | 10 |
| 1960s | -1 | -7.56 | 3.39 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.953 | -0.8123 | 4.11 | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.12 | 0.5186 | 6.16 | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.06 | 1.09 | 4.99 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.15 | 2.34 | 4.17 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.58 | 1.6 | 4.75 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.884 | 0.4643 | 1.5 | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More population data for China
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -12.97 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.19 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 1.31 million Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1671 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3489 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -1.68 (2100)
- Population density 67.46 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 15.54 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual growth rate of urban population share in China?
- Annual growth rate of urban population share in China was 0.6929 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual growth rate of urban population share recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 11.01 in 1959.
- What is the lowest annual growth rate of urban population share recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -7.56 in 1962.
- How does China rank for annual growth rate of urban population share?
- China ranks 63rd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual growth rate of urban population share rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 74.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Annual growth rate of urban population share. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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