Historical population data in China
China: Historical population data was 1.42 billion Persons in 2025. β² Rising
Historical population data in China, 1950β2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
China recorded 1.42 billion Persons for historical population data in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, historical population data in China peaked at 1.43 billion Persons in 2021 and was at its lowest, 544.04 million Persons, in 1950.
China ranks 2nd of 43 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 597.80 million Persons | 544.04 million Persons | 652.71 million Persons | 10 |
| 1960s | 717.50 million Persons | 654.80 million Persons | 802.14 million Persons | 10 |
| 1970s | 902.94 million Persons | 823.31 million Persons | 969.29 million Persons | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.05 billion Persons | 983.16 million Persons | 1.13 billion Persons | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.21 billion Persons | 1.15 billion Persons | 1.26 billion Persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.31 billion Persons | 1.27 billion Persons | 1.34 billion Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.39 billion Persons | 1.35 billion Persons | 1.42 billion Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.42 billion Persons | 1.42 billion Persons | 1.43 billion Persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More population data for China
- Population growth rate by level of development -1.68 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 15.54 million (2100)
- Population density 67.46 (2100)
- Population growth rate -1.68 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3489 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1671 Percent per annum (2030)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 1.31 million Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates -0.1664 % change on previous year (2030)
- Fertility and wanted fertility 1.01 (2024)
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum 303,405 (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is historical population data in China?
- Historical population data in China was 1.42 billion Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest historical population data recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 1.43 billion Persons in 2021.
- What is the lowest historical population data recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 544.04 million Persons in 1950.
- How does China rank for historical population data?
- China ranks 2nd out of 43 countries with data for 2025.
- Is historical population data rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Historical population data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This dataset presents annual population data from 1961 by sex and five year age groups as well as the share of children, youth, the elderly, old-age and total dependency ratios. The data is available for all member countries as well as for the EU27 and G20 countries, Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa and the World total. The data refer to mid-year estimates of the population. See country details in Historical population metadata.