Migrant populations in China
China: Migrant populations was 1.64 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
1.64 million
World rank
44th
of 228 countries
All-time high
1.64 million
in 2024
All-time low
518,395
in 1990
Years of data
8
1990–2024
Migrant populations in China, 1990–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for migrant populations in China is 1.64 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of up 37.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, migrant populations in China peaked at 1.64 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 518,395, in 1990.
That places China 44th out of 228 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
Migrant populations in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 518,395 | — |
| 1995 | 610,608 | +17.8% |
| 2000 | 720,915 | +18.1% |
| 2005 | 853,360 | +18.4% |
| 2010 | 1.01 million | +18.4% |
| 2015 | 1.20 million | +18.4% |
| 2020 | 1.42 million | +18.3% |
| 2024 | 1.64 million | +15.8% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1.64 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 184,522, 8.9× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 1.64 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 51,446, 31.9× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 564,502 | 518,395 | 610,608 | 2 |
| 2000s | 787,138 | 720,915 | 853,360 | 2 |
| 2010s | 1.10 million | 1.01 million | 1.20 million | 2 |
| 2020s | 1.53 million | 1.42 million | 1.64 million | 2 |
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 migrant populations in China?
- Migrant populations in China was 1.64 million in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest migrant populations recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 1.64 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest migrant populations recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 518,395 in 1990.
- How does China rank for migrant populations?
- China ranks 44th out of 228 countries with data for 2024.
- Is migrant populations rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Migrant populations. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).