Natural population growth rate in China
China: Natural population growth rate was -0.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Natural population growth rate in China, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for natural population growth rate in China is -0.2%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 80.7% on the previous year and down 129.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, natural population growth rate in China peaked at 3.3% in 1963 and was at its lowest, -0.2%, in 2023.
China ranks 200th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.9% | 0.7% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.2% | -0.0% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.8% | 1.3% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.0% | 0.7% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.1% | -0.2% | 0.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
More population data for China
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.7% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 15.54 million people (2100)
- Population density 67.46 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -1.7% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.01 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 303,405 people (2020)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.01 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.01 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 0.999 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate vs. GDP per capita 0.999 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is natural population growth rate in China?
- Natural population growth rate in China was -0.2% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest natural population growth rate recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 3.3% in 1963.
- What is the lowest natural population growth rate recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.2% in 2023.
- How does China rank for natural population growth rate?
- China ranks 200th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is natural population growth rate rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 129.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Natural population growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Births minus deaths, as a share of the population. This is the part of population change that comes only from births and deaths, ignoring migration.