Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands) in China
China: Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands) was 222,692 thousands in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
222,692 thousands
Change on year
down 3.9%
World rank
2nd
of 233 countries
All-time high
377,841 thousands
in 1977
All-time low
222,692 thousands
in 2025
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 14 years or younger in China, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, population aged 14 years or younger in China stood at 222,692 thousands. That is the lowest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is down 3.9% on the previous year and down 12.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 14 years or younger in China peaked at 377,841 thousands in 1977 and was at its lowest, 222,692 thousands, in 2025.
China ranks 2nd of 233 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 56 years of available data.
Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands) in China, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 332,084 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 339,622 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1972 | 346,682 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 351,134 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1974 | 357,570 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 365,608 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 371,777 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1977 | 377,841 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1978 | 373,646 thousands | -1.1% |
| 1979 | 363,856 thousands | -2.6% |
| 1980 | 357,739 thousands | -1.7% |
| 1981 | 352,044 thousands | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 347,780 thousands | -1.2% |
| 1983 | 346,699 thousands | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 339,326 thousands | -2.1% |
| 1985 | 333,666 thousands | -1.7% |
| 1986 | 328,552 thousands | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 326,690 thousands | -0.6% |
| 1988 | 327,066 thousands | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 327,042 thousands | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 329,489 thousands | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 334,925 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 335,923 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 336,960 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 337,181 thousands | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 335,866 thousands | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 333,596 thousands | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 329,909 thousands | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 323,886 thousands | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 319,925 thousands | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 314,526 thousands | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 308,689 thousands | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 300,147 thousands | -2.8% |
| 2003 | 289,967 thousands | -3.4% |
| 2004 | 280,732 thousands | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 271,005 thousands | -3.5% |
| 2006 | 260,721 thousands | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 255,750 thousands | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 252,569 thousands | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 250,728 thousands | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 249,916 thousands | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 249,460 thousands | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 249,534 thousands | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 251,638 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 253,228 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 255,557 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 255,934 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 258,082 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 260,340 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 259,825 thousands | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 258,265 thousands | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 253,845 thousands | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 247,743 thousands | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 240,290 thousands | -3.0% |
| 2024 | 231,713 thousands | -3.6% |
| 2025 | 222,692 thousands | -3.9% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 222,692 thousands is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,508 thousands, 147.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 222,692 thousands is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 470.44 thousands, 473.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 357,982 thousands | 332,084 thousands | 377,841 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 338,660 thousands | 326,690 thousands | 357,739 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 331,766 thousands | 319,925 thousands | 337,181 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 278,483 thousands | 250,728 thousands | 314,526 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 254,351 thousands | 249,460 thousands | 260,340 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 242,425 thousands | 222,692 thousands | 258,265 thousands | 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)
- World population growth -1.7% (2100)
- Population density 67.46 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 15.54 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population aged 14 years or younger in China?
- Population aged 14 years or younger in China was 222,692 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 14 years or younger recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 377,841 thousands in 1977.
- What is the lowest population aged 14 years or younger recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 222,692 thousands in 2025.
- How does China rank for population aged 14 years or younger?
- China ranks 2nd out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 14 years or younger rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release