Population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate in China
China: Population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate was 1.53 % change on previous year in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate in China, 1971–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate in China is 1.53 % change on previous year, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 47.3% on the previous year and down 62.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate in China peaked at 5.79 % change on previous year in 2018 and was at its lowest, 1.53 % change on previous year, in 2025.
That places China 206th out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate in China, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 3.4 % change on previous year | — |
| 1972 | 3.37 % change on previous year | -1.0% |
| 1973 | 3.18 % change on previous year | -5.7% |
| 1974 | 3.59 % change on previous year | +13.1% |
| 1975 | 3.8 % change on previous year | +5.8% |
| 1976 | 3.41 % change on previous year | -10.3% |
| 1977 | 3.05 % change on previous year | -10.6% |
| 1978 | 3.3 % change on previous year | +8.3% |
| 1979 | 3.95 % change on previous year | +19.6% |
| 1980 | 4.14 % change on previous year | +4.8% |
| 1981 | 3.75 % change on previous year | -9.4% |
| 1982 | 3.63 % change on previous year | -3.3% |
| 1983 | 3.49 % change on previous year | -3.8% |
| 1984 | 3.24 % change on previous year | -7.0% |
| 1985 | 3.47 % change on previous year | +7.0% |
| 1986 | 3.77 % change on previous year | +8.8% |
| 1987 | 3.6 % change on previous year | -4.5% |
| 1988 | 3.5 % change on previous year | -2.9% |
| 1989 | 3.66 % change on previous year | +4.7% |
| 1990 | 4.06 % change on previous year | +11.0% |
| 1991 | 3.78 % change on previous year | -7.1% |
| 1992 | 3.3 % change on previous year | -12.7% |
| 1993 | 3.65 % change on previous year | +10.6% |
| 1994 | 3.93 % change on previous year | +7.7% |
| 1995 | 3.63 % change on previous year | -7.7% |
| 1996 | 3.96 % change on previous year | +9.1% |
| 1997 | 3.55 % change on previous year | -10.2% |
| 1998 | 3.8 % change on previous year | +6.9% |
| 1999 | 4.11 % change on previous year | +8.3% |
| 2000 | 3.84 % change on previous year | -6.7% |
| 2001 | 3.66 % change on previous year | -4.7% |
| 2002 | 3.41 % change on previous year | -6.7% |
| 2003 | 3.11 % change on previous year | -8.8% |
| 2004 | 2.92 % change on previous year | -6.3% |
| 2005 | 2.45 % change on previous year | -16.2% |
| 2006 | 2.73 % change on previous year | +11.7% |
| 2007 | 2.68 % change on previous year | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 2.46 % change on previous year | -8.3% |
| 2009 | 2.25 % change on previous year | -8.8% |
| 2010 | 2.5 % change on previous year | +11.2% |
| 2011 | 2.72 % change on previous year | +8.8% |
| 2012 | 3.16 % change on previous year | +16.3% |
| 2013 | 3.43 % change on previous year | +8.6% |
| 2014 | 3.87 % change on previous year | +12.7% |
| 2015 | 4.09 % change on previous year | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 5.12 % change on previous year | +25.1% |
| 2017 | 4.77 % change on previous year | -6.9% |
| 2018 | 5.79 % change on previous year | +21.3% |
| 2019 | 4.97 % change on previous year | -14.1% |
| 2020 | 5.16 % change on previous year | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 4.91 % change on previous year | -4.8% |
| 2022 | 4.02 % change on previous year | -18.1% |
| 2023 | 4.51 % change on previous year | +12.1% |
| 2024 | 2.9 % change on previous year | -35.7% |
| 2025 | 1.53 % change on previous year | -47.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.45 % change on previous year | 3.05 % change on previous year | 3.95 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1980s | 3.63 % change on previous year | 3.24 % change on previous year | 4.14 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.78 % change on previous year | 3.3 % change on previous year | 4.11 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.95 % change on previous year | 2.25 % change on previous year | 3.84 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.04 % change on previous year | 2.5 % change on previous year | 5.79 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.84 % change on previous year | 1.53 % change on previous year | 5.16 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 203 United Kingdom 1.63 % change on previous year compare
- 204 Germany 1.58 % change on previous year compare
- 205 Denmark 1.57 % change on previous year compare
- 207 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 1.51 % change on previous year compare
- 208 Italy 1.49 % change on previous year compare
- 209 Saint Martin (French part) 1.49 % change on previous year compare
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 population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate in China?
- Population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate in China was 1.53 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 5.79 % change on previous year in 2018.
- What is the lowest population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.53 % change on previous year in 2025.
- How does China rank for population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate?
- China ranks 206th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 62.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Population aged 65 years or older (thousands), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Population aged 65 years or older (thousands). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Population aged 65 years or older UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Population aged 65 years or older (thousands). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.