Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in China
China: Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) was 209,726 thousands in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
209,726 thousands
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
1st
of 233 countries
All-time high
209,726 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
30,016 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 65 years or older in China, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, population aged 65 years or older in China stood at 209,726 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 53.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 65 years or older in China peaked at 209,726 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 30,016 thousands, in 1970.
China ranks 1st of 233 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in China, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 30,016 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 31,037 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1972 | 32,083 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1973 | 33,102 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1974 | 34,291 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 35,594 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1976 | 36,808 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 37,931 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 39,184 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1979 | 40,732 thousands | +3.9% |
| 1980 | 42,418 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1981 | 44,008 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1982 | 45,604 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1983 | 47,194 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1984 | 48,725 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 50,415 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1986 | 52,318 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1987 | 54,204 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1988 | 56,100 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1989 | 58,154 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1990 | 60,518 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1991 | 62,804 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1992 | 64,876 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 67,243 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 69,886 thousands | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 72,422 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 75,289 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 77,965 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 80,928 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 84,258 thousands | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 87,492 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2001 | 90,693 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 93,789 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 96,709 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 99,530 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 101,964 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 104,749 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 107,560 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 110,208 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 112,683 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 115,497 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 118,634 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 122,380 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 126,577 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 131,471 thousands | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 136,854 thousands | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 143,865 thousands | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 150,728 thousands | +4.8% |
| 2018 | 159,452 thousands | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 167,380 thousands | +5.0% |
| 2020 | 176,012 thousands | +5.2% |
| 2021 | 184,657 thousands | +4.9% |
| 2022 | 192,086 thousands | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 200,748 thousands | +4.5% |
| 2024 | 206,569 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2025 | 209,726 thousands | +1.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 209,726 thousands is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 529.18 thousands, 396.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 209,726 thousands is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 105.87 thousands, 1981.0× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 35,078 thousands | 30,016 thousands | 40,732 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 49,914 thousands | 42,418 thousands | 58,154 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 71,619 thousands | 60,518 thousands | 84,258 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 100,538 thousands | 87,492 thousands | 112,683 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 137,284 thousands | 115,497 thousands | 167,380 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 194,966 thousands | 176,012 thousands | 209,726 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 65 years or older in China?
- Population aged 65 years or older in China was 209,726 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 65 years or older recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 209,726 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest population aged 65 years or older recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 30,016 thousands in 1970.
- How does China rank for population aged 65 years or older?
- China ranks 1st out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 65 years or older rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 65 years or older (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release