Population aged 65 years or older in China
China: Population aged 65 years or older was 209,726 thousands in 2025. β Volatile
Population aged 65 years or older in China, 1970β2025
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 230 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
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 growth rate by level of development -1.68 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 15.54 million (2100)
- Population density 67.46 (2100)
- Population growth rate -1.68 (2100)
- Fertility and wanted fertility 1.01 (2024)
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum 303,405 (2020)
- Fertility vs unmet contraception 1.01 (2024)
- Fertility vs contraception 1.01 (2024)
- Natural population growth -0.1957 (2023)
- Fertility rate with projections 0.999 (2023)
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 230 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 Β· JSON β 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release