Population density in China
China: Population density was 67.46 people per km² in 2100. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2100)
67.46 people per km²
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
152nd
of 234 countries
All-time high
151.94 people per km²
in 2021
All-time low
3.9 people per km²
in 1000
Years of data
318
1000–2100
Population density in China, 1000–2100
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people per km².
Analysis
The most recent figure for population density in China is 67.46 people per km², measured in 2100.
That represents a change of down 1.7% on the previous year and down 15.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in China peaked at 151.94 people per km² in 2021 and was at its lowest, 3.9 people per km², in 1000.
China ranks 152nd of 234 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 3.9 people per km² | 3.9 people per km² | 3.9 people per km² | 1 |
| 1100s | 9.61 people per km² | 9.61 people per km² | 9.61 people per km² | 1 |
| 1200s | 10.98 people per km² | 10.98 people per km² | 10.98 people per km² | 1 |
| 1300s | 8.52 people per km² | 8.52 people per km² | 8.52 people per km² | 1 |
| 1400s | 7.59 people per km² | 7.59 people per km² | 7.59 people per km² | 1 |
| 1500s | 9.72 people per km² | 9.72 people per km² | 9.72 people per km² | 1 |
| 1600s | 10.44 people per km² | 10.44 people per km² | 10.44 people per km² | 1 |
| 1700s | 10.59 people per km² | 10.59 people per km² | 10.59 people per km² | 1 |
| 1710s | 11.08 people per km² | 11.08 people per km² | 11.08 people per km² | 1 |
| 1720s | 12.73 people per km² | 12.73 people per km² | 12.73 people per km² | 1 |
| 1730s | 13.53 people per km² | 13.53 people per km² | 13.53 people per km² | 1 |
| 1740s | 15.23 people per km² | 15.23 people per km² | 15.23 people per km² | 1 |
| 1750s | 19 people per km² | 19 people per km² | 19 people per km² | 1 |
| 1760s | 20.99 people per km² | 20.99 people per km² | 20.99 people per km² | 1 |
| 1770s | 23.45 people per km² | 23.45 people per km² | 23.45 people per km² | 1 |
| 1780s | 29.36 people per km² | 29.36 people per km² | 29.36 people per km² | 1 |
| 1790s | 31.82 people per km² | 31.82 people per km² | 31.82 people per km² | 1 |
| 1800s | 35.9 people per km² | 35.15 people per km² | 36.65 people per km² | 10 |
| 1810s | 38.5 people per km² | 36.94 people per km² | 40.17 people per km² | 10 |
| 1820s | 41.9 people per km² | 40.52 people per km² | 43.2 people per km² | 10 |
| 1830s | 43.69 people per km² | 43.4 people per km² | 43.85 people per km² | 10 |
| 1840s | 43.87 people per km² | 43.81 people per km² | 43.88 people per km² | 10 |
| 1850s | 42.12 people per km² | 40.47 people per km² | 43.65 people per km² | 10 |
| 1860s | 39.14 people per km² | 38.24 people per km² | 40.16 people per km² | 10 |
| 1870s | 38.44 people per km² | 38.13 people per km² | 38.86 people per km² | 10 |
| 1880s | 39.49 people per km² | 38.96 people per km² | 40.03 people per km² | 10 |
| 1890s | 41.05 people per km² | 40.18 people per km² | 41.96 people per km² | 10 |
| 1900s | 43.21 people per km² | 42.17 people per km² | 44.3 people per km² | 10 |
| 1910s | 46.74 people per km² | 44.64 people per km² | 48.96 people per km² | 10 |
| 1920s | 50.34 people per km² | 49.35 people per km² | 51.2 people per km² | 10 |
| 1930s | 52.76 people per km² | 51.43 people per km² | 54.16 people per km² | 10 |
| 1940s | 55.81 people per km² | 54.46 people per km² | 57.3 people per km² | 10 |
| 1950s | 63.68 people per km² | 57.95 people per km² | 69.52 people per km² | 10 |
| 1960s | 76.43 people per km² | 69.75 people per km² | 85.44 people per km² | 10 |
| 1970s | 96.18 people per km² | 87.7 people per km² | 103.25 people per km² | 10 |
| 1980s | 112.37 people per km² | 104.72 people per km² | 120.79 people per km² | 10 |
| 1990s | 129.08 people per km² | 122.88 people per km² | 134.23 people per km² | 10 |
| 2000s | 139.13 people per km² | 135.23 people per km² | 143 people per km² | 10 |
| 2010s | 148.09 people per km² | 143.96 people per km² | 151.63 people per km² | 10 |
| 2020s | 150.9 people per km² | 149.37 people per km² | 151.94 people per km² | 10 |
| 2030s | 146.48 people per km² | 143.73 people per km² | 148.93 people per km² | 10 |
| 2040s | 139.4 people per km² | 135.32 people per km² | 143.03 people per km² | 10 |
| 2050s | 128.57 people per km² | 122.39 people per km² | 134.24 people per km² | 10 |
| 2060s | 114.28 people per km² | 107.78 people per km² | 120.91 people per km² | 10 |
| 2070s | 100.22 people per km² | 94.07 people per km² | 106.39 people per km² | 10 |
| 2080s | 86.59 people per km² | 80.61 people per km² | 92.7 people per km² | 10 |
| 2090s | 73.9 people per km² | 68.6 people per km² | 79.34 people per km² | 10 |
| 2100s | 67.46 people per km² | 67.46 people per km² | 67.46 people per km² | 1 |
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)
- 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)
- Natural population growth rate -0.2% (2023)
- 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 population density in China?
- Population density in China was 67.46 people per km² in 2100, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population density recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 151.94 people per km² in 2021.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9 people per km² in 1000.
- How does China rank for population density?
- China ranks 152nd out of 234 countries with data for 2100.
- Is population density rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population density. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population per square kilometer by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2100, based on data and estimates from different sources.