Population in China
China: Population was 1.42 billion people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.42 billion people
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
2nd
of 239 countries
All-time high
1.43 billion people
in 2021
All-time low
36.59 million people
in 1000
Years of data
241
1000–2023
Population in China, 1000–2023
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, population in China stood at 1.42 billion people.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in China peaked at 1.43 billion people in 2021 and was at its lowest, 36.59 million people, in 1000.
That places China 2nd out of 239 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in China, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 36.59 million people | — |
| 1100 | 90.18 million people | +146.5% |
| 1200 | 103.06 million people | +14.3% |
| 1300 | 79.97 million people | -22.4% |
| 1400 | 71.25 million people | -10.9% |
| 1500 | 91.26 million people | +28.1% |
| 1600 | 98.05 million people | +7.4% |
| 1700 | 99.43 million people | +1.4% |
| 1710 | 104.05 million people | +4.6% |
| 1720 | 119.50 million people | +14.9% |
| 1730 | 127.05 million people | +6.3% |
| 1740 | 142.98 million people | +12.5% |
| 1750 | 178.33 million people | +24.7% |
| 1760 | 197.05 million people | +10.5% |
| 1770 | 220.13 million people | +11.7% |
| 1780 | 275.68 million people | +25.2% |
| 1790 | 298.73 million people | +8.4% |
| 1800 | 330.00 million people | +10.5% |
| 1801 | 331.54 million people | +0.5% |
| 1802 | 333.08 million people | +0.5% |
| 1803 | 334.64 million people | +0.5% |
| 1804 | 336.20 million people | +0.5% |
| 1805 | 337.77 million people | +0.5% |
| 1806 | 339.34 million people | +0.5% |
| 1807 | 340.93 million people | +0.5% |
| 1808 | 342.51 million people | +0.5% |
| 1809 | 344.11 million people | +0.5% |
| 1810 | 346.79 million people | +0.8% |
| 1811 | 349.47 million people | +0.8% |
| 1812 | 352.54 million people | +0.9% |
| 1813 | 355.98 million people | +1.0% |
| 1814 | 359.45 million people | +1.0% |
| 1815 | 362.96 million people | +1.0% |
| 1816 | 366.51 million people | +1.0% |
| 1817 | 370.09 million people | +1.0% |
| 1818 | 373.70 million people | +1.0% |
| 1819 | 377.15 million people | +0.9% |
| 1820 | 380.43 million people | +0.9% |
| 1821 | 383.53 million people | +0.8% |
| 1822 | 386.46 million people | +0.8% |
| 1823 | 389.21 million people | +0.7% |
| 1824 | 391.98 million people | +0.7% |
| 1825 | 394.77 million people | +0.7% |
| 1826 | 397.58 million people | +0.7% |
| 1827 | 400.41 million people | +0.7% |
| 1828 | 403.26 million people | +0.7% |
| 1829 | 405.61 million people | +0.6% |
| 1830 | 407.45 million people | +0.5% |
| 1831 | 408.78 million people | +0.3% |
| 1832 | 409.60 million people | +0.2% |
| 1833 | 409.90 million people | +0.1% |
| 1834 | 410.20 million people | +0.1% |
| 1835 | 410.50 million people | +0.1% |
| 1836 | 410.80 million people | +0.1% |
| 1837 | 411.10 million people | +0.1% |
| 1838 | 411.40 million people | +0.1% |
| 1839 | 411.64 million people | +0.1% |
| 1840 | 411.82 million people | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 411.94 million people | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 412.00 million people | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 412.00 million people | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 412.00 million people | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 412.00 million people | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 412.00 million people | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 412.00 million people | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 412.00 million people | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 411.27 million people | -0.2% |
| 1850 | 409.82 million people | -0.4% |
| 1851 | 407.57 million people | -0.5% |
| 1852 | 404.61 million people | -0.7% |
| 1853 | 400.95 million people | -0.9% |
| 1854 | 397.32 million people | -0.9% |
| 1855 | 393.73 million people | -0.9% |
| 1856 | 390.17 million people | -0.9% |
| 1857 | 386.64 million people | -0.9% |
| 1858 | 383.14 million people | -0.9% |
| 1859 | 379.95 million people | -0.8% |
| 1860 | 377.07 million people | -0.8% |
| 1861 | 374.48 million people | -0.7% |
| 1862 | 372.19 million people | -0.6% |
| 1863 | 370.19 million people | -0.5% |
| 1864 | 368.21 million people | -0.5% |
| 1865 | 366.23 million people | -0.5% |
| 1866 | 364.27 million people | -0.5% |
| 1867 | 362.31 million people | -0.5% |
| 1868 | 360.37 million people | -0.5% |
| 1869 | 359.00 million people | -0.4% |
| 1870 | 358.20 million people | -0.2% |
| 1871 | 357.98 million people | -0.1% |
| 1872 | 358.32 million people | +0.1% |
| 1873 | 359.23 million people | +0.3% |
| 1874 | 360.15 million people | +0.3% |
| 1875 | 361.07 million people | +0.3% |
| 1876 | 361.99 million people | +0.3% |
| 1877 | 362.91 million people | +0.3% |
| 1878 | 363.83 million people | +0.3% |
| 1879 | 364.79 million people | +0.3% |
| 1880 | 365.79 million people | +0.3% |
| 1881 | 366.82 million people | +0.3% |
| 1882 | 367.89 million people | +0.3% |
| 1883 | 368.99 million people | +0.3% |
| 1884 | 370.10 million people | +0.3% |
| 1885 | 371.21 million people | +0.3% |
| 1886 | 372.33 million people | +0.3% |
| 1887 | 373.44 million people | +0.3% |
| 1888 | 374.57 million people | +0.3% |
| 1889 | 375.84 million people | +0.3% |
| 1890 | 377.26 million people | +0.4% |
| 1891 | 378.83 million people | +0.4% |
| 1892 | 380.55 million people | +0.5% |
| 1893 | 382.43 million people | +0.5% |
| 1894 | 384.31 million people | +0.5% |
| 1895 | 386.20 million people | +0.5% |
| 1896 | 388.11 million people | +0.5% |
| 1897 | 390.02 million people | +0.5% |
| 1898 | 391.94 million people | +0.5% |
| 1899 | 393.91 million people | +0.5% |
| 1900 | 395.93 million people | +0.5% |
| 1901 | 397.99 million people | +0.5% |
| 1902 | 400.10 million people | +0.5% |
| 1903 | 402.26 million people | +0.5% |
| 1904 | 404.43 million people | +0.5% |
| 1905 | 406.61 million people | +0.5% |
| 1906 | 408.80 million people | +0.5% |
| 1907 | 411.01 million people | +0.5% |
| 1908 | 413.23 million people | +0.5% |
| 1909 | 415.91 million people | +0.6% |
| 1910 | 419.06 million people | +0.8% |
| 1911 | 422.69 million people | +0.9% |
| 1912 | 426.81 million people | +1.0% |
| 1913 | 431.42 million people | +1.1% |
| 1914 | 436.08 million people | +1.1% |
| 1915 | 440.80 million people | +1.1% |
| 1916 | 445.56 million people | +1.1% |
| 1917 | 450.37 million people | +1.1% |
| 1918 | 455.34 million people | +1.1% |
| 1919 | 459.66 million people | +0.9% |
| 1920 | 463.33 million people | +0.8% |
| 1921 | 466.34 million people | +0.6% |
| 1922 | 468.68 million people | +0.5% |
| 1923 | 470.34 million people | +0.4% |
| 1924 | 472.01 million people | +0.4% |
| 1925 | 473.69 million people | +0.4% |
| 1926 | 475.36 million people | +0.4% |
| 1927 | 477.05 million people | +0.4% |
| 1928 | 478.74 million people | +0.4% |
| 1929 | 480.67 million people | +0.4% |
| 1930 | 482.83 million people | +0.5% |
| 1931 | 485.24 million people | +0.5% |
| 1932 | 487.88 million people | +0.5% |
| 1933 | 490.77 million people | +0.6% |
| 1934 | 493.68 million people | +0.6% |
| 1935 | 496.61 million people | +0.6% |
| 1936 | 499.55 million people | +0.6% |
| 1937 | 502.51 million people | +0.6% |
| 1938 | 505.49 million people | +0.6% |
| 1939 | 508.42 million people | +0.6% |
| 1940 | 511.30 million people | +0.6% |
| 1941 | 514.13 million people | +0.6% |
| 1942 | 516.91 million people | +0.5% |
| 1943 | 519.64 million people | +0.5% |
| 1944 | 522.39 million people | +0.5% |
| 1945 | 525.14 million people | +0.5% |
| 1946 | 527.92 million people | +0.5% |
| 1947 | 530.70 million people | +0.5% |
| 1948 | 533.50 million people | +0.5% |
| 1949 | 537.92 million people | +0.8% |
| 1950 | 544.04 million people | +1.1% |
| 1951 | 553.76 million people | +1.8% |
| 1952 | 565.13 million people | +2.1% |
| 1953 | 577.56 million people | +2.2% |
| 1954 | 590.11 million people | +2.2% |
| 1955 | 603.55 million people | +2.3% |
| 1956 | 616.56 million people | +2.2% |
| 1957 | 630.36 million people | +2.2% |
| 1958 | 644.22 million people | +2.2% |
| 1959 | 652.71 million people | +1.3% |
| 1960 | 654.80 million people | +0.3% |
| 1961 | 655.77 million people | +0.1% |
| 1962 | 665.07 million people | +1.4% |
| 1963 | 684.55 million people | +2.9% |
| 1964 | 704.80 million people | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 723.42 million people | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 742.40 million people | +2.6% |
| 1967 | 761.03 million people | +2.5% |
| 1968 | 781.01 million people | +2.6% |
| 1969 | 802.14 million people | +2.7% |
| 1970 | 823.31 million people | +2.6% |
| 1971 | 844.07 million people | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 863.68 million people | +2.3% |
| 1973 | 882.58 million people | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 900.31 million people | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 916.12 million people | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 930.37 million people | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 943.55 million people | +1.4% |
| 1978 | 956.16 million people | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 969.29 million people | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 983.16 million people | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 997.72 million people | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 1.01 billion people | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 1.03 billion people | +1.5% |
| 1984 | 1.04 billion people | +1.4% |
| 1985 | 1.06 billion people | +1.5% |
| 1986 | 1.08 billion people | +1.6% |
| 1987 | 1.10 billion people | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 1.12 billion people | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 1.13 billion people | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 1.15 billion people | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 1.17 billion people | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 1.18 billion people | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 1.20 billion people | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 1.21 billion people | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 1.22 billion people | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 1.23 billion people | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 1.24 billion people | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 1.25 billion people | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 1.26 billion people | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 1.27 billion people | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 1.28 billion people | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 1.29 billion people | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 1.29 billion people | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 1.30 billion people | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 1.31 billion people | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 1.32 billion people | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 1.33 billion people | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 1.33 billion people | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 1.34 billion people | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 1.35 billion people | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 1.36 billion people | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 1.37 billion people | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 1.38 billion people | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 1.39 billion people | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 1.40 billion people | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 1.40 billion people | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 1.41 billion people | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 1.42 billion people | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 1.42 billion people | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 1.43 billion people | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 1.43 billion people | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 1.43 billion people | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 1.42 billion people | -0.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1.42 billion people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.81 million people, 208.9× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 1.42 billion people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.38 million people, 1027.7× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +146.5% | 36.59 million people | 90.18 million people |
| 1500 | +28.1% | 71.25 million people | 91.26 million people |
| 1780 | +25.2% | 220.13 million people | 275.68 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 36.59 million people | 36.59 million people | 36.59 million people | 1 |
| 1100s | 90.18 million people | 90.18 million people | 90.18 million people | 1 |
| 1200s | 103.06 million people | 103.06 million people | 103.06 million people | 1 |
| 1300s | 79.97 million people | 79.97 million people | 79.97 million people | 1 |
| 1400s | 71.25 million people | 71.25 million people | 71.25 million people | 1 |
| 1500s | 91.26 million people | 91.26 million people | 91.26 million people | 1 |
| 1600s | 98.05 million people | 98.05 million people | 98.05 million people | 1 |
| 1700s | 99.43 million people | 99.43 million people | 99.43 million people | 1 |
| 1710s | 104.05 million people | 104.05 million people | 104.05 million people | 1 |
| 1720s | 119.50 million people | 119.50 million people | 119.50 million people | 1 |
| 1730s | 127.05 million people | 127.05 million people | 127.05 million people | 1 |
| 1740s | 142.98 million people | 142.98 million people | 142.98 million people | 1 |
| 1750s | 178.33 million people | 178.33 million people | 178.33 million people | 1 |
| 1760s | 197.05 million people | 197.05 million people | 197.05 million people | 1 |
| 1770s | 220.13 million people | 220.13 million people | 220.13 million people | 1 |
| 1780s | 275.68 million people | 275.68 million people | 275.68 million people | 1 |
| 1790s | 298.73 million people | 298.73 million people | 298.73 million people | 1 |
| 1800s | 337.01 million people | 330.00 million people | 344.11 million people | 10 |
| 1810s | 361.46 million people | 346.79 million people | 377.15 million people | 10 |
| 1820s | 393.32 million people | 380.43 million people | 405.61 million people | 10 |
| 1830s | 410.14 million people | 407.45 million people | 411.64 million people | 10 |
| 1840s | 411.90 million people | 411.27 million people | 412.00 million people | 10 |
| 1850s | 395.39 million people | 379.95 million people | 409.82 million people | 10 |
| 1860s | 367.43 million people | 359.00 million people | 377.07 million people | 10 |
| 1870s | 360.85 million people | 357.98 million people | 364.79 million people | 10 |
| 1880s | 370.70 million people | 365.79 million people | 375.84 million people | 10 |
| 1890s | 385.36 million people | 377.26 million people | 393.91 million people | 10 |
| 1900s | 405.63 million people | 395.93 million people | 415.91 million people | 10 |
| 1910s | 438.78 million people | 419.06 million people | 459.66 million people | 10 |
| 1920s | 472.62 million people | 463.33 million people | 480.67 million people | 10 |
| 1930s | 495.30 million people | 482.83 million people | 508.42 million people | 10 |
| 1940s | 523.96 million people | 511.30 million people | 537.92 million people | 10 |
| 1950s | 597.80 million people | 544.04 million people | 652.71 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 717.50 million people | 654.80 million people | 802.14 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 902.94 million people | 823.31 million people | 969.29 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.05 billion people | 983.16 million people | 1.13 billion people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.21 billion people | 1.15 billion people | 1.26 billion people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.31 billion people | 1.27 billion people | 1.34 billion people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.39 billion people | 1.35 billion people | 1.42 billion people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.43 billion people | 1.42 billion people | 1.43 billion people | 4 |
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 in China?
- Population in China was 1.42 billion people in 2023, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 1.43 billion people in 2021.
- What is the lowest population recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.59 million people in 1000.
- How does China rank for population?
- China ranks 2nd out of 239 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.2%. 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) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 241 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2023, based on data and estimates from different sources.