Population of cities towns and villages in China

China: Population of cities towns and villages was 233.26 million in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
233.26 million
World rank
1st
of 229 countries
All-time high
244.39 million
in 1985
All-time low
192.61 million
in 1950
Years of data
15
1950–2020

Population of cities towns and villages in China, 1950–2020

050.0M100.0M150.0M200.0M250.0M1950198520201950: 192.6M1955: 201.7M1960: 207.3M1965: 217.4M1970: 227.2M1975: 234.0M1980: 242.2M1985: 244.4M1990: 243.7M1995: 239.2M2000: 234.3M2005: 231.9M2010: 230.7M2015: 231.5M2020: 233.3M

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2020, population of cities towns and villages in China stood at 233.26 million.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population of cities towns and villages in China peaked at 244.39 million in 1985 and was at its lowest, 192.61 million, in 1950.

That places China 1st out of 229 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.

Population of cities towns and villages in China, year by year

Annual values for Population of cities towns and villages in China, 1950 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1950 192.61 million
1955 201.73 million +4.7%
1960 207.27 million +2.7%
1965 217.42 million +4.9%
1970 227.17 million +4.5%
1975 233.95 million +3.0%
1980 242.25 million +3.5%
1985 244.39 million +0.9%
1990 243.72 million -0.3%
1995 239.22 million -1.8%
2000 234.30 million -2.1%
2005 231.94 million -1.0%
2010 230.69 million -0.5%
2015 231.47 million +0.3%
2020 233.26 million +0.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 197.17 million 192.61 million 201.73 million 2
1960s 212.34 million 207.27 million 217.42 million 2
1970s 230.56 million 227.17 million 233.95 million 2
1980s 243.32 million 242.25 million 244.39 million 2
1990s 241.47 million 239.22 million 243.72 million 2
2000s 233.12 million 231.94 million 234.30 million 2
2010s 231.08 million 230.69 million 231.47 million 2
2020s 233.26 million 233.26 million 233.26 million 1

Countries ranked near China

  1. 1 Mayotte 25,604 compare
  2. 2 Cook Islands 15,644 compare
  3. 2 India 232.95 million compare
  4. 3 Anguilla 14,843 compare
  5. 3 United States of America 88.17 million compare
  6. 4 Brazil 43.30 million compare
  7. 4 Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha 5,430 compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More population data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is population of cities towns and villages in China?
Population of cities towns and villages in China was 233.26 million in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest population of cities towns and villages recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 244.39 million in 1985.
What is the lowest population of cities towns and villages recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 192.61 million in 1950.
How does China rank for population of cities towns and villages?
China ranks 1st out of 229 countries with data for 2020.
Is population of cities towns and villages rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this China data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population of cities towns and villages. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Population of cities towns and villages in China. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/population-of-cities-towns-and-villages/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Population of cities towns and villages
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
236 places, 3,540 data points, 1950–2020
Last refreshed