Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in China
China: Number of children, working-age adults, and older people was 203.62 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in China, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
China recorded 203.62 million people for number of children, working-age adults, and older people in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 3.7% on the previous year and up 57.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of children, working-age adults, and older people in China peaked at 203.62 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 25.43 million people, in 1962.
China ranks 1st of 236 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 26.75 million people | 26.45 million people | 27.43 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 26.77 million people | 25.43 million people | 29.54 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 35.70 million people | 30.53 million people | 41.57 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 50.82 million people | 43.21 million people | 59.34 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 72.97 million people | 61.66 million people | 85.87 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 101.93 million people | 89.09 million people | 114.08 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 140.29 million people | 117.05 million people | 171.66 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 192.16 million people | 180.30 million people | 203.62 million people | 4 |
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)
- Population density 67.46 people per km² (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of children, working-age adults, and older people in China?
- Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in China was 203.62 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of children, working-age adults, and older people recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 203.62 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest number of children, working-age adults, and older people recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.43 million people in 1962.
- How does China rank for number of children, working-age adults, and older people?
- China ranks 1st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of children, working-age adults, and older people rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 57.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of children, working-age adults, and older people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown. This only includes people aged 65+.