Share of children, working-age adults, and older people in China
China: Share of children, working-age adults, and older people was 236.00 million people in 2023. ▬ Flat
Share 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
In 2023, share of children, working-age adults, and older people in China stood at 236.00 million people.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.3% on the previous year and down 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children, working-age adults, and older people in China peaked at 375.74 million people in 1977 and was at its lowest, 189.27 million people, in 1950.
That places China 2nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 226.48 million people | 189.27 million people | 264.36 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 293.14 million people | 262.01 million people | 328.52 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 359.26 million people | 335.85 million people | 375.74 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 337.25 million people | 326.88 million people | 354.89 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 331.02 million people | 317.23 million people | 337.07 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 275.25 million people | 250.32 million people | 311.61 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 254.77 million people | 249.50 million people | 260.08 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 246.72 million people | 236.00 million people | 256.06 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 share of children, working-age adults, and older people in China?
- Share of children, working-age adults, and older people in China was 236.00 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children, working-age adults, and older people recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 375.74 million people in 1977.
- What is the lowest share of children, working-age adults, and older people recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 189.27 million people in 1950.
- How does China rank for share of children, working-age adults, and older people?
- China ranks 2nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of children, working-age adults, and older people rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 Share 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 0-14.