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
Latest (2023)
236.00 million people
Change on year
down 3.3%
World rank
2nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
375.74 million people
in 1977
All-time low
189.27 million people
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
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%.
Share of children, working-age adults, and older people in China, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 189.27 million people | — |
| 1951 | 195.50 million people | +3.3% |
| 1952 | 203.31 million people | +4.0% |
| 1953 | 212.07 million people | +4.3% |
| 1954 | 221.04 million people | +4.2% |
| 1955 | 230.78 million people | +4.4% |
| 1956 | 239.74 million people | +3.9% |
| 1957 | 249.44 million people | +4.0% |
| 1958 | 259.28 million people | +3.9% |
| 1959 | 264.36 million people | +2.0% |
| 1960 | 264.11 million people | -0.1% |
| 1961 | 262.01 million people | -0.8% |
| 1962 | 265.77 million people | +1.4% |
| 1963 | 277.89 million people | +4.6% |
| 1964 | 290.39 million people | +4.5% |
| 1965 | 299.92 million people | +3.3% |
| 1966 | 308.19 million people | +2.8% |
| 1967 | 314.12 million people | +1.9% |
| 1968 | 320.52 million people | +2.0% |
| 1969 | 328.52 million people | +2.5% |
| 1970 | 335.85 million people | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 343.15 million people | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 348.91 million people | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 354.35 million people | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 361.59 million people | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 368.69 million people | +2.0% |
| 1976 | 374.81 million people | +1.7% |
| 1977 | 375.74 million people | +0.2% |
| 1978 | 368.75 million people | -1.9% |
| 1979 | 360.80 million people | -2.2% |
| 1980 | 354.89 million people | -1.6% |
| 1981 | 349.91 million people | -1.4% |
| 1982 | 347.24 million people | -0.8% |
| 1983 | 343.01 million people | -1.2% |
| 1984 | 336.50 million people | -1.9% |
| 1985 | 331.11 million people | -1.6% |
| 1986 | 327.62 million people | -1.1% |
| 1987 | 326.88 million people | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 327.05 million people | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 328.26 million people | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 332.21 million people | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 335.42 million people | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 336.44 million people | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 337.07 million people | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 336.52 million people | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 334.73 million people | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 331.75 million people | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 326.90 million people | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 321.90 million people | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 317.23 million people | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 311.61 million people | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 304.42 million people | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 295.06 million people | -3.1% |
| 2003 | 285.35 million people | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 275.87 million people | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 265.86 million people | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 258.24 million people | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 254.16 million people | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 251.65 million people | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 250.32 million people | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 249.69 million people | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 249.50 million people | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 250.59 million people | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 252.43 million people | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 254.39 million people | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 255.75 million people | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 257.01 million people | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 259.21 million people | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 260.08 million people | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 259.05 million people | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 256.06 million people | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 250.79 million people | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 244.02 million people | -2.7% |
| 2023 | 236.00 million people | -3.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 236.00 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.56 million people, 151.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 236.00 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 473,838 people, 498.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
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
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.19 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3489 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1671 Percent per annum (2030)
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
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown. This only includes people aged 0-14.