Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in China
China: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 43.5% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in China, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in China stood at 43.5%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in China peaked at 43.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 11.8%, in 1950.
That places China 87th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 11.8% | — |
| 1955 | 13.9% | +17.9% |
| 1960 | 16.3% | +17.7% |
| 1965 | 18.7% | +14.2% |
| 1970 | 21.4% | +14.7% |
| 1975 | 24.5% | +14.6% |
| 1980 | 25.5% | +3.9% |
| 1985 | 26.7% | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 28.6% | +7.0% |
| 1995 | 32.3% | +13.1% |
| 2000 | 37.1% | +14.7% |
| 2005 | 38.9% | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 40.2% | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 41.9% | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 43.5% | +3.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 12.8% | 11.8% | 13.9% | 2 |
| 1960s | 17.5% | 16.3% | 18.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 23.0% | 21.4% | 24.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 26.1% | 25.5% | 26.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 30.5% | 28.6% | 32.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 38.0% | 37.1% | 38.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 41.1% | 40.2% | 41.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 43.5% | 43.5% | 43.5% | 1 |
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 population living in cities, towns and rural areas in China?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in China was 43.5% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 43.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.8% in 1950.
- How does China rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- China ranks 87th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.