Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita in China
China: Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita was 83.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. GDP per capita in China, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
China recorded 83.6% for share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in China peaked at 83.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 64.6%, in 1950.
That places China 62nd 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 suburbs vs. GDP per capita in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 64.6% | — |
| 1955 | 66.6% | +3.1% |
| 1960 | 68.3% | +2.7% |
| 1965 | 69.9% | +2.3% |
| 1970 | 72.4% | +3.5% |
| 1975 | 74.5% | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 75.4% | +1.2% |
| 1985 | 76.9% | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 78.9% | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 80.4% | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 81.5% | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 82.3% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 82.9% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 83.4% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 83.6% | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 65.6% | 64.6% | 66.6% | 2 |
| 1960s | 69.1% | 68.3% | 69.9% | 2 |
| 1970s | 73.4% | 72.4% | 74.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 76.2% | 75.4% | 76.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 79.6% | 78.9% | 80.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 81.9% | 81.5% | 82.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 83.2% | 82.9% | 83.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 83.6% | 83.6% | 83.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
- 59 Afghanistan 84.4% compare
- 60 Netherlands 84.3% compare
- 61 Saudi Arabia 83.6% compare
- 63 Sao Tome and Principe 83.4% compare
- 64 India 83.4% compare
- 65 Gabon 83.1% compare
More population data for China
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.19 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 1.31 million Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1671 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3489 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -1.7% (2100)
- Population density 67.46 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 15.54 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in China?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita in China was 83.6% 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 suburbs vs. gdp per capita recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 83.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.6% in 1950.
- How does China rank for share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita?
- China ranks 62nd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and suburbs vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.9%. 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 suburbs vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.