Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in China
China: Urban and rural population projected to 2050 was 129.72 million people in 2050. ▲ Rising
Latest (2050)
129.72 million people
Change on year
down 13.0%
World rank
4th
of 238 countries
All-time high
865.80 million people
in 1995
All-time low
34.76 million people
in 1000
Years of data
133
1000–2050
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in China, 1000–2050
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
China recorded 129.72 million people for urban and rural population projected to 2050 in 2050.
The figure is down 13.0% on the previous year and down 57.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population projected to 2050 in China peaked at 865.80 million people in 1995 and was at its lowest, 34.76 million people, in 1000.
China ranks 4th of 238 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 133 years of available data.
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in China, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 34.76 million people | — |
| 1100 | 85.67 million people | +146.5% |
| 1200 | 97.91 million people | +14.3% |
| 1300 | 75.97 million people | -22.4% |
| 1400 | 67.69 million people | -10.9% |
| 1500 | 85.33 million people | +26.1% |
| 1600 | 91.19 million people | +6.9% |
| 1700 | 93.47 million people | +2.5% |
| 1710 | 97.81 million people | +4.6% |
| 1720 | 112.33 million people | +14.8% |
| 1730 | 119.43 million people | +6.3% |
| 1740 | 134.40 million people | +12.5% |
| 1750 | 167.63 million people | +24.7% |
| 1760 | 185.23 million people | +10.5% |
| 1770 | 206.93 million people | +11.7% |
| 1780 | 259.14 million people | +25.2% |
| 1790 | 280.80 million people | +8.4% |
| 1800 | 274.49 million people | -2.2% |
| 1810 | 321.41 million people | +17.1% |
| 1820 | 331.56 million people | +3.2% |
| 1830 | 364.84 million people | +10.0% |
| 1840 | 385.73 million people | +5.7% |
| 1850 | 402.68 million people | +4.4% |
| 1860 | 395.58 million people | -1.8% |
| 1870 | 335.46 million people | -15.2% |
| 1880 | 339.18 million people | +1.1% |
| 1890 | 349.58 million people | +3.1% |
| 1900 | 372.19 million people | +6.5% |
| 1910 | 393.32 million people | +5.7% |
| 1920 | 438.57 million people | +11.5% |
| 1930 | 452.56 million people | +3.2% |
| 1940 | 476.85 million people | +5.4% |
| 1950 | 483.24 million people | +1.3% |
| 1951 | 488.53 million people | +1.1% |
| 1952 | 494.71 million people | +1.3% |
| 1953 | 502.47 million people | +1.6% |
| 1954 | 509.34 million people | +1.4% |
| 1955 | 522.19 million people | +2.5% |
| 1956 | 526.42 million people | +0.8% |
| 1957 | 533.36 million people | +1.3% |
| 1958 | 539.56 million people | +1.2% |
| 1959 | 532.56 million people | -1.3% |
| 1960 | 525.51 million people | -1.3% |
| 1961 | 529.25 million people | +0.7% |
| 1962 | 549.85 million people | +3.9% |
| 1963 | 569.30 million people | +3.5% |
| 1964 | 575.82 million people | +1.1% |
| 1965 | 593.32 million people | +3.0% |
| 1966 | 609.81 million people | +2.8% |
| 1967 | 626.02 million people | +2.7% |
| 1968 | 643.39 million people | +2.8% |
| 1969 | 661.77 million people | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 680.22 million people | +2.8% |
| 1971 | 698.38 million people | +2.7% |
| 1972 | 715.71 million people | +2.5% |
| 1973 | 730.77 million people | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 745.78 million people | +2.1% |
| 1975 | 757.22 million people | +1.5% |
| 1976 | 768.15 million people | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 777.94 million people | +1.3% |
| 1978 | 784.86 million people | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 785.50 million people | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 792.52 million people | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 796.62 million people | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 805.14 million people | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 806.54 million people | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 803.62 million people | -0.4% |
| 1985 | 808.56 million people | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 813.04 million people | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 818.66 million people | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 827.35 million people | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 836.77 million people | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 851.39 million people | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 855.38 million people | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 859.29 million people | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 862.18 million people | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 864.32 million people | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 865.80 million people | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 855.75 million people | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 845.09 million people | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 833.69 million people | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 821.89 million people | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 807.05 million people | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 797.16 million people | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 783.83 million people | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 769.85 million people | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 758.34 million people | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 746.85 million people | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 733.59 million people | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 717.41 million people | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 707.07 million people | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 693.52 million people | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 686.13 million people | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 655.23 million people | -4.5% |
| 2012 | 642.30 million people | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 627.59 million people | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 614.16 million people | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 595.73 million people | -3.0% |
| 2016 | 577.91 million people | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 561.55 million people | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 546.32 million people | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 530.83 million people | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 520.20 million people | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 503.23 million people | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 495.71 million people | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 490.36 million people | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 484.06 million people | -1.3% |
| 2025 | 476.62 million people | -1.5% |
| 2026 | 468.81 million people | -1.6% |
| 2027 | 460.54 million people | -1.8% |
| 2028 | 451.71 million people | -1.9% |
| 2029 | 442.32 million people | -2.1% |
| 2030 | 432.40 million people | -2.2% |
| 2031 | 421.94 million people | -2.4% |
| 2032 | 410.94 million people | -2.6% |
| 2033 | 399.41 million people | -2.8% |
| 2034 | 387.36 million people | -3.0% |
| 2035 | 374.80 million people | -3.2% |
| 2036 | 361.73 million people | -3.5% |
| 2037 | 348.17 million people | -3.7% |
| 2038 | 334.12 million people | -4.0% |
| 2039 | 319.58 million people | -4.4% |
| 2040 | 304.56 million people | -4.7% |
| 2041 | 289.07 million people | -5.1% |
| 2042 | 273.11 million people | -5.5% |
| 2043 | 256.69 million people | -6.0% |
| 2044 | 239.83 million people | -6.6% |
| 2045 | 222.52 million people | -7.2% |
| 2046 | 204.77 million people | -8.0% |
| 2047 | 186.60 million people | -8.9% |
| 2048 | 168.02 million people | -10.0% |
| 2049 | 149.05 million people | -11.3% |
| 2050 | 129.72 million people | -13.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 129.72 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.23 million people, 105.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 129.72 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 306,014 people, 423.9× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +146.5% | 34.76 million people | 85.67 million people |
| 1500 | +26.1% | 67.69 million people | 85.33 million people |
| 1780 | +25.2% | 206.93 million people | 259.14 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 34.76 million people | 34.76 million people | 34.76 million people | 1 |
| 1100s | 85.67 million people | 85.67 million people | 85.67 million people | 1 |
| 1200s | 97.91 million people | 97.91 million people | 97.91 million people | 1 |
| 1300s | 75.97 million people | 75.97 million people | 75.97 million people | 1 |
| 1400s | 67.69 million people | 67.69 million people | 67.69 million people | 1 |
| 1500s | 85.33 million people | 85.33 million people | 85.33 million people | 1 |
| 1600s | 91.19 million people | 91.19 million people | 91.19 million people | 1 |
| 1700s | 93.47 million people | 93.47 million people | 93.47 million people | 1 |
| 1710s | 97.81 million people | 97.81 million people | 97.81 million people | 1 |
| 1720s | 112.33 million people | 112.33 million people | 112.33 million people | 1 |
| 1730s | 119.43 million people | 119.43 million people | 119.43 million people | 1 |
| 1740s | 134.40 million people | 134.40 million people | 134.40 million people | 1 |
| 1750s | 167.63 million people | 167.63 million people | 167.63 million people | 1 |
| 1760s | 185.23 million people | 185.23 million people | 185.23 million people | 1 |
| 1770s | 206.93 million people | 206.93 million people | 206.93 million people | 1 |
| 1780s | 259.14 million people | 259.14 million people | 259.14 million people | 1 |
| 1790s | 280.80 million people | 280.80 million people | 280.80 million people | 1 |
| 1800s | 274.49 million people | 274.49 million people | 274.49 million people | 1 |
| 1810s | 321.41 million people | 321.41 million people | 321.41 million people | 1 |
| 1820s | 331.56 million people | 331.56 million people | 331.56 million people | 1 |
| 1830s | 364.84 million people | 364.84 million people | 364.84 million people | 1 |
| 1840s | 385.73 million people | 385.73 million people | 385.73 million people | 1 |
| 1850s | 402.68 million people | 402.68 million people | 402.68 million people | 1 |
| 1860s | 395.58 million people | 395.58 million people | 395.58 million people | 1 |
| 1870s | 335.46 million people | 335.46 million people | 335.46 million people | 1 |
| 1880s | 339.18 million people | 339.18 million people | 339.18 million people | 1 |
| 1890s | 349.58 million people | 349.58 million people | 349.58 million people | 1 |
| 1900s | 372.19 million people | 372.19 million people | 372.19 million people | 1 |
| 1910s | 393.32 million people | 393.32 million people | 393.32 million people | 1 |
| 1920s | 438.57 million people | 438.57 million people | 438.57 million people | 1 |
| 1930s | 452.56 million people | 452.56 million people | 452.56 million people | 1 |
| 1940s | 476.85 million people | 476.85 million people | 476.85 million people | 1 |
| 1950s | 513.24 million people | 483.24 million people | 539.56 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 588.40 million people | 525.51 million people | 661.77 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 744.45 million people | 680.22 million people | 785.50 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 810.88 million people | 792.52 million people | 836.77 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 851.48 million people | 821.89 million people | 865.80 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 751.47 million people | 693.52 million people | 807.05 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 603.78 million people | 530.83 million people | 686.13 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 479.36 million people | 442.32 million people | 520.20 million people | 10 |
| 2030s | 379.05 million people | 319.58 million people | 432.40 million people | 10 |
| 2040s | 229.42 million people | 149.05 million people | 304.56 million people | 10 |
| 2050s | 129.72 million people | 129.72 million people | 129.72 million people | 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 urban and rural population projected to 2050 in China?
- Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in China was 129.72 million people in 2050, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 865.80 million people in 1995.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.76 million people in 1000.
- How does China rank for urban and rural population projected to 2050?
- China ranks 4th out of 238 countries with data for 2050.
- Is urban and rural population projected to 2050 rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 57.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 133 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in rural areas, combining UN estimates and projections with modeled historical data.