Number of people living in urban and rural areas in China
China: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 939.48 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in China, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in urban and rural areas in China is 939.48 million people, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and up 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in China peaked at 939.48 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 60.81 million people, in 1950.
China ranks 1st of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 84.56 million people | 60.81 million people | 120.15 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 129.10 million people | 115.22 million people | 140.37 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 158.49 million people | 143.09 million people | 183.79 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 244.11 million people | 190.65 million people | 297.22 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 360.37 million people | 302.19 million people | 438.29 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 554.74 million people | 462.53 million people | 649.00 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 786.56 million people | 665.43 million people | 892.69 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 927.59 million people | 905.91 million people | 939.48 million people | 6 |
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 number of people living in urban and rural areas in China?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in China was 939.48 million people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 939.48 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 60.81 million people in 1950.
- How does China rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- China ranks 1st out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.