Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita in China
China: Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita was 66.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
66.3%
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
115th
of 236 countries
All-time high
66.3%
in 2025
All-time low
11.2%
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita 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 %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita in China stood at 66.3%. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 15.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita in China peaked at 66.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 11.2%, in 1950.
China ranks 115th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 11.2% | — |
| 1951 | 11.8% | +5.4% |
| 1952 | 12.5% | +5.8% |
| 1953 | 13.0% | +4.3% |
| 1954 | 13.7% | +5.3% |
| 1955 | 13.5% | -1.5% |
| 1956 | 14.6% | +8.5% |
| 1957 | 15.4% | +5.3% |
| 1958 | 16.2% | +5.6% |
| 1959 | 18.4% | +13.3% |
| 1960 | 19.7% | +7.3% |
| 1961 | 19.3% | -2.3% |
| 1962 | 17.3% | -10.2% |
| 1963 | 16.8% | -2.8% |
| 1964 | 18.3% | +8.7% |
| 1965 | 18.0% | -1.7% |
| 1966 | 17.9% | -0.7% |
| 1967 | 17.7% | -0.7% |
| 1968 | 17.6% | -0.7% |
| 1969 | 17.5% | -0.7% |
| 1970 | 17.4% | -0.7% |
| 1971 | 17.3% | -0.7% |
| 1972 | 17.1% | -0.7% |
| 1973 | 17.2% | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 17.2% | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 17.3% | +1.1% |
| 1976 | 17.4% | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 17.6% | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 17.9% | +2.1% |
| 1979 | 19.0% | +5.8% |
| 1980 | 19.4% | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 20.2% | +3.9% |
| 1982 | 20.6% | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 21.6% | +5.1% |
| 1984 | 23.0% | +6.4% |
| 1985 | 23.7% | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 24.5% | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 25.3% | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 25.8% | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 26.2% | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 26.2% | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 26.9% | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 27.5% | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 28.0% | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 28.5% | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 29.0% | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 30.5% | +5.0% |
| 1997 | 31.9% | +4.7% |
| 1998 | 33.4% | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 34.8% | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 36.4% | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 37.7% | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 39.1% | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 40.5% | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 41.8% | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 43.0% | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 44.3% | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 45.9% | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 47.0% | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 48.3% | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 49.2% | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 51.8% | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 53.1% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 54.5% | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 55.8% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 57.3% | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 58.8% | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 60.2% | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 61.5% | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 62.7% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 63.5% | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 64.7% | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 65.2% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 65.5% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 65.9% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 66.3% | +0.7% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 66.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 65.5%, 1.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 66.3% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 65.4%, 1.0× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 14.0% | 11.2% | 18.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 18.0% | 16.8% | 19.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 17.5% | 17.1% | 19.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 23.0% | 19.4% | 26.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 29.7% | 26.2% | 34.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.4% | 36.4% | 48.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 56.5% | 49.2% | 62.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 65.2% | 63.5% | 66.3% | 6 |
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 urban areas vs. gdp per capita in China?
- Share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita in China was 66.3% 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 share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 66.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.2% in 1950.
- How does China rank for share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita?
- China ranks 115th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.7%. 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 Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.