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China· by the numbers

1,405,071,031
Population right now, ticking live from the last confirmed count.▼ shrinking1,406,585,000 (World Bank, 2025) + −2,390,000/year × elapsed time since 2025-12-31 — open formula, updates every ticksource: World Bank · indicator year: 2025 · license: CC BY 4.0 · 1 in 6 on Earth

China's population is 1,406,585,000 (2025) — the 2nd-largest in the world and the 2nd-largest in Asia, shrinking by about 2,390,000 people a year.

Where it ranksCompare →Updated 2026-08-19

China Facts at a Glance

Six numbers that summarise the country — population trend, rank, density, wealth, prices, share of humanity.

Population#2 of 217
1,406,585,000
Area
9,596,960 km²
149.8 km² land area
GDP#2 of 186
$19.50T
GDP / capita
$13,862
2025
#2 economy overall
Price level#83 of 200
49 / US 100
cost of living
Share of humanity
17.1%
1 in 6 people on Earth lives in China

China in World Rankings

Every world ranking we publish, this country’s place in each, and its overall percentile shape.

Population1,406,585,000 people
#2 / 217
GDP$19.50T
#2 / 186
Average income$14,230 GNI per person
#62 / 182
Life expectancy78 years
#70 / 217
Average height175.7 cm (male)
#65 / 200
Median age39.1 years, half older
#53 / 220
Cleanest air31.99 µg/m³ PM2.5
#158 / 200
Safest countries0.5 homicides / 100k
#13 / 196
Most dangerous0.5 homicides / 100k
#183 / 196
Internet users92% of population online
#46 / 182
PopulationGDPIncomeLife exp.HeightMedian ageClean airSafetyDangerOnline
Percentile in each ranking — further from centre is a higher rank (closer to #1).

Is China's Population Declining?

Yes. China's population fell by 2,390,000 people (-0.17%) between 2024 and 2025. The fertility rate is 1.0 births per woman — below the ~2.1 replacement level. Net migration was negative in the latest year on record.

Population, 1960 to 2025

66 years of estimates from the same source.

Source: World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL) · annual estimates, 1960–2025 · hover the line for any year.

China Demographics

Every indicator has its own source and dataset year — shown honestly rather than smoothed into one.

Population density2025
149.8 people / km²
9,388,210 km² land area, 2025
Median age2023
39.1 years
half the population is older, half younger
Life expectancy2024
78.0 years
M 75.2 · F 81
Average height2019
175.7 cm (male)
female 163.5 cm
Homicide rate2020
0.5 per 100,000
#13 safest of 196
Air quality (PM2.5)2023
32.0 µg/m³
lower is cleaner
Urban population2025
66.3 %
share living in cities
Fertility rate2025
1.0 births / woman
replacement level ≈ 2.1
Net migration2025
−268,126 people
negative in latest year
Aged 65+2025
14.9 %
share of the population 65 or older

Age & sex structure

17 five-year bands, male and female, 2025.

Male — 716,046,016Female — 690,538,987
0-4 · Male: 24,774,7560-4 · Female: 22,426,2200-45-9 · Male: 42,452,2225-9 · Female: 37,328,1375-910-14 · Male: 48,185,90510-14 · Female: 41,549,40310-1415-19 · Male: 45,379,35715-19 · Female: 38,713,11415-1920-24 · Male: 42,240,53120-24 · Female: 36,055,77320-2425-29 · Male: 44,079,07325-29 · Female: 38,169,35825-2930-34 · Male: 51,795,26430-34 · Female: 46,138,92230-3435-39 · Male: 62,856,90935-39 · Female: 57,855,45935-3940-44 · Male: 52,322,47040-44 · Female: 49,485,88140-4445-49 · Male: 46,748,82645-49 · Female: 44,991,49645-4950-54 · Male: 57,655,52050-54 · Female: 56,651,09150-5455-59 · Male: 57,713,01055-59 · Female: 58,167,91955-5960-64 · Male: 45,685,72360-64 · Female: 47,420,70560-6465-69 · Male: 33,159,15565-69 · Female: 36,422,10965-6970-74 · Male: 29,562,81570-74 · Female: 35,134,83170-7475-79 · Male: 17,226,51775-79 · Female: 21,562,78475-7980+ · Male: 14,207,96380+ · Female: 22,465,78580+

Largest cities

By population, GeoNames city-proper figures (not metro area).

1
Shanghai
24,874,500
2
Beijing
18,960,744
3
Shenzhen
17,494,398
4
Guangzhou
16,096,724
5
Chengdu
13,568,357
6
Tianjin
11,090,314
7
Wuhan
10,392,693
8
Dongguan
9,644,871
9
Xi’an
9,600,000
10
Nanjing
9,314,685
11
Hangzhou
9,236,032
12
Foshan
9,042,509

Where is China Located?

Capital
Beijing
Currency
Yuan Renminbi (CNY)
Language(s)
Chinese, YUE, WUU, DTA, Uyghur, ZA
Region
East Asia & Pacific
Continent
48 countries in Asia →
Land area
9,388,210 km²
Area (GeoNames)
9,596,960 km²
Borders
14 countries
Shares a border with
LaosBhutanTajikistanKazakhstanMongoliaAfghanistanNepalMyanmarKyrgyzstanPakistanNorth KoreaRussiaVietnamIndia

You, in China

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Compare China with:
LaosBhutanTajikistanKazakhstanMongoliaAfghanistan
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Frequently asked

What is the population of China?

China's population is 1,406,585,000 as of 2025 (World Bank estimate), ranking #2 of 217 countries and territories by population.

How many people live in China?

1,406,585,000 people, as of the 2025 World Bank estimate — the most recent figure this page tracks.

What is China's population density?

149.8 people per km², based on a land area of 9,388,210 km².

What is China ranked in population worldwide?

#2 of 217 countries and territories by population — see the full ranking table for every country's position.

What is the life expectancy in China?

78.0 years on average (2024) — 75.2 for men, 81.0 for women.

What is China's GDP?

$19.50T, ranking #2 of 186 economies we track — $13,862 per capita.

Is China's population declining?

Yes. China's population has been shrinking, falling by 2,390,000 people (-0.17%) between 2024 and 2025.

Why is China's population so large?

China is the world's #2-most populous country, home to 1,406,585,000 people (2025) — about 17.1%% of the world's population lives here.

Cite this page

CC BY 4.0

Our compilation on this page — the figures as arranged, ranked and dated here — is published under CC BY 4.0. Reuse it anywhere, including commercially, with a link back. The underlying data belongs to the organizations credited below.

Us, by Numbers. "Us, by Numbers." https://usbynumbers.com

Sources