China Population

China Population

China is the world’s most populous country, and has been ruled by the Communist Party since 1949. In recent years, the country has opened up to the West, and has made great economic progress.

Key figures and facts

  • Capital: Beijing
  • Ethnic groups: Han Chinese 92%, others (including the Hui, the Manu, Uyghurs, Miao, Yi, Tujians, Tibetans, Mongolians, Dong, Bouyei, Yao, Bai, Koreans, Hani, Li, Kasakher, Dai and other nationalities) 7% (2010)
  • Language: Mandarin (official), yue (Cantonese), wu (Shanghai), minbei, minnan, xinjiang, gan, hakka dialects, minority language
  • Religion: Buddhists 18%, Christian 5%, popular religions 22%, Hindus/Jews/others 1%, none 52% (2010)
  • Population: 1 424 548 000 (2020)
  • Control Form: Communist rule
  • Area: 9 562 911 km²
  • Currency: yuan
  • GNP per capita: 15 529 PPP $
  • National Day: October 1st

China’s population

China is, closely followed by India, the world’s most populous country with 1,415,045,928 residents (2018). This represents a little more than 20 percent of the Earth’s total population. Life expectancy is 73.7 years for men and 78.1 years for women (2018).

China Country Population

Population of China by Year (Historical)

Year Population Annual Growth Rate Population Density Global Rank
2020 1,439,323,665 0.390% 153.3118 1
2019 1,433,783,575 0.430% 152.7217 1
2018 1,427,647,675 0.470% 152.0681 1
2017 1,421,021,680 0.490% 151.3624 1
2016 1,414,049,240 0.510% 150.6197 1
2015 1,406,847,759 0.550% 149.8526 1
2010 1,368,810,504 0.560% 145.8010 1
2005 1,330,776,269 0.620% 141.7497 1
2000 1,290,550,654 0.790% 137.4650 1
1995 1,240,920,424 1.060% 132.1786 1
1990 1,176,883,563 1.820% 125.3576 1
1985 1,075,589,250 1.470% 114.5681 1
1980 1,000,089,124 1.550% 106.5261 1
1975 926,240,774 2.280% 98.6600 1
1970 827,601,283 2.710% 88.1533 1
1965 724,218,857 1.860% 77.1413 1
1960 660,407,945 1.530% 70.3444 1
1955 612,241,443 2.000% 65.2139 1
1950 554,419,162 0.000% 59.0548 1

Major Cities in China by Population

Rank City Population
1 Shanghai 22,315,363
2 Beijing 11,716,509
3 Tianjin 11,090,203
4 Guangzhou 11,071,313
5 Shenzhen 10,358,270
6 Wuhan 9,785,277
7 Dongguan 7,999,889
8 Chongqing 7,457,489
9 Chengdu 7,415,479
10 Nanjing 7,165,181
11 Nanchong 7,149,889
12 Xi’an 6,501,079
13 Shenyang 6,255,810
14 Hangzhou 6,241,860
15 Harbin 5,878,828
16 Tai’an 5,498,889
17 Suzhou 5,345,850
18 Shantou 5,328,913
19 Jinan 4,335,878
20 Zhengzhou 4,253,802
21 Changchun 4,192,962
22 Dalian 4,087,622
23 Kunming 3,855,235
24 Qingdao 3,718,724
25 Foshan 3,599,889
26 Puyang 3,589,889
27 Wuxi 3,543,608
28 Xiamen 3,531,236
29 Tianshui 3,499,889
30 Ningbo 3,491,486
31 Shiyan 3,459,889
32 Taiyuan 3,426,408
33 Tangshan 3,371,991
34 Hefei 3,310,157
35 Zibo 3,129,117
36 Zhongshan 3,121,164
37 Changsha 3,093,869
38 Urumqi 3,029,261
39 Shijiazhuang 2,834,831
40 Lanzhou 2,628,315
41 Yunfu 2,612,689
42 Nanchang 2,357,728
43 Dadonghai 1,999,889
44 Ordos 1,940,542
45 Jilin 1,881,866
46 Bayan Nur 1,759,889
47 Kunshan 1,599,889
48 Xinyang 1,590,557
49 Fushun 1,400,535
50 Luoyang 1,390,470
51 Guankou 1,379,889
52 Handan 1,358,207
53 Baotou 1,301,657
54 Xuchang 1,265,425
55 Yueyang 1,199,889
56 Anshan 1,199,164
57 Tongshan 1,199,082
58 Fuzhou 1,179,609
59 Guiyang 1,171,522
60 Lijiang 1,137,489
61 Datong 1,052,567
62 Changshu City 1,047,589
63 Xianyang 1,033,970
64 Huainan 1,027,544
65 Jieyang 1,001,874
66 Zhu Cheng City 999,889
67 Baoding 995,541
68 Benxi 987,606
69 Changzhou 948,907
70 Huaibei 902,928
71 Kaifeng 899,889
72 Pingdingshan 889,564
73 Qiqihar 882,253
74 Wenzhou 865,561
75 Zhabei 839,889
76 Nanning 803,677
77 Anyang 781,018
78 Hohhot 774,366
79 Shangyu 769,889
80 Xining 767,420
81 Qinhuangdao 759,607
82 Hengyang 759,491
83 Xinxiang 743,490
84 Hegang 743,196
85 Langfang 720,008
86 Zhumadian 719,889
87 Yantai 719,221
88 Zhuzhou 709,247
89 Changzhi 699,403
90 Zhangjiakou 692,491
91 Zigong 689,850
92 Fuxin 688,939
93 Huangshi 687,979
94 Liaoyang 687,779
95 Xiangtan 674,078
96 Puyang Chengguanzhen 666,211
97 Nantong 666,140
98 Mudanjiang 665,804
99 Guilin 649,241
100 Zhanjiang 637,679
101 Zhenjiang 632,441
102 Dandong 631,862
103 Shaoguan 628,638
104 Yancheng 628,330
105 Panshan 624,929
106 Haikou 615,724
107 Taizhou 612,245
108 Xingtai 611,628
109 Jinzhou 604,158
110 Shuangyashan 599,889
111 Luancheng 597,019
112 Yingkou 591,048
113 Zhangzhou 589,720
114 Bengbu 576,537
115 Shihezi 572,661
116 Siping 555,498
117 Huai’an 555,119
118 Jiamusi 549,438
119 Neijiang 546,743
120 Yangzhou 539,604
121 Guli 535,889
122 Tanggu 535,187
123 Jiangmen 532,308
124 Cangzhou 527,570
125 Changde 517,669
126 Jiaozuo 517,429
127 Tonghua 509,889
128 Wuhu 507,413
129 Zhuhai 501,088
130 Shashi 498,669
131 Wuwei 492,981
132 Qionghai 479,889
133 Yichang 476,614
134 Yinchuan 474,990
135 Jiaojiang 470,693
136 Zunyi 466,181
137 Jiaxing 465,990
138 Liaoyuan 465,138
139 Xiangyang 462,845
140 Dadukou 461,402
141 Hengshui 456,245
142 Jining 450,216
143 Wenshan City 449,889
144 Chengde 449,214
145 Bei’an 436,333
146 Luqiao 427,779
147 Chaozhou 424,676
148 Shaoxing 421,172
149 Luohe 417,245
150 Yangquan 413,283
151 Chaoyang 409,894
152 Jixi 403,648
153 Yangjiang 399,624
154 Weifang 394,621
155 Xinpu 392,333
156 Dezhou 379,444
157 Zhoukou 376,950
158 Putian 376,447
159 Zhangjiakou Shi Xuanhua Qu 373,311
160 Pingxiang 372,012
161 Fenghuang 369,889
162 Zhaoqing 361,858
163 Huocheng 359,889
164 Anqing 358,550
165 Anshun 351,825
166 Chifeng 346,543
167 Taihecun 344,922
168 Shiqi 342,195
169 Aksu 339,909
170 Tieling 333,796
171 Jincheng 332,539
172 Yanji 326,846
173 Suizhou 323,834
174 Shangrao 318,658
175 Baicheng 316,859
176 Lianshan 313,136
177 Wusong 312,477
178 Jingdezhen 310,454
179 Shengli 306,339
180 Yangshuo 299,889
181 Xinyuan 299,889
182 Xiuying 289,889
183 Beihai 289,457
184 Huizhou 289,090
185 Chuzhou 280,471
186 Kashgar 274,606
187 Linyi 270,558
188 Chengzhong 265,775
189 Wuzhou 265,735
190 Hulan Ergi 265,233
191 Mianyang 264,025
192 Tongliao 260,999
193 Aral 259,889
194 Karamay 259,889
195 Jiujiang 258,696
196 Jining 258,646
197 Turpan 254,789
198 Heze 254,491
199 Laohekou 253,001
200 Suihua 252,134
201 Liupanshui 251,789
202 Nanyang 251,421
203 Wafangdian 250,480
204 Rizhao 246,276
205 Ji’an 244,889
206 Hebi 244,551
207 Huayin 242,377
208 Yibin 242,000
209 Xiantao 239,295
210 Yuci 235,818
211 Linfen 232,455
212 Liaocheng 226,819
213 Fendou 226,187
214 Huanggang 225,845
215 Jingling 224,760
216 Tongchuanshi 223,492
217 Xintai 222,348
218 Wuxue 220,550
219 Wuhai 218,316
220 Jinzhou 215,275
221 Guangyuan 213,254
222 Hailar 210,955
223 Daliang 210,300
224 Sanming 209,333
225 Hangu 208,258
226 Suzhou 205,019
227 Gaoping 204,257
228 Daqing 203,377
229 Yiyang 202,497
230 Linxia Chengguanzhen 202,291
231 Yuncheng 201,839
232 Changji 198,665
233 Kaiyuan 198,312
234 Mentougou 197,661
235 Xinhui 195,018
236 Ezhou 193,541
237 Humen 191,780
238 Haicheng 191,540
239 Zoucheng 190,426
240 Wanxian 188,869
241 Donghai 188,491
242 Baiyin 188,422
243 Laizhou 187,889
244 Zaoyang 184,398
245 Quanzhou 184,032
246 Baishan 183,769
247 Zaozhuang 183,554
248 Anda 181,160
249 Shangqiu 181,107
250 Xianning 179,383
251 Korla 179,354
252 Qianjiang 178,968
253 Chenzhou 178,927
254 Jingzhou 177,767
255 Zhenzhou 175,895
256 Xindi 175,650
257 Jiutai 175,004
258 Bozhou 174,029
259 Licheng 172,664
260 Weinan 172,210
261 Nanping 171,563
262 Dongling 171,343
263 Fuyang 169,912
264 Laiyang 169,483
265 Jingmen 167,639
266 Fuling 166,396
267 Gaozhou 165,958
268 Ulanhot 165,735
269 Shanwei 165,588
270 Jiaozhou 164,915
271 Fendou 164,733
272 Tongzhou 163,215
273 Anbu 162,853
274 Xiaogan 160,326
275 Qapqal 159,889
276 Zhicheng 159,272
277 Huzhou 158,209
278 Nanpiao 156,933
279 Yichun 155,651
280 Lianghu 154,889
281 Beipiao 154,888
282 Guangshui 154,660
283 Leshan 154,366
284 Zhaodong 154,295
285 Xinzhou 153,892
286 Sanshui 153,603
287 Boshan 153,485
288 Yangchun 153,436
289 Linhai 152,826
290 Dingzhou 152,823
291 Weihai 152,484
292 Chenghua 152,342
293 Deyang 152,083
294 Yichun 152,058
295 Longfeng 151,963
296 Qingyuan 151,176
297 Gaomi 150,682
298 Loudi 150,573
299 Huangyan 150,337
300 Dunhua 148,733
301 Yulin 148,374
302 Chizhou 148,264
303 Sujiatun 148,002
304 Honggang 147,866
305 Qujing 145,904
306 Hanzhong 145,875
307 Xinji 145,800
308 Taishan 145,329
309 Sanya 144,642
310 Acheng 144,554
311 Jinchang 144,252
312 Meizhou 144,101
313 Jinhua 142,095
314 Jieshou 141,882
315 Gongzhuling 140,798
316 Shanhaiguan 139,889
317 Altay 139,230
318 Huadian 138,936
319 Fuyu 138,593
320 Chaohu 138,352
321 Jieshi 137,333
322 Jiashan 137,001
323 Hami 136,961
324 Shizuishan 136,459
325 Gejiu 136,024
326 Jiagedaqi 135,649
327 Shiqiao 135,197
328 Dali 133,929
329 Puqi 132,780
330 Ankang 132,543
331 Zhalantun 132,113
332 Dawukou 131,769
333 Majie 131,585
334 Hepo 131,127
335 Dazhou 130,638
336 Shuangcheng 130,599
337 Dongyang 130,276
338 Jiazi 130,187
339 Songjiang 130,107
340 Shangri-La 129,889
341 Wuda 129,811
342 Leiyang 129,005
343 Xuanzhou 127,647
344 Huaihua 127,211
345 Jiangyou 127,114
346 Xichang 126,676
347 Danshui 126,590
348 Macheng 126,255
349 Huicheng 125,808
350 Xiazhen 125,556
351 Haimen 125,316
352 Shahecheng 125,021
353 Suining 124,813
354 Yushu 124,625
355 Lecheng 124,157
356 Laiwu 123,997
357 Jiupu 123,732
358 Baoshan 123,680
359 Luoyang 123,033
360 Minzhu 122,907
361 Huangzhou 122,452
362 Xiulin 122,300
363 Zhoucun 122,291
364 Jiayuguan 122,285
365 Lianhe 121,256
366 Xilin Hot 120,854
367 Fengcheng 120,403
368 Zhaoyuan 119,889
369 Lhasa 118,610
370 Puning 117,912
371 Shunyi 117,512
372 Longjing 117,074
373 Qingzhou 116,945
374 Dasha 116,196
375 Yakeshi 116,173
376 Binzhou 115,782
377 Lengshuijiang 115,288
378 Tianfu 115,259
379 Wenchang 114,889
380 Mingshui 114,747
381 Yuyao 114,066
382 Hotan 113,889
383 Pingshan 113,520
384 Songyuan 113,500
385 Maba 113,498
386 Guangming 112,708
387 Haikou 112,533
388 Shaowu 112,474
389 Kaiyuan 112,351
390 Beibei 111,908
391 Dongtai 110,877
392 Encheng 110,810
393 Zhuji 110,610
394 Qingnian 109,935
395 Mizhou 109,857
396 Linshui 109,844
397 Hailun 109,770
398 Shilong 109,622
399 Tieli 109,525
400 Dongxing 109,450

Historical development

Throughout its history China has had a numerous population. The population was at the end of the Han Dynasty, around the year 2 if necessary., Provided to 59.6 million spread over 12.2 million households with an average size of 4.87 persons.

During the Song dynasty, the population increased to over 100 million at the beginning of the 12th century, before the year of foreign and foreign rule reduced the population. In 1381, the country had 59.9 million residents divided into 10.6 million households with 5.62 persons in each. From the 1400s, the population increased rapidly, only interrupted by war and natural disasters in the mid-1600s. In 1762, China had more than 200 million residents. In 1803 the figure had risen to 302 million and in 1834 to 401 million, before dissatisfaction, foreign rule and hunger again reduced population growth. In 1950, the population was estimated at 554 million.

Before 1949, both the frequency of births and mortality were high, and the population increased relatively moderately. In the first decade after the People’s Republic of China was established (1949), the annual population growth was about 2 percent. Since the early 1970s, an active family planning policy has been pursued, encouraging late marriage and from 1979 to 2015 one child per family, with the exception of national minorities. As a result of this policy for young children, the frequency of births has declined sharply over the past three decades, from an average of 39 per 1,000 residents in the 1950s to 33 per 1,000 in the 1960s, 25 per 1,000 in the 1970s, 12.5 per 1,000 in 2003 and 12.1 per 1,000 in 2018. At the same time, mortality has continued to decrease, though not at the same pace, from an average of 16 per 1,000 in the 1950s to 13 in the 1960s, 8 in the 1970s, and 6, 4 per 1,000 in 2003. Annual natural population growth has thus been reduced, from 2.3 percent in the 1950s to 2.0 percent in the 1960s, 1,

China today consists of many one-child families, while at the same time the proportion of older people is increasing sharply. For example, the number of people over 60 in 2030 is expected to be 230 million. The changed age composition is challenging in terms of both pension, health and working life.

From 2015, the authorities have moved away from the one-child policy, partly because of a rapidly aging population. However, the birth rate has been fairly stable in China since the mid-1990s, and is approximately 1.7 children per woman (2019). The opportunity for good education and social mobility that one (or few) children per family, combined with a better developed welfare state with regard to education, health and pension, is likely to keep birth rates low in the future.

To the Chinese population, but not included in the population, are countrymen in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and the Taiwanese-controlled Kinmen and Matsu Islands. About 34 million Chinese live in other countries and have the status of overseas Chinese. In the 1500s to 1800s, many emigrated to Southeast Asia. Today, their descendants comprise the majority of the population of Singapore and a significant minority in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. In recent times, Chinese have emigrated to countries all over the world – most of them USA, Canada, Australia and other Western countries.

Settlement pattern and ethnic composition

Chinese are any person resident in China’s borders, regardless of ethnicity. However, the Chinese include a variety of ethnic and linguistic groups. The majority population is called Han Chinese (really just “he”) and makes up 91.5 percent of the people (2010). Today, he-Chinese are the majority in all provinces and autonomous regions except Xinjiang and Tibet.

56 ethnic groups have the status of national minorities, and constitute 8.5 percent of the population (2010). Many of them reside in strategically important border areas that are also rich in natural resources.

Many regions and provinces with national minorities have autonomous status with certain political and cultural rights. Five autonomous regions have been created for some of the largest minorities: Inner Mongolia (No Mongol) for the Mongols, Guangxi for the zhuangs, who are ethnically related to the people of Thailand, Xinjiang for the Turkish- speaking Uyghurs, Ningxia for the hui people, who are descendants of Han Chinese who converted to Islam in the 7th century, and Tibet (Chinese Xizang) for Tibetans.

Other large groups of people:

  • In Northeast China, the Man-seers, who conquered China in the 17th century, but are now largely assimilated into Han-Chinese society, and Koreans who have emigrated to Manjury for centuries.
  • In southern China, miao, which is related to the mountain peoples of Indochina and who mainly live in the mountain areas of Guizhou and Hunan, further tujia, which belongs to the Tibetan-Burmese language group and live in the border areas between Hunan, Hubei and Sichuan, and li, which lives in the interior of the island of Hainan.
  • In southwest China, yi, which belongs to the Tibetan-Burmese language group and lives in Yunnan and southern Sichuan, and the mountain people yao and dai who are both related to the Thai people.
  • In northwestern China, Turkish- speaking Kazakhs.
  • In Guangdong and Fujian, the people group lives the hakka, which is not considered a national minority.

Separatism

In principle, China’s recognition of national minorities is that China is a culturally pluralistic civilization; no form of political separatism is allowed among any of the national minorities.

Ten largest cities

Population figures are taken from the city’s official websites.

City Residents
Shanghai 24.3 million (2019)
Beijing 21.7 million (2017)
Shenzhen 13 million (2018)
Guangzhou 14.9 million (2018)
Tianjin 15.6 million (2018)
Chengdu 16.3 million (2018)
Wuhan 11 million (2018)
Dongguan 8.3 million (2017)
Foshan 7.3 million (2018)
Hangzhou 9.8 million (2018)

Ten largest minorities in population (2010)

Minority Number in millions (2010) Percentage of the country’s population
zhuang 16.93 1.27
hui 10.58 0.79
mansju 10.38 0.78
Uighur 7.10 0.76
miao 9.43 0.71
yi 8.71 0.65
Tujia 8.35 0.63
tibetaner 6.28 0.47
Mongolians 5.98 0.48
dong 2.88 0.22