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China population, 1950 to 2100

China peaked at 1.426 billion people in 2021 and was 1.423 billion in 2023. The UN projects 633 million by 2100.

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What the data shows

  • China: 544.0M in 1950, 633.4M in 2100 (projected). The latest estimate is 1,422.6M in 2023. It peaked at 1,426.4M in 2021.

About this chart

China's population reached its high point in 2021, at about 1.426 billion, and the latest estimate for 2023 is already lower at 1.423 billion. Before that came decades of growth: 544 million in 1950, 916 million in 1975 and 1.27 billion in 2000. In 2023 China ranks 2nd in the world, having been 1st in 1950.

The UN medium projection makes the decline long and steep: about 1.398 billion in 2030, 1.260 billion in 2050, 934 million in 2075 and 633 million in 2100. That is less than half the 2023 figure and roughly 793 million fewer people than the 2021 peak. China is still projected to rank 2nd in 2050 and 2100. Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

The data

Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 via Our World in Data; estimates to 2023, medium-variant projections after, millions. Retrieved November 4, 2026.

China's population, Millions of people, 1950 to 2100 (UN projections), 1950–2100
Date🇨🇳 China
1950544.0M
1951553.8M
1952565.1M
1953577.6M
1954590.1M
1955603.6M
1956616.6M
1957630.4M
1958644.2M
1959652.7M
1960654.8M
1961655.8M
1962665.1M
1963684.6M
1964704.8M
1965723.4M
1966742.4M
1967761.0M
1968781.0M
1969802.1M
1970823.3M
1971844.1M
1972863.7M
1973882.6M
1974900.3M
1975916.1M
1976930.4M
1977943.6M
1978956.2M
1979969.3M
1980983.2M
1981997.7M
19821,013.6M
19831,029.1M
19841,043.9M
19851,059.8M
19861,077.2M
19871,096.2M
19881,115.2M
19891,134.0M
19901,153.6M
19911,170.8M
19921,184.6M
19931,197.3M
19941,209.0M
19951,220.1M
19961,230.9M
19971,241.1M
19981,250.9M
19991,260.2M
20001,269.6M
20011,278.7M
20021,286.9M
20031,294.5M
20041,302.1M
20051,310.0M
20061,318.1M
20071,325.8M
20081,333.8M
20091,342.5M
20101,351.6M
20111,360.3M
20121,369.5M
20131,379.0M
20141,388.0M
20151,396.1M
20161,404.1M
20171,412.4M
20181,419.0M
20191,423.5M
20201,426.1M
20211,426.4M
20221,425.2M
20231,422.6M
20241,419.3M
20251,416.1M
20261,412.9M
20271,409.7M
20281,406.1M
20291,402.3M
20301,398.2M
20311,393.8M
20321,389.1M
20331,384.1M
20341,378.9M
20351,373.4M
20361,367.7M
20371,361.8M
20381,355.7M
20391,349.4M
20401,342.8M
20411,336.0M
20421,328.9M
20431,321.6M
20441,314.0M
20451,306.1M
20461,297.8M
20471,289.1M
20481,280.0M
20491,270.4M
20501,260.3M
20511,249.7M
20521,238.6M
20531,226.9M
20541,214.9M
20551,202.3M
20561,189.4M
20571,176.2M
20581,162.7M
20591,149.0M
20601,135.1M
20611,121.2M
20621,107.2M
20631,093.3M
20641,079.4M
20651,065.6M
20661,052.0M
20671,038.5M
20681,025.1M
20691,011.9M
2070998.8M
2071985.8M
2072972.9M
2073960.1M
2074947.3M
2075934.5M
2076921.7M
2077908.9M
2078896.0M
2079883.2M
2080870.3M
2081857.3M
2082844.4M
2083831.6M
2084818.8M
2085806.1M
2086793.6M
2087781.2M
2088768.9M
2089756.8M
2090744.9M
2091733.2M
2092721.6M
2093710.2M
2094698.9M
2095687.7M
2096676.7M
2097665.7M
2098654.8M
2099644.1M
2100633.4M

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Frequently asked questions

What is the population of China?

China had about 1.423 billion people in 2023, the latest UN estimate, which ranks 2nd in the world. This is slightly below the series peak of 1.426 billion in 2021.

How much will China's population fall by 2100?

The UN medium projection puts China at about 1.260 billion in 2050 and 633 million in 2100, less than half of the 2023 figure. These are projections under one scenario, and fertility assumptions drive most of the result.

Where does this data come from?

UN World Population Prospects 2024 via Our World in Data; estimates to 2023, medium-variant projections after, millions. Retrieved November 4, 2026. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

Can I turn this chart into a video?

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