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China vs Japan population, 1950 to 2100

China had 1,422.58 million people in 2023, versus 124.37 million in Japan. Compare UN estimates and projections to 2100.

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What the data shows

  • China: 544.04M in 1950, 633.37M in 2100 (projected). The latest estimate is 1,422.58M in 2023. It peaked at 1,426.44M in 2021.
  • Japan: 86.44M in 1950, 76.85M in 2100 (projected). The latest estimate is 124.37M in 2023. It peaked at 128.19M in 2009.

About this chart

China is below its earlier estimated peak of 1,426.44 million people in 2021: its 2023 total is 1,422.58 million. The comparison still puts China ahead of Japan, with 1,422.58 million and 124.37 million respectively. In 1950, the corresponding totals were 544.04 million for China and 86.44 million for Japan. All values are population totals, rather than population density or annual growth rates.

By 2100, the UN medium-variant projection reaches 633.37 million people for China and 76.85 million for Japan. Estimates end in 2023; later values are conditional projections rather than observed counts. Future fertility, mortality and migration can move the eventual totals away from this path. Comparing the same projection variant keeps the two countries on a consistent basis.

The data

Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 via Our World in Data; estimates to 2023, medium-variant projections after, millions of people. Retrieved November 5, 2026. UN estimates through 2023; later years are medium-variant projections, not observed counts.

China vs Japan population, Millions of people, 1950–2100; projected after 2023, 1950–2100
Date🇨🇳 China🇯🇵 Japan
1950544.04M86.44M
1951553.76M87.85M
1952565.13M89.14M
1953577.56M90.32M
1954590.11M91.41M
1955603.55M92.43M
1956616.56M93.34M
1957630.36M94.11M
1958644.22M94.85M
1959652.71M95.62M
1960654.80M96.40M
1961655.77M97.22M
1962665.07M98.08M
1963684.55M98.96M
1964704.80M99.89M
1965723.42M100.92M
1966742.40M101.89M
1967761.03M102.97M
1968781.01M104.24M
1969802.14M105.48M
1970823.31M106.71M
1971844.07M107.95M
1972863.68M109.24M
1973882.58M110.61M
1974900.31M112.01M
1975916.12M113.32M
1976930.37M114.50M
1977943.55M115.57M
1978956.16M116.58M
1979969.29M117.52M
1980983.16M118.36M
1981997.72M118.99M
19821,013.59M119.49M
19831,029.06M119.95M
19841,043.85M120.38M
19851,059.81M120.83M
19861,077.23M121.37M
19871,096.22M121.94M
19881,115.24M122.48M
19891,133.99M122.95M
19901,153.58M123.40M
19911,170.79M123.89M
19921,184.57M124.38M
19931,197.31M124.84M
19941,209.00M125.29M
19951,220.13M125.67M
19961,230.94M125.98M
19971,241.14M126.27M
19981,250.85M126.55M
19991,260.18M126.80M
20001,269.58M127.03M
20011,278.73M127.26M
20021,286.87M127.48M
20031,294.52M127.67M
20041,302.10M127.82M
20051,310.03M127.91M
20061,318.05M128.00M
20071,325.81M128.09M
20081,333.82M128.16M
20091,342.52M128.19M
20101,351.56M128.19M
20111,360.25M128.10M
20121,369.52M127.93M
20131,379.01M127.72M
20141,387.95M127.49M
20151,396.13M127.28M
20161,404.05M127.16M
20171,412.35M127.06M
20181,419.01M126.91M
20191,423.52M126.70M
20201,426.11M126.30M
20211,426.44M125.68M
20221,425.18M125.00M
20231,422.58M124.37M
20241,419.32M123.75M
20251,416.10M123.10M
20261,412.91M122.43M
20271,409.68M121.73M
20281,406.14M121.02M
20291,402.28M120.31M
20301,398.15M119.58M
20311,393.75M118.85M
20321,389.06M118.11M
20331,384.10M117.37M
20341,378.88M116.63M
20351,373.43M115.88M
20361,367.74M115.13M
20371,361.83M114.38M
20381,355.72M113.63M
20391,349.39M112.89M
20401,342.82M112.16M
20411,335.99M111.42M
20421,328.91M110.69M
20431,321.59M109.97M
20441,314.02M109.26M
20451,306.11M108.55M
20461,297.82M107.85M
20471,289.12M107.16M
20481,279.99M106.47M
20491,270.38M105.80M
20501,260.29M105.12M
20511,249.69M104.45M
20521,238.56M103.78M
20531,226.93M103.10M
20541,214.85M102.42M
20551,202.34M101.72M
20561,189.44M101.02M
20571,176.22M100.30M
20581,162.72M99.58M
20591,149.00M98.85M
20601,135.13M98.10M
20611,121.17M97.35M
20621,107.21M96.60M
20631,093.28M95.84M
20641,079.41M95.09M
20651,065.63M94.32M
20661,051.99M93.56M
20671,038.47M92.81M
20681,025.10M92.07M
20691,011.88M91.33M
2070998.78M90.61M
2071985.81M89.91M
2072972.91M89.24M
2073960.06M88.58M
2074947.25M87.95M
2075934.47M87.35M
2076921.68M86.78M
2077908.87M86.23M
2078896.04M85.71M
2079883.17M85.21M
2080870.25M84.73M
2081857.33M84.27M
2082844.44M83.83M
2083831.60M83.40M
2084818.82M82.98M
2085806.12M82.57M
2086793.56M82.17M
2087781.15M81.78M
2088768.90M81.39M
2089756.81M81.01M
2090744.90M80.63M
2091733.18M80.26M
2092721.61M79.88M
2093710.19M79.50M
2094698.89M79.12M
2095687.72M78.75M
2096676.66M78.37M
2097665.70M77.99M
2098654.83M77.61M
2099644.05M77.23M
2100633.37M76.85M

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Frequently asked questions

Which country has more people, China or Japan?

China has more people in the 2023 UN estimates: about 1,422.58 million, compared with 124.37 million in Japan. The gap is approximately 1,298.21 million.

What populations are projected for 2100?

The UN medium-variant projection gives China 633.37 million people and Japan 76.85 million in 2100. These values are projections, not current population estimates.

Where do the estimates end and projections begin?

The UN World Population Prospects series uses estimates through 2023. Values from 2024 onward follow its medium-variant projection. Both countries use the same source and scenario.

Where does this data come from?

UN World Population Prospects 2024 via Our World in Data; estimates to 2023, medium-variant projections after, millions of people. Retrieved November 5, 2026. UN estimates through 2023; later years are medium-variant projections, not observed counts. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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