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China vs Russia population, 1950 to 2100

China had 1,422.58 million people in 2023, versus 145.44 million in Russia. 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.
  • Russia: 103.39M in 1950, 126.39M in 2100 (projected). The latest estimate is 145.44M in 2023. It peaked at 149.45M in 1991.

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 Russia, with 1,422.58 million and 145.44 million respectively. In 1950, the corresponding totals were 544.04 million for China and 103.39 million for Russia. 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 126.39 million for Russia. 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 Russia population, Millions of people, 1950–2100; projected after 2023, 1950–2100
Date🇨🇳 China🇷🇺 Russia
1950544.04M103.39M
1951553.76M104.84M
1952565.13M106.33M
1953577.56M107.85M
1954590.11M109.46M
1955603.55M111.16M
1956616.56M112.91M
1957630.36M114.73M
1958644.22M116.59M
1959652.71M118.29M
1960654.80M119.93M
1961655.77M121.60M
1962665.07M123.11M
1963684.55M124.45M
1964704.80M125.63M
1965723.42M126.63M
1966742.40M127.53M
1967761.03M128.34M
1968781.01M129.07M
1969802.14M129.76M
1970823.31M130.37M
1971844.07M130.99M
1972863.68M131.73M
1973882.58M132.48M
1974900.31M133.26M
1975916.12M134.14M
1976930.37M135.08M
1977943.55M136.04M
1978956.16M136.98M
1979969.29M137.82M
1980983.16M138.57M
1981997.72M139.35M
19821,013.59M140.25M
19831,029.06M141.33M
19841,043.85M142.46M
19851,059.81M143.57M
19861,077.23M144.81M
19871,096.22M146.15M
19881,115.24M147.36M
19891,133.99M148.28M
19901,153.58M148.98M
19911,170.79M149.45M
19921,184.57M148.92M
19931,197.31M148.14M
19941,209.00M148.20M
19951,220.13M148.29M
19961,230.94M148.08M
19971,241.14M147.85M
19981,250.85M147.64M
19991,260.18M147.24M
20001,269.58M146.72M
20011,278.73M146.12M
20021,286.87M145.94M
20031,294.52M145.79M
20041,302.10M145.18M
20051,310.03M144.60M
20061,318.05M144.10M
20071,325.81M143.86M
20081,333.82M143.81M
20091,342.52M143.87M
20101,351.56M143.93M
20111,360.25M144.04M
20121,369.52M144.29M
20131,379.01M144.60M
20141,387.95M144.93M
20151,396.13M145.31M
20161,404.05M145.78M
20171,412.35M146.19M
20181,419.01M146.43M
20191,423.52M146.53M
20201,426.11M146.37M
20211,426.44M145.84M
20221,425.18M145.58M
20231,422.58M145.44M
20241,419.32M144.82M
20251,416.10M144.00M
20261,412.91M143.39M
20271,409.68M143.04M
20281,406.14M142.67M
20291,402.28M142.29M
20301,398.15M141.89M
20311,393.75M141.48M
20321,389.06M141.06M
20331,384.10M140.66M
20341,378.88M140.28M
20351,373.43M139.91M
20361,367.74M139.55M
20371,361.83M139.20M
20381,355.72M138.88M
20391,349.39M138.57M
20401,342.82M138.28M
20411,335.99M138.02M
20421,328.91M137.78M
20431,321.59M137.56M
20441,314.02M137.35M
20451,306.11M137.15M
20461,297.82M136.97M
20471,289.12M136.79M
20481,279.99M136.59M
20491,270.38M136.37M
20501,260.29M136.13M
20511,249.69M135.88M
20521,238.56M135.61M
20531,226.93M135.31M
20541,214.85M134.99M
20551,202.34M134.65M
20561,189.44M134.30M
20571,176.22M133.96M
20581,162.72M133.60M
20591,149.00M133.24M
20601,135.13M132.89M
20611,121.17M132.55M
20621,107.21M132.21M
20631,093.28M131.87M
20641,079.41M131.52M
20651,065.63M131.19M
20661,051.99M130.86M
20671,038.47M130.57M
20681,025.10M130.28M
20691,011.88M129.99M
2070998.78M129.71M
2071985.81M129.43M
2072972.91M129.18M
2073960.06M128.95M
2074947.25M128.75M
2075934.47M128.55M
2076921.68M128.38M
2077908.87M128.23M
2078896.04M128.08M
2079883.17M127.95M
2080870.25M127.84M
2081857.33M127.75M
2082844.44M127.66M
2083831.60M127.58M
2084818.82M127.51M
2085806.12M127.43M
2086793.56M127.36M
2087781.15M127.30M
2088768.90M127.25M
2089756.81M127.20M
2090744.90M127.14M
2091733.18M127.09M
2092721.61M127.03M
2093710.19M126.96M
2094698.89M126.91M
2095687.72M126.85M
2096676.66M126.77M
2097665.70M126.68M
2098654.83M126.59M
2099644.05M126.49M
2100633.37M126.39M

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Suggested caption: “UN 2100 projection: China 633.37M; Russia 126.39M.” Credit the source in your caption; it heads off the 'source?' comments.

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Frequently asked questions

Which country has more people, China or Russia?

China has more people in the 2023 UN estimates: about 1,422.58 million, compared with 145.44 million in Russia. The gap is approximately 1,277.14 million.

What populations are projected for 2100?

The UN medium-variant projection gives China 633.37 million people and Russia 126.39 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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China peaked at 1,426.44M in 2021. The UN medium scenario projects 633.37M in 2100, versus 1,422.58M in 2023.

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