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China

Asia · Eastern Asia · CHN · 9,596,961 km²
Population
1,408,975,000
Year 2024

Total number of people living in the country.

Population Density
150.3/km²

How many people live per square kilometer of land.

Life Expectancy
78.0 years
♂ 75.2 / ♀ 80.9

How long a newborn baby can expect to live on average.

Fertility Rate (TFR)
1.00
children per woman

Average number of children born to each woman. About 2.1 is needed to keep population stable.

Median Age
39.5 years

Half the population is younger and half is older than this age.

Net Migration
-318,992

Difference between people moving in and out. Positive means more arrivals.

Key demographic indicators for China as of 2024. These numbers give a quick overview of the country's population size, density, birth rates, life expectancy, and migration patterns.

Population Trend

How the total population has changed over the decades. A rising line means the country has been growing, a flat or falling line indicates stagnation or decline.

Population Projection to 2100

Estimated future population based on current trends in birth rates, death rates, and migration. The dashed line shows this is a projection, not actual data.

Birth Rate vs Death Rate

Birth rate (green) vs. death rate (red) per 1,000 people per year. When the birth rate is higher than the death rate, the population grows naturally.

Life Expectancy (Male vs Female)

Average number of years a newborn can expect to live. Blue shows men, red shows women. Women typically live longer in most countries.

Fertility Rate Trend

Total Fertility Rate — the average number of children per woman. A rate of about 2.1 is needed to maintain the population without immigration.

Population Pyramid

Shows the age distribution of the population. Blue bars (left) represent men, red bars (right) represent women. A wide base means a young population, a wide top means an aging population.

Historical Data

Detailed numbers for selected years showing how the country's key indicators have changed over time. Click column headers to sort.

Year Population Growth Rate Fertility Rate (TFR) Life Expectancy Median Age Birth Rate Death Rate
1960 667,070,000 0.00% 4.45 33.4 23.7 20.9‰ 25.4‰
1965 715,185,000 2.38% 6.61 53.0 22.8 37.9‰ 9.5‰
1970 818,315,000 2.76% 6.09 56.8 23.3 33.4‰ 7.6‰
1975 916,395,000 1.77% 3.57 61.0 23.7 23.0‰ 7.3‰
1980 981,235,000 1.25% 2.74 64.2 26.7 18.2‰ 6.3‰
1985 1,051,040,000 1.36% 2.63 66.5 29.7 21.0‰ 6.8‰
1990 1,135,185,000 1.47% 2.51 68.2 31.1 21.1‰ 6.7‰
1995 1,204,855,000 1.09% 1.59 70.4 32.0 17.1‰ 6.6‰
2000 1,262,645,000 0.79% 1.63 72.3 33.6 14.0‰ 6.5‰
2005 1,303,720,000 0.59% 1.62 74.1 35.7 12.4‰ 6.5‰
2010 1,337,705,000 0.48% 1.69 75.7 36.6 11.9‰ 7.1‰
2015 1,379,860,000 0.58% 1.67 77.0 37.1 12.0‰ 7.1‰
2020 1,411,100,000 0.24% 1.24 78.0 38.1 8.5‰ 7.1‰
2024 1,408,975,000 -0.12% 1.00 78.0 39.5 6.4‰ 7.9‰
2025 1,407,241,067 -0.12% 1.00 78.1 39.5 6.4‰ 7.9‰
2030 1,398,948,049 -0.11% 1.05 78.6 39.5 6.6‰ 7.9‰
2035 1,391,275,154 -0.11% 1.11 79.1 39.5 6.9‰ 8.0‰
2040 1,384,212,647 -0.10% 1.16 79.6 39.4 7.1‰ 8.1‰
2045 1,377,751,597 -0.09% 1.21 80.1 39.4 7.4‰ 8.2‰
2050 1,371,883,856 -0.08% 1.27 80.6 39.4 7.6‰ 8.2‰
2055 1,366,602,041 -0.07% 1.32 81.1 39.3 7.8‰ 8.3‰
2060 1,361,899,521 -0.07% 1.37 81.6 39.3 8.1‰ 8.4‰
2065 1,357,770,403 -0.06% 1.43 82.1 39.3 8.3‰ 8.5‰
2070 1,354,209,516 -0.05% 1.48 82.6 39.2 8.6‰ 8.5‰
2075 1,351,212,406 -0.04% 1.53 83.1 39.2 8.8‰ 8.6‰
2080 1,348,775,321 -0.03% 1.59 83.6 39.2 9.0‰ 8.7‰
2085 1,346,895,206 -0.02% 1.64 84.1 39.2 9.3‰ 8.8‰
2090 1,345,569,698 -0.02% 1.69 84.6 39.1 9.5‰ 8.8‰
2095 1,344,797,119 -0.01% 1.75 85.1 39.1 9.8‰ 8.9‰
2100 1,344,576,471 0.00% 1.80 85.6 39.1 10.0‰ 9.0‰

About Country — China

China is a country in Asia (Eastern Asia) with a total population of 1,408,975,000 as of 2024. It covers an area of 9,596,961 km², resulting in a population density of 150.3 people per km².

The average life expectancy is 78.0 years (75.2 for men, 80.9 for women). The fertility rate stands at 1.00 children per woman, and the median age of the population is 39.5 years.

The country's population growth rate is -0.12% per year. Net migration is -318,992 people, indicating that more people are leaving the country than arriving. The infant mortality rate is 4.5 per 1,000 live births.

Demographic Profile

China is located in Eastern Asia, a part of Asia, and covers an area of 9,596,961 km². With a population of 1,408,975,000, the country has a population density of 150.3 inhabitants per square kilometer, which is above the global average of approximately 60 people per km².

The demographic structure of China reveals an aging population. The median age of 39.5 years means that half of the population is younger and half is older than this age. This aging population structure poses challenges for pension systems, healthcare provision, and the labor market, as the ratio of working-age to retired individuals continues to decline.

Health and Longevity

Life expectancy in China stands at 78.0 years overall — 75.2 years for men and 80.9 years for women. This places the country among those with high life expectancy globally, reflecting well-developed healthcare systems and living standards. The infant mortality rate is 4.5 per 1,000 live births, which is considered very low and indicates excellent maternal and infant healthcare.

Fertility and Population Growth

The total fertility rate (TFR) of 1.00 children per woman is below the replacement level of 2.1, which without immigration leads to population decline over time. The population is roughly stable at a rate of -0.12% per year. This decline is driven by low birth rates, emigration, or a combination of both factors.

Migration

Net migration in China is -318,992 people, meaning more people are leaving the country than arriving. Emigration may reflect economic challenges or conflict, and can lead to brain drain as skilled workers seek opportunities elsewhere.

Outlook

Based on current demographic trends, China's population dynamics reflect broader patterns seen across Eastern Asia. As the population ages, adapting social security systems and healthcare to serve a growing elderly population will be a key challenge.

Year Reviews

2024

In 2024, China had a population of 1,408,975,000. Located in Asia (Eastern Asia), the country experienced a population growth rate of -0.12%.

The total fertility rate stood at 1.00 children per woman. Life expectancy was 78.0 years overall, with men averaging 75.2 years and women 80.9 years. The median age of the population was 39.5 years.

The crude birth rate was 6.4 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate was 7.9 per 1,000 people. Net migration amounted to -318,992 people. The infant mortality rate was 4.5 per 1,000 live births.

2000

In 2000, China had a population of 1,262,645,000. Located in Asia (Eastern Asia), the country experienced a population growth rate of 0.79%.

The total fertility rate stood at 1.63 children per woman. Life expectancy was 72.3 years overall, with men averaging 69.9 years and women 74.9 years. The median age of the population was 33.6 years.

The crude birth rate was 14.0 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate was 6.5 per 1,000 people. Net migration amounted to -62,622 people. The infant mortality rate was 30.0 per 1,000 live births.

1974

In 1974, China had a population of 900,350,000. Located in Asia (Eastern Asia), the country experienced a population growth rate of 2.07%.

The total fertility rate stood at 4.17 children per woman. Life expectancy was 60.2 years overall, with men averaging 58.2 years and women 62.3 years. The median age of the population was 23.8 years.

The crude birth rate was 24.8 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate was 7.3 per 1,000 people. Net migration amounted to -175,239 people. The infant mortality rate was 68.6 per 1,000 live births.

1964

In 1964, China had a population of 698,355,000. Located in Asia (Eastern Asia), the country experienced a population growth rate of 2.32%.

The total fertility rate stood at 6.67 children per woman. Life expectancy was 52.3 years overall, with men averaging 50.3 years and women 54.5 years. The median age of the population was 23.0 years.

The crude birth rate was 39.1 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate was 11.5 per 1,000 people. Net migration amounted to -1,250,441 people. The infant mortality rate was 0.0 per 1,000 live births.

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