China Population
East Asia & Pacific · 2nd most populous · Upper middle income
Population right now (estimate)
1,402,469,291
The population of China is about 1,402,469,291 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 1.40 billion for 2026 as a whole — 16.94% of the world's people.
China is one of the ten most populous countries on Earth (2nd). The population is shrinking, by about 0.22% a year. It peaked around 2021 at 1.41 billion and is projected to fall to 1.24 billion by 2050. That is 2.1 times its 1960 population of 667 million. Population density is 149 people per square kilometre. 66% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
1.40 billion
Yearly change
−0.22%
World rank
2nd
Share of world
16.94%
Density
149/km²
Land area
9,388,210 km²
Life expectancy
78.0 yrs
Births per woman
1.01
Population of China, 1960–2050
China population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 667,070,000 | — | 71 |
| 1970 | 818,315,000 | +2.80% | 87 |
| 1980 | 981,235,000 | +1.26% | 105 |
| 1990 | 1,135,185,000 | +1.48% | 121 |
| 2000 | 1,262,645,000 | +0.79% | 134 |
| 2010 | 1,337,705,000 | +0.48% | 142 |
| 2020 | 1,411,100,000 | +0.24% | 150 |
| 2024 | 1,408,975,000 | −0.12% | 150 |
| 2026proj. | 1,403,496,576 | −0.22% | 149 |
| 2030proj. | 1,388,258,176 | −0.31% | 148 |
| 2040proj. | 1,328,684,800 | −0.51% | 142 |
| 2050proj. | 1,242,643,456 | −0.85% | 132 |
China vs Bangladesh
China has 7.9 times as many people as Bangladesh (178 million). Bangladesh is 9.1 times more densely populated.
China population: questions and answers
What is the population of China in 2026?
About 1,403,496,576 (1.40 billion), based on World Bank projections.
Is China's population growing?
No — it is falling by about 0.22% a year (2026).
What is the population density of China?
About 149 people per km², with a land area of 9,388,210 km².
What will the population of China be in 2050?
About 1.24 billion on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of China?
Beijing.
What is the life expectancy in China?
78.0 years at birth (2024).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22. Live figures are mathematical estimates interpolated between the World Bank's mid-year values, not real-time counts.