China Population: How Many People Live in China?

China has one of the world’s largest populations, but its demographic story is changing. After decades of rapid population growth, China has entered a period of population decline, with fewer people being born and a growing share of the population made up of older adults.

So, how many people live in China? The answer changes from year to year, which is why population figures should always be tied to a specific year and source.

In this guide, we’ll look at China’s current population, how it has changed, where most people live and which cities have the largest populations.

Key Takeaways

• China has one of the world’s largest populations.

• China’s population was approximately 1.405 billion at the end of 2025

• China’s population has entered a period of decline after decades of growth.

• Population is concentrated much more heavily in eastern China than in the west.

• China’s largest urban populations are found in major cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Chongqing.

• Population figures vary depending on the year and how a population is measured.

• China’s ageing population and declining birth rate are important parts of its current demographic picture.

人口
rénkǒu
population

Is China’s Population Growing or Shrinking?

For many years, China’s population was growing quickly. That started to change in the 2010s, and China is now experiencing population decline.

In simple terms, fewer people are being born than the number of people who die each year. In 2025, China recorded around 7.9 million births, compared with about 11.3 million deaths.

This doesn’t mean China’s population is suddenly becoming much smaller. With more than 1.4 billion people, even a few million people represent a relatively small change in the overall population.

What has changed is the direction of the trend. Instead of continuing to grow, China’s population has started to gradually decrease.

One reason for this is that Chinese families are having fewer children than previous generations did. At the same time, people are living longer, meaning the proportion of older adults in the population is increasing.

This shift is one of the most important demographic changes happening in China today.

Why Is China’s Population Declining?

There isn’t one single reason for China’s population decline. A combination of smaller families, changing lifestyles and an ageing population has contributed to the shift.

Many young people in China are getting married later or choosing to have fewer children. The cost of raising a child, housing and education can also make starting a family a major financial decision, particularly in large cities.

At the same time, China’s population is getting older. People are living longer than previous generations, while fewer babies are being born. This means there are now more older people and fewer young people entering the population.

China’s earlier one-child policy also played a role in shaping the country’s population structure, although it is not the only reason for today’s decline. The policy was introduced in the late 1970s and was later replaced by policies allowing more children.

The result is a major demographic change: China is moving from a period of rapid population growth towards an older and smaller population.

China’s Population by City

China’s population is not spread evenly across the country. A large share of the population lives in cities and urban areas, particularly in eastern and southern China.

Here are the populations of some of China’s major cities based on their latest available 2025 year-end resident population figures:

China’s municipalities can cover very large administrative areas. Chongqing is the clearest example. Its official administrative area has a population of more than 31 million, but that doesn’t mean all 31 million people live in the dense urban centre that most visitors would think of as “Chongqing.”

Where Do Most People in China Live?

China’s population is concentrated much more heavily in the east and southeast of the country than in the west.

This is partly because eastern China has more fertile plains, major rivers, established cities and easier access to the coast. These conditions have supported large populations and economic activity for centuries.

Western China has a much lower population density. Large areas are covered by mountains, high plateaus and deserts, making large-scale settlement more difficult.

This creates a striking contrast: a relatively small part of China’s territory contains many of its biggest cities and a large share of its population, while much of the country’s western interior is sparsely populated.

For a closer look at the regions, provinces and cities that shape this population pattern, see our guide to Chinese geography.

China Population Facts

Here are a few quick facts to remember about China’s population:

• China has more than 1.4 billion people.
• China’s population has entered a period of gradual decline.
• Most of the population is concentrated in eastern and southern China.
• China has a rapidly ageing population.
• A large majority of China’s population now lives in urban areas.
• China’s largest population centres include Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
• Population figures can differ depending on the year and how the population is measured.

China’s population is therefore best understood as a changing picture rather than a single number. The country remains home to more than a billion people, but its population is becoming older and, overall, smaller.

China Population Vocabulary

If you’re learning Mandarin, these words are useful when talking about population, cities and demographic changes in China.

For example, you might hear 中国人口 (Zhōngguó rénkǒu) when talking about the population of China, or 人口增长 (rénkǒu zēngzhǎng) when discussing population growth.

For more useful background about China, you can also explore our guide to 5 Facts About China You Should Know.

Frequently Asked Questions