China has a population of approximately 1.408 billion people in 2025, making it the second most populous country in the world after India. For more than two centuries China held the title of the world's most populous nation, but it was overtaken by India in 2023 as its own population began to shrink. That turning point marks one of the most consequential demographic shifts of the modern era.
How Many People Live in China?
China's population stands at roughly 1,408,000,000 as of 2025. To put that scale in perspective, about one in every six people alive today is Chinese. The country reached its all-time peak of around 1.41 billion in 2022 and has registered small absolute declines in every year since. With a population density averaging about 147 people per square kilometre, China is densely settled overall, though that figure hides enormous regional contrasts.
Population is heavily concentrated in the eastern half of the country. The fertile plains and coastal provinces hold the vast majority of residents, while the western regions of Tibet, Qinghai, and Xinjiang remain sparsely populated despite covering huge areas. A line drawn from Heihe in the northeast to Tengchong in the southwest — the famous Hu Line — separates the crowded east, home to roughly 94 percent of the population, from the empty west.
A Shrinking and Aging Population
China's population is now in decline, falling at an annual rate of about -0.02 percent. The fertility rate has dropped to roughly 1.0 births per woman, far below the 2.1 needed to keep a population stable. This collapse in births is the legacy of decades of demographic policy combined with the pressures of modern urban life.
The one-child policy, in force from 1980 to 2015, is estimated to have prevented around 400 million births and permanently reshaped family structures. Even after the government moved to a two-child policy in 2016 and a three-child policy in 2021, birth rates kept falling. Young Chinese increasingly delay marriage, prioritise careers, and cite the high cost of housing, education, and childcare as reasons to have fewer children — or none at all.
The flip side of fewer births is rapid aging. More than 200 million people in China are now aged 65 or older, and the median age has climbed to about 39 years, up from just 22 in 1980. The working-age population (ages 15 to 64) has been shrinking since its peak in 2013, losing roughly 40 million people. This creates mounting pressure on pensions, healthcare, and the labour force that will define China's economy for decades.
China's Largest Cities
China is one of the most urbanised large nations on Earth, with over 65 percent of its people now living in cities — a dramatic rise from around 20 percent in 1980. The country has more than 160 cities with populations exceeding one million, more than any other nation.
- Shanghai — China's largest city and a global financial centre, with more than 28 million residents in its metropolitan area.
- Beijing — the capital and political heart of the nation, home to over 21 million people.
- Guangzhou — anchor of the Pearl River Delta with around 18 million residents, part of the world's largest contiguous urban area.
The Pearl River Delta megalopolis, which links Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and several neighbouring cities, is among the most populous urban regions on the planet, illustrating how China's growth has clustered into vast coastal megacities.
Who Are the Chinese People?
The Han Chinese form the overwhelming majority, making up about 92 percent of the population. The remaining share is divided among 55 officially recognised ethnic minorities, including the Zhuang, Hui, Manchu, Uyghur, and Tibetan peoples, many of whom maintain distinct languages and traditions.
The official language is Standard Mandarin, known as Putonghua, but hundreds of regional dialects and minority languages remain in everyday use, from Cantonese in the south to numerous tongues across the western provinces. China's religious landscape is shaped largely by Buddhism, Taoism, and a deep tradition of folk religion, alongside smaller communities of Christians and Muslims. The country is governed as a one-party socialist republic from its capital, Beijing. You can learn more in our china country guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is China still the most populous country in the world?
No. India overtook China as the world's most populous country in 2023. China now ranks second, with its population having peaked in 2022 and slowly declined since.
Why is China's population declining?
The fertility rate has fallen to about 1.0 births per woman, well below replacement level. Decades of the one-child policy, an aging population, late marriages, and the high cost of raising children have all combined to push births down faster than the government can reverse.
What is China's population projected to be in 2050?
Most projections expect China's population to fall to roughly 1.3 billion by 2050, with the decline accelerating as the large elderly generation passes and fewer children are born to replace it.
What is the largest city in China?
Shanghai is China's largest city, with more than 28 million people in its metropolitan area. Beijing, the capital, is the political centre and home to over 21 million residents.