Urban population, annual growth rate in China
China: Urban population, annual growth rate was 0.5096 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population, annual growth rate in China, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
China recorded 0.5096 % change on previous year for urban population, annual growth rate in 2025.
That represents a change of up 17.8% on the previous year and down 85.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population, annual growth rate in China peaked at 11.25 % change on previous year in 1964 and was at its lowest, -9.47 % change on previous year, in 1962.
China ranks 154th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population, annual growth rate in China, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -3.27 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | -9.47 % change on previous year | +189.3% |
| 1963 | -0.4023 % change on previous year | -95.8% |
| 1964 | 11.25 % change on previous year | -2895.5% |
| 1965 | 0.6401 % change on previous year | -94.3% |
| 1966 | 2.12 % change on previous year | +230.8% |
| 1967 | 1.92 % change on previous year | -9.4% |
| 1968 | 1.95 % change on previous year | +1.7% |
| 1969 | 2.07 % change on previous year | +6.2% |
| 1970 | 2.1 % change on previous year | +1.3% |
| 1971 | 2.08 % change on previous year | -0.9% |
| 1972 | 1.72 % change on previous year | -17.1% |
| 1973 | 2.72 % change on previous year | +57.9% |
| 1974 | 1.87 % change on previous year | -31.3% |
| 1975 | 2.85 % change on previous year | +52.7% |
| 1976 | 2.1 % change on previous year | -26.5% |
| 1977 | 2.04 % change on previous year | -2.8% |
| 1978 | 3.45 % change on previous year | +69.2% |
| 1979 | 7.26 % change on previous year | +110.4% |
| 1980 | 3.56 % change on previous year | -51.0% |
| 1981 | 5.29 % change on previous year | +48.6% |
| 1982 | 3.54 % change on previous year | -33.0% |
| 1983 | 6.68 % change on previous year | +88.4% |
| 1984 | 7.84 % change on previous year | +17.4% |
| 1985 | 4.42 % change on previous year | -43.6% |
| 1986 | 5 % change on previous year | +13.1% |
| 1987 | 4.91 % change on previous year | -1.9% |
| 1988 | 3.61 % change on previous year | -26.4% |
| 1989 | 3.1 % change on previous year | -14.1% |
| 1990 | 1.42 % change on previous year | -54.1% |
| 1991 | 4.25 % change on previous year | +199.2% |
| 1992 | 3.19 % change on previous year | -25.1% |
| 1993 | 3.11 % change on previous year | -2.4% |
| 1994 | 3.01 % change on previous year | -3.0% |
| 1995 | 2.97 % change on previous year | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 6.06 % change on previous year | +103.9% |
| 1997 | 5.77 % change on previous year | -4.9% |
| 1998 | 5.52 % change on previous year | -4.3% |
| 1999 | 5.19 % change on previous year | -5.9% |
| 2000 | 5.58 % change on previous year | +7.4% |
| 2001 | 4.12 % change on previous year | -26.1% |
| 2002 | 4.5 % change on previous year | +9.0% |
| 2003 | 4.33 % change on previous year | -3.6% |
| 2004 | 3.65 % change on previous year | -15.8% |
| 2005 | 3.55 % change on previous year | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 3.72 % change on previous year | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 4.03 % change on previous year | +8.2% |
| 2008 | 2.92 % change on previous year | -27.4% |
| 2009 | 3.39 % change on previous year | +16.0% |
| 2010 | 2.34 % change on previous year | -31.0% |
| 2011 | 5.85 % change on previous year | +150.1% |
| 2012 | 3.15 % change on previous year | -46.2% |
| 2013 | 3.3 % change on previous year | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 2.96 % change on previous year | -10.4% |
| 2015 | 3.43 % change on previous year | +16.0% |
| 2016 | 3.22 % change on previous year | -6.1% |
| 2017 | 3 % change on previous year | -6.9% |
| 2018 | 2.57 % change on previous year | -14.4% |
| 2019 | 2.33 % change on previous year | -9.4% |
| 2020 | 1.54 % change on previous year | -33.9% |
| 2021 | 1.98 % change on previous year | +28.5% |
| 2022 | 0.754 % change on previous year | -61.9% |
| 2023 | 0.3749 % change on previous year | -50.3% |
| 2024 | 0.4327 % change on previous year | +15.4% |
| 2025 | 0.5096 % change on previous year | +17.8% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban population, annual growth rate in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | +2895.5% | -0.4023 % change on previous year | 11.25 % change on previous year |
| 1966 | +230.8% | 0.6401 % change on previous year | 2.12 % change on previous year |
| 1991 | +199.2% | 1.42 % change on previous year | 4.25 % change on previous year |
| 1962 | -189.3% | -3.27 % change on previous year | -9.47 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.7558 % change on previous year | -9.47 % change on previous year | 11.25 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.82 % change on previous year | 1.72 % change on previous year | 7.26 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.79 % change on previous year | 3.1 % change on previous year | 7.84 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.05 % change on previous year | 1.42 % change on previous year | 6.06 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.98 % change on previous year | 2.92 % change on previous year | 5.58 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.22 % change on previous year | 2.33 % change on previous year | 5.85 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.931 % change on previous year | 0.3749 % change on previous year | 1.98 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 151 Slovenia 0.5868 % change on previous year compare
- 152 Micronesia, Federated States of 0.5706 % change on previous year compare
- 153 Azerbaijan 0.5415 % change on previous year compare
- 155 Sweden 0.5049 % change on previous year compare
- 156 Saint Kitts and Nevis 0.4968 % change on previous year compare
- 157 Bahamas 0.4434 % change on previous year compare
More climate change data for China
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 31.25 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 604,831 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 191,478 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 413,353 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 722.56 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 14,763 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 342,069 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 200,605 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 141,464 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 757 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population, annual growth rate in China?
- Urban population, annual growth rate in China was 0.5096 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest urban population, annual growth rate recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 11.25 % change on previous year in 1964.
- What is the lowest urban population, annual growth rate recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -9.47 % change on previous year in 1962.
- How does China rank for urban population, annual growth rate?
- China ranks 154th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population, annual growth rate rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 85.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Urban population, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Urban population. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Urban population World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Urban population. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.