Urban population growth in China, People's Republic of

China, People's Republic of: Urban population growth was 0.5% in 2025. β—† Volatile

Latest (2025)
0.5%
Change on year
up 17.7%
World rank
154th
of 217 countries
All-time high
10.7%
in 1964
All-time low
-9.9%
in 1962
Years of data
65
1961–2025

Urban population growth in China, People's Republic of, 1961–2025

-10-50510196119932025

Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.

Analysis

China, People's Republic of recorded 0.5% for urban population growth in 2025.

The figure is up 17.7% on the previous year and down 84.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, urban population growth in China, People's Republic of peaked at 10.7% in 1964 and was at its lowest, -9.9%, in 1962.

That places China, People's Republic of 154th out of 217 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 0.6% -9.9% 10.7% 9
1970s 2.8% 1.7% 7.0% 10
1980s 4.7% 3.1% 7.5% 10
1990s 4.0% 1.4% 5.9% 10
2000s 3.9% 2.9% 5.4% 10
2010s 3.2% 2.3% 5.7% 10
2020s 0.9% 0.4% 2.0% 6

Countries ranked near China, People's Republic of

  1. 151 Slovenia 0.6% compare
  2. 152 Micronesia, Federated States of 0.6% compare
  3. 153 Azerbaijan, Republic of 0.5% compare
  4. 155 Sweden 0.5% compare
  5. 156 St. Kitts and Nevis 0.5% compare
  6. 157 Bahamas, The 0.4% compare

See the full ranking of 264 places β†’

More climate change data for China, People's Republic of

All data for China, People's Republic of β†’

Frequently asked questions

What is urban population growth in China, People's Republic of?
Urban population growth in China, People's Republic of was 0.5% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
What is the highest urban population growth recorded in China, People's Republic of?
The highest recorded value was 10.7% in 1964.
What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in China, People's Republic of?
The lowest recorded value was -9.9% in 1962.
How does China, People's Republic of rank for urban population growth?
China, People's Republic of ranks 154th out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
Is urban population growth rising or falling in China, People's Republic of?
Over the last ten years it is down 84.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China, People's Republic of data come from?
The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Urban population growth in China, People's Republic of. Statizoid, drawing on World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Retrieved 19 August 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/urban-population-growth-annual-percent/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Urban population growth (annual %)
Unit
annual %
Source
World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
264 places, 17,129 data points, 1961–2025
Last refreshed

Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.