Urban population, per square kilometre in China
China: Urban population, per square kilometre was 98.47 units per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Urban population, per square kilometre in China, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, urban population, per square kilometre in China stood at 98.47 units per square kilometre. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and up 24.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population, per square kilometre in China peaked at 98.47 units per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 12.24 units per square kilometre, in 1963.
That places China 70th out of 216 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population, per square kilometre in China, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 13.57 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 12.29 units per square kilometre | -9.5% |
| 1963 | 12.24 units per square kilometre | -0.4% |
| 1964 | 13.61 units per square kilometre | +11.2% |
| 1965 | 13.7 units per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 1966 | 13.99 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 1967 | 14.26 units per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 1968 | 14.54 units per square kilometre | +2.0% |
| 1969 | 14.84 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 1970 | 15.15 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 1971 | 15.46 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 1972 | 15.73 units per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 16.16 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1974 | 16.46 units per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 1975 | 16.93 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 17.29 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 1977 | 17.64 units per square kilometre | +2.0% |
| 1978 | 18.25 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1979 | 19.57 units per square kilometre | +7.3% |
| 1980 | 20.27 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1981 | 21.34 units per square kilometre | +5.3% |
| 1982 | 22.09 units per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 23.57 units per square kilometre | +6.7% |
| 1984 | 25.42 units per square kilometre | +7.8% |
| 1985 | 26.54 units per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 1986 | 27.87 units per square kilometre | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 29.24 units per square kilometre | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 30.29 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 31.23 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 31.67 units per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 33.02 units per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 34.07 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 35.13 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 36.19 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 37.27 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 39.53 units per square kilometre | +6.1% |
| 1997 | 41.81 units per square kilometre | +5.8% |
| 1998 | 44.12 units per square kilometre | +5.5% |
| 1999 | 46.41 units per square kilometre | +5.2% |
| 2000 | 49 units per square kilometre | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 51.02 units per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 53.31 units per square kilometre | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 55.62 units per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 57.65 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 59.7 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 61.92 units per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 64.42 units per square kilometre | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 66.3 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 68.55 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 70.15 units per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 74.26 units per square kilometre | +5.8% |
| 2012 | 76.59 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 79.12 units per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 81.47 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 84.26 units per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 86.98 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 89.59 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 91.89 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 94.03 units per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 95.48 units per square kilometre | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 97.37 units per square kilometre | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 98.1 units per square kilometre | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 98.47 units per square kilometre | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 13.67 units per square kilometre | 12.24 units per square kilometre | 14.84 units per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 16.86 units per square kilometre | 15.15 units per square kilometre | 19.57 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.79 units per square kilometre | 20.27 units per square kilometre | 31.23 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 37.92 units per square kilometre | 31.67 units per square kilometre | 46.41 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.75 units per square kilometre | 49 units per square kilometre | 68.55 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 82.83 units per square kilometre | 70.15 units per square kilometre | 94.03 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 97.35 units per square kilometre | 95.48 units per square kilometre | 98.47 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 67 Kiribati 100.66 units per square kilometre compare
- 68 France 99.94 units per square kilometre compare
- 69 Türkiye 98.7 units per square kilometre compare
- 71 Cape Verde 98.38 units per square kilometre compare
- 72 Cyprus 97.05 units per square kilometre compare
- 73 Guatemala 94.05 units per square kilometre 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, per square kilometre in China?
- Urban population, per square kilometre in China was 98.47 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest urban population, per square kilometre recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 98.47 units per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest urban population, per square kilometre recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.24 units per square kilometre in 1963.
- How does China rank for urban population, per square kilometre?
- China ranks 70th out of 216 countries with data for 2023.
- Is urban population, per square kilometre rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.4%. 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, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Urban population divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Urban population ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Urban population World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN)
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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
Urban population divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.