Urban population in China
China: Urban population was 933.17 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in China, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, urban population in China stood at 933.17 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 18.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in China peaked at 933.17 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 114.88 million, in 1963.
China ranks 1st of 218 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 131.72 million | — |
| 1961 | 127.41 million | -3.3% |
| 1962 | 115.34 million | -9.5% |
| 1963 | 114.88 million | -0.4% |
| 1964 | 127.80 million | +11.2% |
| 1965 | 128.62 million | +0.6% |
| 1966 | 131.34 million | +2.1% |
| 1967 | 133.86 million | +1.9% |
| 1968 | 136.47 million | +2.0% |
| 1969 | 139.30 million | +2.1% |
| 1970 | 142.22 million | +2.1% |
| 1971 | 145.18 million | +2.1% |
| 1972 | 147.68 million | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 151.70 million | +2.7% |
| 1974 | 154.54 million | +1.9% |
| 1975 | 158.95 million | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 162.28 million | +2.1% |
| 1977 | 165.59 million | +2.0% |
| 1978 | 171.30 million | +3.4% |
| 1979 | 183.73 million | +7.3% |
| 1980 | 190.27 million | +3.6% |
| 1981 | 200.33 million | +5.3% |
| 1982 | 207.43 million | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 221.28 million | +6.7% |
| 1984 | 238.62 million | +7.8% |
| 1985 | 249.17 million | +4.4% |
| 1986 | 261.63 million | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 274.47 million | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 284.38 million | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 293.20 million | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 297.37 million | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 310.02 million | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 319.90 million | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 329.85 million | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 339.79 million | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 349.89 million | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 371.11 million | +6.1% |
| 1997 | 392.52 million | +5.8% |
| 1998 | 414.19 million | +5.5% |
| 1999 | 435.70 million | +5.2% |
| 2000 | 460.01 million | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 478.98 million | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 500.51 million | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 522.19 million | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 541.24 million | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 560.47 million | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 581.35 million | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 604.77 million | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 622.45 million | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 643.55 million | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 658.61 million | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 697.13 million | +5.8% |
| 2012 | 719.08 million | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 742.83 million | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 764.82 million | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 791.07 million | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 816.58 million | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 841.08 million | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 862.70 million | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 882.80 million | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 896.38 million | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 914.10 million | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 920.99 million | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 924.44 million | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 928.44 million | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 933.17 million | +0.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 933.17 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.10 million, 227.5× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- China's 933.17 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 685,900, 1360.5× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 128.67 million | 114.88 million | 139.30 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 158.32 million | 142.22 million | 183.73 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 242.08 million | 190.27 million | 293.20 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 356.03 million | 297.37 million | 435.70 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 551.55 million | 460.01 million | 643.55 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 777.67 million | 658.61 million | 882.80 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 919.59 million | 896.38 million | 933.17 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
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 in China?
- Urban population in China was 933.17 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 933.17 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 114.88 million in 1963.
- How does China rank for urban population?
- China ranks 1st out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.