China’s Population Statistics By Growth, Challenges And Government Measures
Updated · Feb 27, 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Introduction
- Editor’s Choice
- Consumption Indicators – China
- General Insights on China Population 2024
- GDP Composition in China By Industry
- Top 20 Countries with The Largest GDP
- Ethnic Distribution in China 2024
- China Population 2024 By Cities
- The Population of China 2024 By Year
- China Population Forecast
- China Population – Growth, Challenges, and Government Measures
- Conclusion
Introduction
China’s Population Statistics: China, once the world’s most populous nation, is undergoing a significant demographic shift. China’s Population in 2025 has begun to decline, marking a historic turning point. This essay will explore the factors contributing to this decline, its potential implications for China and the world, and the strategies being implemented to mitigate its effects.
The primary driver of China’s population decline is its stringent one-child policy, which was implemented in 1979. While this policy was successful in curbing population growth, it also led to an aging population and a gender imbalance. The policy was relaxed in 2015, allowing couples to have two children, but the damage had already been done.
Editor’s Choice
- China’s unemployment rate in 2024 is approximately 5.2%. The country has managed to keep unemployment relatively low through job creation in the technology, manufacturing, and services sectors.
- About the Chinese population in 2024, the per capita consumer spending on housing is projected to reach US$1.10k.
- The industrial sector made the highest-ever contribution to China’s GDP, with 31.7% in 2023. Wholesale, retail trade and financial intermediation lag far behind but still rank respectively with 9.8% and 8%.
- Every day, China records around 31,974 deaths and 24,153 births on average.
- In comparison to China’s Population, the per capita household disposable income is expected to amount to US$ 6.12k.
- As of 2024, China remains the second most populous country in the world, with over 1.41 billion people.
- Youth unemployment is estimated at over 21% in 2024. Many graduates, especially in less-developed regions, need help finding jobs that match their qualifications.
- The spending on non-alcoholic beverages and food will amount to US$0.97k in the current year.
- Similarly, the spending on clothing and footwear is expected to reach US$277.50 in the current year.
- In 2024, a large portion of the population will be elderly. Approximately 18% of the population is aged 65 or older.
Consumption Indicators – China
- Concerning the Chinese population in 2024, the per capita consumer spending on housing is projected to reach US$1.10k.
- Similarly, the spending on clothing and footwear is expected to reach US$277.50 in the current year.
- The per capita spending on communication is projected to be US$123.70 in 2024.
- As of 2024, China’s Population 2024 per capita spending on transport reveals that the amount will reach US$0.41k.
- In addition, hospitality services and restaurant segments are expected to generate a per capita spending contribution of US$0.62k.
- In comparison to China’s Population, the per capita household disposable income is expected to amount to US$ 6.12k.
- Moreover, spending on non-alcoholic beverages and food will amount to US$0.97k in the current year.
General Insights on China Population 2024
- The infant mortality rate is 6.4. It is infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
- The life expectancy for both genders is 78.02 years.
- 0 per 1,000 live births is deaths under the age of 5.
- Every day, China records around 31,974 deaths and 24,153 births on average.
GDP Composition in China By Industry
(Reference: statista.com)
The industrial sector made the highest-ever contribution to China’s GDP, with 31.7% in 2023. Wholesale, retail trade, and financial intermediation lag far behind but still rank respectively with 9.8% and 8%. Other industries with less than 10% representation include construction, real estate, transport, information technology, leasing and business services, and hotels.
Top 20 Countries with The Largest GDP
(Reference: statista.com)
As of 2024, the United States, China, and Germany are the leading countries with the largest gross domestic product. These countries have maintained a similar ranking since 2023. Japan, India, and the United Kingdom follow behind.
Ethnic Distribution in China 2024
| Background | Total Population | % in total population |
| Han Chinese | Around 1.25 billion | 91% |
| Zhuang | 17 million | 1.2% |
| Hui | 10.5 million | 0.75% |
| Manchi | Around 10.4 million | 0.75% |
| Uyghur | 12 million | 0.85% |
| Miao | 9.5 million | 0.7% |
| Yi | 9 million | 0.65% |
| Tujia | 8.4 million | 0.6% |
| Tibetan | 6.5 million | 0.45% |
| Mongol | 6 million | 0.4% |
| Dong | 3 million | 0.2% |
| Yao | 3 million | 0.2% |
| Korean | 2 million | 0.15% |
| Minorities | ||
| Bai, Dai, Lahu, Lisu, Li, She | – | 0.2% |
| Total Breakdown | ||
| Ethnic minorities combined | Around 130 million | 9% |
| Han Chinese | 1.25 billion | 91% |
(Source: worldometers.info)
China Population 2024 By Cities
| City | Population |
| Bayan Nur | 1,760,000 |
| Fuyang | 1,768,947 |
| Jiangyin | 1,779,515 |
| Jiangmen | 1,795,459 |
| Nanyang | 1,811,812 |
| Datong | 1,850,000 |
| Nanchong | 1,858,875 |
| Jilin | 1,895,865 |
| Jieyang | 1,899,394 |
| Ordos | 1,940,653 |
| Ganzhou | 1,977,253 |
| Lianyungang | 2,001,009 |
| Zunyi | 2,037,775 |
| Weifang | 2,044,028 |
| Kunshan | 2,092,496 |
| Baotou | 2,150,000 |
| Zhuhai | 2,207,090 |
| Yantai | 2,227,733 |
| Nantong | 2,273,326 |
| Shaoxing | 2,300,000 |
| Hohhot | 2,350,000 |
| Nanchang | 2,357,839 |
| Huai’an | 2,494,013 |
| Yunfu | 2,612,800 |
| Wenzhou | 2,650,000 |
| Baoding | 2,739,887 |
| Linyi | 2,743,843 |
| Haikou | 2,873,358 |
| Huizhou | 2,900,113 |
| Lanzhou | 3,000,000 |
| UEruemqi | 3,029,372 |
| Guiyang | 3,037,159 |
| Changsha | 3,093,980 |
| Zibo | 3,129,228 |
| Changzhou | 3,290,918 |
| Tangshan | 3,372,102 |
| Shiyan | 3,460,000 |
| Puyang | 3,590,000 |
| Ningbo | 3,731,203 |
| Fuzhou | 3,740,000 |
| Shantou | 3,838,900 |
| Nanning | 3,839,800 |
| Zhongshan | 3,841,873 |
| Kunming | 3,855,346 |
| Shijiazhuang | 3,938,513 |
| Zhengzhou | 4,253,913 |
| Taiyuan | 4,303,673 |
| Jinan | 4,335,989 |
| Wuxi | 4,396,835 |
| Xiamen | 4,617,251 |
| Changchun | 4,714,996 |
| Dalian | 4,913,879 |
| Hefei | 5,050,000 |
| Harbin | 5,242,897 |
| Suzhou | 6,715,559 |
| Shenyang | 7,050,000 |
| Qingdao | 7,172,451 |
| Chongqing | 7,457,599 |
| Foshan | 9,042,509 |
| Hangzhou | 9,236,032 |
| Nanjing | 9,314,685 |
| Xi’an | 9,600,000 |
| Dongguan | 9,644,871 |
| Wuhan | 10,392,693 |
| Tianjin | 11,090,314 |
| Chengdu | 13,568,357 |
| Guangzhou | 16,096,724 |
| Shenzhen | 17,494,398 |
| Beijing | 18,960,744 |
| Shanghai | 22,315,474 |
(Source: worldometers.info)
The Population of China 2024 By Year
| Year | Total Population | Yearly Change | % of Yearly Change | Total Migrants | Median Age |
| 2024 | 1,419,321,278 | 3,263,655 | -0.23 % | -318,992 | 39.6 |
| 2023 | 1,422,584,933 | -2,594,636 | -0.18 % | -567,724 | 39.1 |
| 2022 | 1,425,179,569 | -1,257,698 | -0.09 % | -293,846 | 39.1 |
| 2020 | 1,426,106,093 | 2,585,736 | 0.18 % | -91,577 | 37.5 |
| 2015 | 1,396,134,174 | 8,914,532 | 0.65 % | -646,941 | 35.7 |
| 2010 | 1,351,561,514 | 8,306,876 | 0.63 % | -184,144 | 34.1 |
| 2005 | 1,310,027,136 | 8,089,192 | 0.63 % | -103,701 | 31.8 |
| 2000 | 1,269,581,175 | 9,889,450 | 0.80 % | -62,622 | 29.0 |
| 1995 | 1,220,133,927 | 13,310,241 | 1.13 % | -365,986 | 26.1 |
| 1990 | 1,153,582,724 | 18,754,981 | 1.71 % | -11,187 | 23.7 |
| 1985 | 1,059,807,820 | 15,328,856 | 1.51 % | -60,929 | 21.7 |
| 1980 | 983,163,542 | 13,409,350 | 1.42 % | -20,129 | 20.9 |
| 1975 | 916,116,793 | 18,561,565 | 2.16 % | -115,173 | 19.1 |
| 1970 | 823,308,967 | 19,978,647 | 2.62 % | -126,510 | 18.0 |
| 1965 | 723,415,733 | 13,722,733 | 2.01 % | -130,900 | 18.5 |
| 1960 | 654,802,069 | 10,251,012 | 1.64 % | -16,927 | 19.9 |
| 1955 | 603,547,007 | 11,900,530 | 2.10 % | -2,402 | 20.7 |
(Source: worldometers.info)
| Year | Urban Population | % of Urban Population | Density (P/Km²) | Share in the world’s population |
| 2024 | 941,865,672 | 66.4 % | 151 | 17.39 % |
| 2023 | 926,375,811 | 65.1 % | 152 | 17.58 % |
| 2022 | 910,080,750 | 63.9 % | 152 | 17.77 % |
| 2020 | 875,075,919 | 61.4 % | 152 | 18.08 % |
| 2015 | 775,352,918 | 55.5 % | 149 | 18.69 % |
| 2010 | 669,353,557 | 49.5 % | 144 | 19.25 % |
| 2005 | 561,983,323 | 42.9 % | 140 | 19.89 % |
| 2000 | 460,377,048 | 36.3 % | 135 | 20.57 % |
| 1995 | 383,901,711 | 31.5 % | 130 | 21.19 % |
| 1990 | 310,022,147 | 26.9 % | 123 | 21.65 % |
| 1985 | 244,946,241 | 23.1 % | 113 | 21.77 % |
| 1980 | 192,392,094 | 19.6 % | 105 | 22.11 % |
| 1975 | 160,244,444 | 17.5 % | 98 | 22.50 % |
| 1970 | 143,513,192 | 17.4 % | 88 | 22.28 % |
| 1965 | 130,684,595 | 18.1 % | 77 | 21.69 |
| 1960 | 106,561,743 | 16.3 % | 70 | 21.71 % |
| 1955 | 84,639,825 | 14.0 % | 64 | 22.03 % |
(Source: worldometers.info)
China Population Forecast
| Year | Population | Yearly Change | % of the yearly change | Median Age | Total migrants |
| 2025 | 1,416,096,094 | -2,002,000 | -0.14 % | 40.1 | -268,126 |
| 2030 | 1,398,153,832 | -3,588,452 | -0.25 % | 42.9 | -199,192 |
| 2035 | 1,373,427,531 | -4,945,260 | -0.36 % | 45.8 | -213,426 |
| 2040 | 1,342,816,657 | -6,122,175 | -0.45 % | 48.6 | -206,247 |
| 2045 | 1,306,113,788 | -7,340,574 | -0.55 % | 50.6 | -191,600 |
| 2050 | 1,260,289,093 | -9,164,939 | -0.71 % | 52.1 | – |
(Source: worldometers.info)
| Year | Urban Population | % of Urban Population | Density (P/Km²) | Share in the world’s population | Urban Population |
| 2025 | 956,553,854 | 67.5 % | 151 | 17.20 % | 956,553,854 |
| 2030 | 1,017,847,445 | 72.8 % | 149 | 16.32 % | 1,017,847,445 |
| 2035 | 1,059,618,626 | 77.2 % | 146 | 15.46 % | 1,059,618,626 |
| 2040 | 1,083,464,035 | 80.7 % | 143 | 14.63 % | 1,083,464,035 |
| 2045 | 1,092,037,409 | 83.6 % | 139 | 13.84 % | 1,092,037,409 |
| 2050 | 1,091,948,003 | 86.6 % | 134 | 13.04 % | 1,091,948,003 |
(Source: worldometers.info)
China Population – Growth, Challenges, and Government Measures
As of 2024, China remains the second most populous country in the world, with over 1.41 billion people. However, this number represents a slowing growth rate, a significant shift from the rapid population increase seen in the mid-20th century. Various factors contribute to the current population trends, including government policies, economic changes, and societal preferences. In this analysis, we’ll explore how China is managing its population, the impact on key sectors such as literacy, housing, education, and employment, and the measures being taken for sustainable development.
Population Growth And Trends
China’s population growth has slowed down significantly over recent decades. This can be attributed to:
- One-Child Policy (1979-2015): This policy was initially introduced to control population growth, but it resulted in a long-term decrease in birth rates. By limiting families to one child for over three decades, China reduced its annual growth rate to less than 0.5%.
- Aging Population: In 2024, a large portion of the population will be elderly. Approximately 18% of the population is aged 65 or older. This aging demographic puts pressure on healthcare and pensions while reducing the number of working-age citizens.
- Urbanization: China has seen a mass movement of people from rural to urban areas in search of better job opportunities. More than 64% of China’s population now lives in cities, increasing the demand for urban housing and infrastructure.
- Relaxation of Family Policies: The government is trying to encourage population growth by allowing families to have up to three children. However, the impact has been slow, as the younger generation faces economic constraints like high housing and education costs.
Governmental Measures to Manage Population
- Economic Reforms: China has shifted from a purely population-control focus to one that emphasizes economic reforms. These reforms aim to improve the quality of life, boost productivity, and balance the needs of a large population.
- Incentives for Larger Families: To reverse the effects of the one-child policy, the government is offering financial incentives such as tax cuts, childcare support, and subsidies to encourage families to have more children.
- Pension and Healthcare: As more of the population ages, the government has allocated additional funds to healthcare and pensions. In 2024, China is expected to spend over $1 trillion US dollars on healthcare.
Impact on Literacy Rates and Education Quality
- Literacy Rate: China’s literacy rate stands at 96.8% as of 2024. The government has invested heavily in education, and compulsory schooling laws ensure that children have access to at least nine years of education. This investment has kept literacy rates high despite the large population size.
- Education Quality: Although literacy is high, the quality of education varies between urban and rural areas. Urban regions like Beijing and Shanghai have world-class schools, while rural areas struggle with underfunding and a lack of qualified teachers. This inequality affects long-term employment opportunities for many people, especially in remote regions.
Housing and Urbanization
- Housing Pressure: Rapid urbanization has created significant housing shortages in major cities. Real estate prices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen are some of the highest in the world. In 2024, the average apartment in these cities cost over $1 million US dollars. The government has responded by promoting affordable housing projects and regulating the real estate market, but challenges remain due to the high demand for urban living.
- Infrastructure Development: To accommodate the growing urban population, China has heavily invested in infrastructure. New cities, smart housing, and transportation systems are being built to keep up with the demand.
Employment And Unemployment Rates in 2024 And Beyond
- Employment: China’s unemployment rate in 2024 is approximately 5.2%. The country has managed to keep unemployment relatively low through job creation in the technology, manufacturing, and services sectors. However, employment opportunities vary widely by region, with cities like Shenzhen and Guangzhou offering more jobs than rural areas.
- Youth Unemployment: A rising concern in China is the high unemployment rate among young graduates. In 2024, youth unemployment is estimated at over 21%. Many graduates need help finding jobs that match their qualifications, especially in less-developed regions.
- Automation and AI Impact: The rise of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to displace many jobs in manufacturing and services over the coming years. The government is focusing on upskilling the workforce to prepare for this transition, investing in technology-driven sectors such as renewable energy and robotics.
Education And Employment Initiatives
- Vocational Training: To address labor market mismatches, China is expanding vocational training programs. These help equip the younger workforce with the skills needed for technology and service-based jobs.
- Government Job Creation: The government has set ambitious targets for job creation in sectors such as healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability. By 2025, China aims to create 15 million new jobs in these sectors.
Conclusion
China’s population management strategies in 2024 focus on balancing growth with sustainable development. With an aging population, challenges in housing, and pressures on the job market, the government is employing a range of policies to maintain social stability and economic growth.
High literacy rates and rapid urbanization are positive signs, but regional disparities in education quality and employment opportunities remain. As China moves forward, it will need to continue addressing these issues while adapting to the global economic shifts brought about by technology and changing demographics.
Barry Elad is a tech enthusiast passionate about exploring various technology topics. He collects key statistics and facts to make tech easier to understand. Barry focuses on software and its benefits for everyday life. In his free time, he enjoys creating healthy recipes, practicing yoga, meditating, and walking in nature with his child. Barry's mission is to simplify complex tech information for everyone.
