China’s population story is one of extraordinary growth and demographic transformation. From 667 million in 1960, the country surpassed the 1 billion mark in 1982, symbolized by a significant milestone in global demographics. The population continued to rise, peaking around 2021 at over 1.41 billion. However, according to projections from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, China’s population is now on a gradual decline. By 2050, it is expected to drop to approximately 1.24 billion.
This shift is largely driven by low fertility rates, aging population, and the long-term impact of previous population control policies. The projected decline highlights critical future challenges for China’s economy, labor force, and social infrastructure.
China’s Population Historical and Projected (1960–2050):
| Year | China’s Total Population |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 667,070,000 |
| 1961 | 660,330,000 |
| 1962 | 665,770,000 |
| 1963 | 682,335,000 |
| 1964 | 698,355,000 |
| 1965 | 715,185,000 |
| 1966 | 735,400,000 |
| 1967 | 754,550,000 |
| 1968 | 774,510,000 |
| 1969 | 796,025,000 |
| 1970 | 818,315,000 |
| 1971 | 841,105,000 |
| 1972 | 862,030,000 |
| 1973 | 881,940,000 |
| 1974 | 900,350,000 |
| 1975 | 916,395,000 |
| 1976 | 930,685,000 |
| 1977 | 943,455,000 |
| 1978 | 956,165,000 |
| 1979 | 969,005,000 |
| 1980 | 981,235,000 |
| 1981 | 993,885,000 |
| 1982 | 1,008,630,000 |
| 1983 | 1,023,310,000 |
| 1984 | 1,036,825,000 |
| 1985 | 1,051,040,000 |
| 1986 | 1,066,790,000 |
| 1987 | 1,084,035,000 |
| 1988 | 1,101,630,000 |
| 1989 | 1,118,650,000 |
| 1990 | 1,135,185,000 |
| 1991 | 1,150,780,000 |
| 1992 | 1,164,970,000 |
| 1993 | 1,178,440,000 |
| 1994 | 1,191,835,000 |
| 1995 | 1,204,855,000 |
| 1996 | 1,217,550,000 |
| 1997 | 1,230,075,000 |
| 1998 | 1,241,935,000 |
| 1999 | 1,252,735,000 |
| 2000 | 1,262,645,000 |
| 2001 | 1,271,850,000 |
| 2002 | 1,280,400,000 |
| 2003 | 1,288,400,000 |
| 2004 | 1,296,075,000 |
| 2005 | 1,303,720,000 |
| 2006 | 1,311,020,000 |
| 2007 | 1,317,885,000 |
| 2008 | 1,324,655,000 |
| 2009 | 1,331,260,000 |
| 2010 | 1,337,705,000 |
| 2011 | 1,345,035,000 |
| 2012 | 1,354,190,000 |
| 2013 | 1,363,240,000 |
| 2014 | 1,371,860,000 |
| 2015 | 1,379,860,000 |
| 2016 | 1,387,790,000 |
| 2017 | 1,396,215,000 |
| 2018 | 1,402,760,000 |
| 2019 | 1,407,745,000 |
| 2020 | 1,411,100,000 |
| 2021 | 1,412,360,000 |
| 2022 | 1,412,175,000 |
| 2023 | 1,410,710,000 |
| 2024 | 1,407,607,424 |
| 2025 | 1,404,579,072 |
| 2026 | 1,401,701,632 |
| 2027 | 1,398,458,368 |
| 2028 | 1,394,788,480 |
| 2029 | 1,390,719,744 |
| 2030 | 1,386,313,728 |
| 2031 | 1,381,538,816 |
| 2032 | 1,376,446,720 |
| 2033 | 1,371,030,656 |
| 2034 | 1,365,342,464 |
| 2035 | 1,359,378,048 |
| 2036 | 1,353,139,328 |
| 2037 | 1,346,677,632 |
| 2038 | 1,340,082,048 |
| 2039 | 1,333,312,256 |
| 2040 | 1,326,455,680 |
| 2041 | 1,319,499,136 |
| 2042 | 1,312,439,424 |
| 2043 | 1,305,215,232 |
| 2044 | 1,297,703,680 |
| 2045 | 1,289,754,624 |
| 2046 | 1,281,281,536 |
| 2047 | 1,272,284,800 |
| 2048 | 1,262,670,848 |
| 2049 | 1,252,468,096 |
| 2050 | 1,241,757,952 |
Source:
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024)
World Population Prospects 2024 – https://population.un.org/wpp/
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