Today's demographic activity
Estimates based on 2026 annual rates
Births today
23,614
Deaths today
31,436
Net emigration today
636
As of today, China has approximately 1,412,914,089 people. Estimated births today: 23,614; deaths: 31,436.
Watch China's population change in real time. These counters estimate births, deaths, and migration activity every second based on annual demographic rates.
Understanding the live counters
These real-time estimates model demographic activity based on annual rates from 2026. The population is declining, changing by about 0.10 people every second.
- Rates are averaged across the year, so actual daily counts will fluctuate.
- Unexpected events (pandemics, disasters, policy changes) can shift these numbers quickly.
- Migration plays a significant role in net change alongside births and deaths.
Key terms
- Real-time counters
- — Live estimates derived from annual demographic rates evenly distributed throughout the year.
- Natural change
- — Net change from births minus deaths (excluding migration).
- Net migration
- — Balance of people moving into vs. leaving the country.
- Population growth
- — Total change combining births, deaths, and migration.
Major Cities
(2,054)Projection| # | City | Region | Population | Area (km²) | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shanghai | Shanghai | 29.91M | 3,157 | 9,474 |
| 2 | Guangzhou | Guangdong | 27.74M | 4,570 | 6,070 |
| 3 | Beijing★ Capital | Beijing | 17.13M | 1,741 | 9,840 |
| 4 | Shenzhen | Guangdong | 13.96M | 1,470 | 9,492 |
| 5 | Suzhou | Jiangsu | 7.74M | 1,169 | 6,621 |
| 6 | Hangzhou | Zhejiang | 7.63M | 1,635 | 4,665 |
| 7 | Tianjin | Tianjin | 7.32M | 543 | 13,483 |
| 8 | Wuhan | Hubei | 7.32M | 710 | 10,306 |
| 9 | Chongqing | Chongqing | 7.03M | 548 | 12,827 |
| 10 | Nanjing | Jiangsu | 6.79M | 723 | 9,397 |
| 11 | Chaozhou | Guangdong | 6.45M | 1,228 | 5,249 |
| 12 | Chengdu | Sichuan | 6.11M | 865 | 7,058 |
| 13 | Shenyang | Liaoning | 5.68M | 480 | 11,831 |
| 14 | Xi'an | Shaanxi | 5.22M | 622 | 8,386 |
| 15 | Zhengzhou | Henan | 4.87M | 582 | 8,363 |
| 16 | Hefei | Anhui | 4.86M | 501 | 9,713 |
| 17 | Harbin | Heilongjiang | 4.37M | 417 | 10,471 |
| 18 | Wenzhou | Zhejiang | 4.17M | 536 | 7,773 |
| 19 | Puning | Guangdong | 4.02M | 696 | 5,771 |
| 20 | Taiyuan | Shanxi | 4.01M | 345 | 11,618 |
| 21 | Ürümqi | Xinjiang | 3.78M | 306 | 12,330 |
| 22 | Qingdao | Shandong | 3.61M | 518 | 6,974 |
| 23 | Jinan | Shandong | 3.46M | 444 | 7,807 |
| 24 | Changsha | Hunan | 3.46M | 403 | 8,584 |
| 25 | Changchun | Jilin | 3.34M | 263 | 12,704 |
| 26 | Nanchang | Jiangxi | 3.29M | 398 | 8,276 |
| 27 | Nanning | Guangxi | 3.29M | 238 | 13,804 |
| 28 | Quanzhou | Fujian | 3.28M | 677 | 4,844 |
| 29 | Kunming | Yunnan | 3.22M | 354 | 9,112 |
| 30 | Ningbo | Zhejiang | 3.13M | 530 | 5,910 |
19752050
2026
A city here follows the UN's Degree of Urbanisation method: a contiguous area averaging at least 1,500 people per km² and totalling at least 50,000. It is measured from population grids rather than municipal boundaries, so one can cover far more ground than the place it is named after, and two neighbouring centres can appear as separate cities. It can also reach across a national border, so in a few small territories the city holds more people than the territory itself.
Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) · Creative Commons license CC BY 3.0 IGO
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Historical estimates (1950–2024) and medium-variant projections (2025–2100). Updated .
Frequently asked questions
- What is the population of China?
- The population of China is projected to reach approximately 1,412,914,089 in 2026, according to UN projections.
- What is the life expectancy in China?
- Life expectancy at birth in China is projected to be 79.0 years in 2026.
- What is the fertility rate in China?
- The total fertility rate in China is projected to be 1.03 children per woman in 2026.
- What is the median age in China?
- The median age in China is projected to be 40.6 years in 2026.
- What is the age distribution in China?
- China's population is projected to be 14.8% children (0-14 years), 70.1% working age (15-64 years), and 15.1% elderly (65+ years) in 2026.
- What is the GDP of China?
- China's GDP is $20.85 trillion (current USD) as of 2026, according to IMF data.
- What is the GDP per capita in China?
- The GDP per capita in China is $31,596 (PPP) as of 2026, according to IMF data.
- What is the inflation rate in China?
- The inflation rate in China is 1.2%, which is considered low as of 2026, according to IMF data.
- What is the unemployment rate in China?
- The unemployment rate in China is 5.1% as of 2026, according to IMF data.