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China's population has slipped past its peak: from a high of 1,426,437,267 in 2021, it stands at 1,412,914,089 in 2026. That is a 2.6-fold increase on the 544,044,358 recorded in 1950. Numbers are roughly stable, edging down 0.22% a year. Settlement is fairly dense, at 147 people/km². Half the population is younger than 40.6 years, and the age structure is steadily tilting older: the median is projected to reach 52.1 by 2050. The sexes are close to evenly balanced, at 104 males per 100 females. By 2100, UN projections see it falling to 633,368,113 (-55% from 2026).
Total population
1,412,914,089
Density
147 people/km²
Median age
40.6 years
Growth rate
-0.22%
China passed its population peak 5 years ago in 2021, and has since declined by 0.9%. The population is aging rapidly; median age will rise from 41 in 2026 to 52 by 2050. Looking ahead, UN projections show the population falling to 633.4M by 2100, less than half of 2026's level.