Population in largest city in China
China: Population in largest city was 30.48 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
30.48 million
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
3rd
of 153 countries
All-time high
30.48 million
in 2025
All-time low
5.51 million
in 1977
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in largest city in China, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, population in largest city in China stood at 30.48 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.1% on the previous year and up 29.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in China peaked at 30.48 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.51 million, in 1977.
That places China 3rd out of 153 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in largest city in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 6.87 million | — |
| 1961 | 6.75 million | -1.6% |
| 1962 | 6.64 million | -1.7% |
| 1963 | 6.53 million | -1.7% |
| 1964 | 6.42 million | -1.7% |
| 1965 | 6.43 million | +0.1% |
| 1966 | 6.39 million | -0.6% |
| 1967 | 6.30 million | -1.3% |
| 1968 | 6.22 million | -1.3% |
| 1969 | 6.13 million | -1.3% |
| 1970 | 6.05 million | -1.3% |
| 1971 | 5.97 million | -1.3% |
| 1972 | 5.89 million | -1.3% |
| 1973 | 5.81 million | -1.3% |
| 1974 | 5.73 million | -1.3% |
| 1975 | 5.66 million | -1.3% |
| 1976 | 5.58 million | -1.3% |
| 1977 | 5.51 million | -1.3% |
| 1978 | 5.56 million | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 5.74 million | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 5.93 million | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 6.12 million | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 6.32 million | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 6.57 million | +3.9% |
| 1984 | 6.83 million | +3.9% |
| 1985 | 7.10 million | +3.9% |
| 1986 | 7.38 million | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 7.67 million | +3.9% |
| 1988 | 7.97 million | +3.9% |
| 1989 | 8.28 million | +3.9% |
| 1990 | 8.61 million | +3.9% |
| 1991 | 9.05 million | +5.2% |
| 1992 | 9.52 million | +5.2% |
| 1993 | 10.01 million | +5.2% |
| 1994 | 10.53 million | +5.2% |
| 1995 | 11.07 million | +5.2% |
| 1996 | 11.65 million | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 12.25 million | +5.2% |
| 1998 | 12.88 million | +5.2% |
| 1999 | 13.55 million | +5.2% |
| 2000 | 14.25 million | +5.2% |
| 2001 | 14.83 million | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 15.36 million | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 15.90 million | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 16.47 million | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 17.06 million | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 17.66 million | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 18.29 million | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 18.94 million | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 19.62 million | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 20.31 million | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 20.95 million | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 21.56 million | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 22.18 million | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 22.82 million | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 23.48 million | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 24.16 million | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 24.86 million | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 25.58 million | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 26.32 million | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 27.06 million | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 27.80 million | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 28.52 million | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 29.21 million | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 29.87 million | +2.2% |
| 2025 | 30.48 million | +2.1% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 30.48 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.00 million, 10.1× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- China's 30.48 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.16 million, 5.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.47 million | 6.13 million | 6.87 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.75 million | 5.51 million | 6.05 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.02 million | 5.93 million | 8.28 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.91 million | 8.61 million | 13.55 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.84 million | 14.25 million | 19.62 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.22 million | 20.31 million | 26.32 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.82 million | 27.06 million | 30.48 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More urban development data for China
- Population in the largest city 3.3% (2025)
- Population density 150.26 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.3272 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 460.16 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 2.03 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 47 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 1,136 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 11,049 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in China?
- Population in largest city in China was 30.48 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 30.48 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.51 million in 1977.
- How does China rank for population in largest city?
- China ranks 3rd out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. 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
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.