Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square in China
China: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square was 47 units per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square in China, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square in China is 47 units per square kilometre, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 30.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square in China peaked at 47 units per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 5.94 units per square kilometre, in 1961.
That places China 23rd out of 121 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square in China, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 5.94 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 6.05 units per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 6.16 units per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 1964 | 6.29 units per square kilometre | +2.0% |
| 1965 | 6.43 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 1966 | 6.55 units per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 1967 | 6.63 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1968 | 6.71 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 6.79 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 6.87 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1971 | 6.98 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 1972 | 7.12 units per square kilometre | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 7.27 units per square kilometre | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 7.42 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 1975 | 7.57 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 1976 | 7.73 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 1977 | 7.91 units per square kilometre | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 8.12 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 8.34 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 8.57 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 8.83 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 9.09 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 9.44 units per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 9.8 units per square kilometre | +3.9% |
| 1985 | 10.19 units per square kilometre | +3.9% |
| 1986 | 10.6 units per square kilometre | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 11.03 units per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 11.48 units per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 1989 | 11.97 units per square kilometre | +4.2% |
| 1990 | 12.49 units per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 1991 | 13.21 units per square kilometre | +5.7% |
| 1992 | 13.98 units per square kilometre | +5.9% |
| 1993 | 14.81 units per square kilometre | +6.0% |
| 1994 | 15.71 units per square kilometre | +6.1% |
| 1995 | 16.69 units per square kilometre | +6.2% |
| 1996 | 17.75 units per square kilometre | +6.4% |
| 1997 | 18.9 units per square kilometre | +6.5% |
| 1998 | 20.15 units per square kilometre | +6.6% |
| 1999 | 21.53 units per square kilometre | +6.8% |
| 2000 | 23.03 units per square kilometre | +7.0% |
| 2001 | 24.1 units per square kilometre | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 24.95 units per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 25.84 units per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 26.76 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 27.72 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 28.72 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 29.76 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 30.85 units per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 31.98 units per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 33.16 units per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 34.18 units per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 35.13 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 36.11 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 37.12 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 38.16 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 39.21 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 40.27 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 41.37 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 42.5 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 43.64 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 44.79 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 45.91 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 47 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.39 units per square kilometre | 5.94 units per square kilometre | 6.79 units per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 7.53 units per square kilometre | 6.87 units per square kilometre | 8.34 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.1 units per square kilometre | 8.57 units per square kilometre | 11.97 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.52 units per square kilometre | 12.49 units per square kilometre | 21.53 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 27.37 units per square kilometre | 23.03 units per square kilometre | 31.98 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.72 units per square kilometre | 33.16 units per square kilometre | 42.5 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.34 units per square kilometre | 43.64 units per square kilometre | 47 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 20 El Salvador 53.86 units per square kilometre compare
- 21 Rwanda 50.57 units per square kilometre compare
- 22 Portugal 47.22 units per square kilometre compare
- 24 Türkiye 42.64 units per square kilometre compare
- 25 Nigeria 42.52 units per square kilometre compare
- 26 Armenia 38.82 units per square kilometre compare
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 460.16 million (2025)
- 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, 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 largest city 30.48 million (2025)
- 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 urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square in China?
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square in China was 47 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 47 units per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.94 units per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does China rank for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square?
- China ranks 23rd out of 121 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN)
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.