Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in China
China: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million was 460.16 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
460.16 million
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
1st
of 121 countries
All-time high
460.16 million
in 2025
All-time low
54.18 million
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in China, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in China is 460.16 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 28.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in China peaked at 460.16 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 54.18 million, in 1960.
That places China 1st out of 121 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 urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 54.18 million | — |
| 1961 | 55.74 million | +2.9% |
| 1962 | 56.78 million | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 57.82 million | +1.8% |
| 1964 | 59.01 million | +2.0% |
| 1965 | 60.40 million | +2.4% |
| 1966 | 61.49 million | +1.8% |
| 1967 | 62.25 million | +1.2% |
| 1968 | 63.00 million | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 63.74 million | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 64.48 million | +1.2% |
| 1971 | 65.52 million | +1.6% |
| 1972 | 66.85 million | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 68.21 million | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 69.63 million | +2.1% |
| 1975 | 71.10 million | +2.1% |
| 1976 | 72.60 million | +2.1% |
| 1977 | 74.30 million | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 76.20 million | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 78.31 million | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 80.49 million | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 82.86 million | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 85.35 million | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 88.60 million | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 92.03 million | +3.9% |
| 1985 | 95.64 million | +3.9% |
| 1986 | 99.47 million | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 103.52 million | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 107.82 million | +4.1% |
| 1989 | 112.38 million | +4.2% |
| 1990 | 117.25 million | +4.3% |
| 1991 | 123.98 million | +5.7% |
| 1992 | 131.24 million | +5.9% |
| 1993 | 139.05 million | +6.0% |
| 1994 | 147.51 million | +6.1% |
| 1995 | 156.66 million | +6.2% |
| 1996 | 166.62 million | +6.4% |
| 1997 | 177.42 million | +6.5% |
| 1998 | 189.21 million | +6.6% |
| 1999 | 202.10 million | +6.8% |
| 2000 | 216.25 million | +7.0% |
| 2001 | 226.29 million | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 234.27 million | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 242.58 million | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 251.25 million | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 260.25 million | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 269.65 million | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 279.42 million | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 289.61 million | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 300.22 million | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 311.29 million | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 320.88 million | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 329.83 million | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 339.05 million | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 348.53 million | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 358.25 million | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 368.12 million | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 378.09 million | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 388.40 million | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 398.98 million | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 409.71 million | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 420.46 million | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 431.04 million | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 441.27 million | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 451.02 million | +2.2% |
| 2025 | 460.16 million | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 59.44 million | 54.18 million | 63.74 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 70.72 million | 64.48 million | 78.31 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 94.82 million | 80.49 million | 112.38 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 155.10 million | 117.25 million | 202.10 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 256.98 million | 216.25 million | 300.22 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 354.14 million | 311.29 million | 398.98 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 435.61 million | 409.71 million | 460.16 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, 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)
- 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 in China?
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in China was 460.16 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 460.16 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.18 million in 1960.
- How does China rank for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million?
- China ranks 1st out of 121 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.4%. 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 urban agglomerations of more than 1 million. 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 urban agglomerations of more than one million is the country's population living in metropolitan areas that in 2018 had a population of more than one million people.