#2 in the world · UN medium projection
China population right now
The 2026 mid-year projection is 1,412,914,089 people. The moving display interpolates the original January/July UN population series; no births or deaths are observed live.
Modelled between UN January/July anchors1,412,914,089−3,088,927 people/year · −0.22%
Direct answer
How many people live in China?
The UN medium projection places China at 1,412,914,089 people on 1 July 2026. That equals 17.02% of the projected world population.
Annual movement
The population is declining
The model’s annual change is −3,088,927, equivalent to about −8,463 people per average day. This combines births, deaths and net migration; it is not a daily register.
Scale comparison
China and United States
China has about 4.05× the projected population of United States in this 2026 snapshot.
Open United States →Definitions that matter
How to read the snapshot
Population
All ages and both sexes at mid-year. The value is estimated or projected, not a headcount taken on one day.
Urban share
World Bank indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS, 2024: percentage living in nationally defined urban areas. This is not a 2026 projection.
Density
UN WPP 2026 reports 147 people/km². Separate World Bank 2023 land area: 9,388,210 km²; area definitions can differ.
Net migration
The 2026 model includes −232,107 net migrants within the annual demographic balance.
Primary evidence
One named source, visible limits
Figures use the Medium variant of the 2024 Revision. The UN series covers 237 countries or areas; estimates and projections from 1950 to 2100 and is built from 1,910 population censuses and 3,189 nationally representative sample surveys, alongside vital-registration and other demographic systems.
These are demographic estimates and projections for China population and demographic indicators, not a live register of identifiable people. Mid-year values refer to 1 July; moving counters interpolate between the original January and July population anchors. Demographic indicators use the original 2026 workbook rows. Urban share uses World Bank 2024 and land area uses World Bank 2023 indicators, not 2026 projections.