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Qinghai Province Prefecture-level city Reference year 2025 Province #1/8National #206/333

Xining City population

Xining City is a prefecture-level city in Qinghai Province, China. Resident population was 2,475,600 people in 2025, with a density of 325.4 people per km². Explore historical, census and economic data.

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Resident population 2,475,600 people 2025 · Reference year
Population density325.4people/km²
Area7,607km²
Population change · 5 Years +0.2%
Urbanization rate 81.2% Data year 2025
Male/female ratio 1.04 Male 1,263,000 people · Female 1,218,000 people · 2023
Registered (hukou) population 2,158,400 people Data year 2023
Birth rate 7.90 ‰ Death rate 9.33 ‰ · 2023
GDP $26.6B Data year 2025
Urban disposable income $6,343 Rural disposable income $2,694 · 2025

Subregions

Jump directly to a lower-level area.

7 County-level area
Chengdong County-level area Chengbei County-level area Datong Hui Tu Autonomous County County-level area Huangzhong County-level area Chengxi County-level area Chengzhong County-level area Huangyuan County-level area

Population over time

Resident population and urbanization, 1980 to 2025.

All years
2.51M2.43M2.35M2.26M2.18M2010201320162019202220252010: 2.21M2011: 2.24M2012: 2.27M2013: 2.28M2014: 2.32M2015: 2.33M2016: 2.37M2017: 2.40M2018: 2.42M2019: 2.45M2020: 2.47M2021: 2.48M2022: 2.48M2023: 2.48M2024: 2.48M2025: 2.48M

Historical indicators

Selected years from our annual dataset.

Value202020212022202320242025
Resident population2,469,600 people2,475,600 people2,480,000 people2,481,000 people2,476,900 people2,475,600 people
Urbanization rate78.6%79.3%79.9%80.6%80.8%81.2%
Birth rate10.79 ‰8.39 ‰8.27 ‰7.90 ‰——
Death rate7.61 ‰6.38 ‰5.76 ‰9.33 ‰——
GDP——————
Years Download CSV

Census data

Population, households, age structure and ethnic composition from modern censuses.

View data
Total population2,467,965 peopleSeventh census
Households847,809
Sex ratio (male per 100 female)103.7
MaleFemale85+ · Male: 0.29%85+ · Female: 0.31%85+80–84 · Male: 0.58%80–84 · Female: 0.67%80–8475–79 · Male: 0.81%75–79 · Female: 1.11%75–7970–74 · Male: 1.16%70–74 · Female: 1.37%70–7465–69 · Male: 1.86%65–69 · Female: 1.96%65–6960–64 · Male: 2.16%60–64 · Female: 2.08%60–6455–59 · Male: 3.89%55–59 · Female: 3.76%55–5950–54 · Male: 5.06%50–54 · Female: 4.87%50–5445–49 · Male: 4.92%45–49 · Female: 4.60%45–4940–44 · Male: 3.91%40–44 · Female: 3.72%40–4435–39 · Male: 3.41%35–39 · Female: 3.19%35–3930–34 · Male: 4.43%30–34 · Female: 4.18%30–3425–29 · Male: 3.90%25–29 · Female: 3.72%25–2920–24 · Male: 3.19%20–24 · Female: 3.06%20–2415–19 · Male: 2.86%15–19 · Female: 2.61%15–1910–14 · Male: 2.77%10–14 · Female: 2.54%10–145–9 · Male: 2.92%5–9 · Female: 2.72%5–91–4 · Male: 2.32%1–4 · Female: 2.17%1–40 · Male: 0.48%0 · Female: 0.44%0

Ethnic composition

Population by ethnic group in the most recent census.

Han71.43%
1,762,822 people
Hui16.95%
418,420 people
Tibetan6.49%
160,049 people
Tu2.69%
66,378 people
Mongol0.77%
19,099 people
Salar0.72%
17,770 people
Manchu0.27%
6,632 people
Tujia0.25%
6,237 people
Ethnic composition

Economy and income

Gross domestic product, growth and household disposable income.

$26.8B$26.3B$25.8B$25.4B$24.9B2023202420252023: $25.1B2024: $25.9B2025: $26.6B

Economy and income

GDP
$26.6B2025
GDP growth
3.3%
Primary industry
$886.0M
Secondary industry
$10.1B
Tertiary industry
$15.6B
Urban disposable income
$6,343
Rural disposable income
$2,694

Cities and counties in Xining City

Explore the administrative units below :name.

7 County-level area
RegionPopulationAreaPopulation densityUrbanization rateGDP
Chengdong 489,500 people 113 km² 4,337.2 100.0% $5.1B
Chengbei 419,900 people 138 km² 3,040.6 98.4% $4.0B
Datong Hui Tu Autonomous County 399,800 people 3,160 km² 126.5 53.6% $2.3B
Huangzhong 397,000 people 2,444 km² 162.4 — —
Chengxi 332,200 people 53 km² 6,269.1 100.0% $5.9B
Chengzhong 330,600 people 154 km² 2,152.6 99.8% $5.5B
Huangyuan 108,200 people 1,546 km² 70.0 53.9% $539.8M

Frequently asked questions

What is the population of Xining City?

The resident population of Xining City was 2,475,600 people in 2025. This figure refers to people living in the area for more than six months, unless the source states otherwise.

How densely populated is Xining City?

The population density is 325.4 people per square kilometre, based on a land area of 7,607 km².

Where does this data come from?

Figures are compiled from national statistical yearbooks, census publications and official regional statistics. Each table displays its reference year. Read the data sources page for details.

Nearby areas

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Data source: http://tjj.qinghai.gov.cn/tjData/newData/202604/t20260417_404544.html · Methodology and sources: Data sources