The headline numbers
China's resident population is roughly 1.41 billion people. The exact figure depends on the reference year and source: official yearbooks, annual statistical communiqués and the decennial census do not always use the same cut-off date. Always check which year a number refers to before comparing it with another estimate.
The country is also highly urbanized. Around two-thirds of residents now live in cities and towns. That share has risen quickly since 2000, although the pace varies sharply between coastal provinces, inland cities and rural counties.
Why the population is falling
Births have fallen faster than deaths have risen, producing negative natural growth in recent years. Later marriage, smaller families, high housing and education costs, and the legacy of past birth-planning policies all contribute. The decline is not uniform: some provinces and cities still record natural increase, while others are ageing quickly.
Migration matters as much as births and deaths. Coastal megacities continue to attract workers from inland provinces, even as the national total declines. A city can therefore grow while its surrounding province loses population.
What it means for cities
Population numbers are not just a scoreboard. They influence school planning, public transport, housing demand and the size of the local labour force. Cities with a young, growing population face different pressures from places where deaths outnumber births and young people are leaving.
When comparing cities, look at density and urbanization as well as the total. A large population spread across a huge administrative area can have a lower density than a much smaller city that is tightly built up.
How to use this site
Start with the China page for the national picture, then open a province to see its cities. Each region page shows the reference year, the source and a downloadable table. Rankings are a quick way to find the largest or densest places, but the underlying series is more useful than a single rank.
If you are citing a figure, read the methodology page first. The site distinguishes resident population from registered hukou population, and it leaves missing values blank rather than estimating them.
Frequently asked questions
Is China's population still growing?
Nationally, no: recent official data show a slight decline as deaths exceed births. Some regions still grow because of migration or a younger age structure.
Which year is used on region pages?
Each table shows its own reference year. When a single headline is shown, it uses the most recent available value for that region.