China · Prefecture-level city
Historical population data
Annual indicators from 1981 to 2025. Values can be compared across years.
Resident population · 20253,815,600 people
Change over the period+0.4%
Annual growth+0.01%
Urbanization rate56.6%
All years
Showing selected years. Download the CSV for the full series.
| Year | Resident population | Urbanization rate | Registered (hukou) population | Birth rate | Death rate | GDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,815,600 people | 56.6% | 5,244,800 people | 6.22 ‰ | 9.79 ‰ | — |
| 2024 | 3,841,600 people | 55.2% | 5,321,300 people | 7.18 ‰ | 9.13 ‰ | — |
| 2023 | 3,849,100 people | 54.4% | 5,350,800 people | 6.92 ‰ | 5.58 ‰ | — |
| 2022 | 3,858,000 people | 52.7% | 5,393,500 people | 7.34 ‰ | 5.65 ‰ | — |
| 2021 | 3,876,900 people | 52.4% | 5,416,800 people | 8.69 ‰ | 4.94 ‰ | — |
| 2020 | 3,871,000 people | 51.6% | 5,439,600 people | 10.19 ‰ | 5.03 ‰ | — |
| 2019 | 3,919,600 people | 49.1% | 5,458,500 people | 11.93 ‰ | 5.16 ‰ | — |
| 2018 | 3,955,100 people | 47.6% | 5,482,900 people | 12.71 ‰ | 5.37 ‰ | — |
| 2017 | 4,000,200 people | 45.9% | 5,501,100 people | 14.77 ‰ | 5.79 ‰ | — |
| 2016 | 4,037,600 people | 45.4% | 5,514,000 people | 14.11 ‰ | 5.64 ‰ | — |
| 2015 | 4,070,100 people | 44.9% | 5,437,900 people | 12.45 ‰ | 5.65 ‰ | — |
| 2014 | 4,105,300 people | 43.9% | 5,286,400 people | 13.28 ‰ | 5.84 ‰ | — |
| 2013 | 4,142,300 people | 43.7% | 5,249,600 people | 12.24 ‰ | 5.47 ‰ | — |
| 2012 | 4,183,400 people | 43.4% | 5,213,500 people | 15.42 ‰ | 6.36 ‰ | — |
| 2011 | 4,212,500 people | 43.3% | 5,176,000 people | 11.23 ‰ | 5.59 ‰ | — |
| 2010 | 4,244,600 people | 43.0% | 5,147,500 people | 10.94 ‰ | 5.70 ‰ | — |
| 2009 | 4,177,200 people | 42.7% | 5,073,600 people | 11.02 ‰ | 5.58 ‰ | — |
| 2008 | 4,162,900 people | 42.4% | 5,052,800 people | 10.68 ‰ | 5.63 ‰ | — |
| 2007 | 4,150,100 people | 42.2% | 5,033,600 people | 10.46 ‰ | 5.48 ‰ | — |
| 2006 | 4,132,300 people | 41.9% | 5,009,400 people | 10.28 ‰ | 5.35 ‰ | — |
| 2005 | 4,118,400 people | 41.6% | 4,989,200 people | 10.20 ‰ | 5.39 ‰ | — |
| 2004 | — | — | 4,968,900 people | 10.09 ‰ | 5.23 ‰ | — |
| 2003 | — | — | 4,906,000 people | 10.37 ‰ | 5.32 ‰ | — |
| 2002 | — | — | 4,883,200 people | 10.09 ‰ | 5.19 ‰ | — |
| 2001 | — | — | 4,863,800 people | 10.53 ‰ | 5.11 ‰ | — |
| 2000 | 3,802,000 people | 37.2% | 4,851,500 people | 12.60 ‰ | 5.30 ‰ | — |
| 1999 | — | — | 4,761,300 people | 14.84 ‰ | 5.34 ‰ | — |
| 1998 | — | — | 4,734,200 people | 15.47 ‰ | 5.94 ‰ | — |
| 1997 | — | — | 4,694,400 people | 17.06 ‰ | 5.84 ‰ | — |
| 1996 | — | — | 4,646,100 people | 18.32 ‰ | 6.11 ‰ | — |
| 1995 | — | — | 4,588,100 people | 18.36 ‰ | 6.13 ‰ | — |
| 1994 | — | — | 4,532,400 people | 18.50 ‰ | 5.93 ‰ | — |
| 1993 | — | — | 4,476,400 people | 18.61 ‰ | 6.11 ‰ | — |
| 1992 | — | — | 4,430,900 people | 19.72 ‰ | 6.48 ‰ | — |
| 1991 | — | — | 4,388,500 people | 21.63 ‰ | 6.64 ‰ | — |
| 1990 | — | — | 4,335,400 people | 23.26 ‰ | 5.15 ‰ | — |
| 1989 | — | — | 4,250,500 people | 14.04 ‰ | 4.92 ‰ | — |
| 1988 | — | — | 4,177,800 people | 14.09 ‰ | 5.01 ‰ | — |
| 1987 | — | — | 4,118,000 people | 15.83 ‰ | 4.99 ‰ | — |
| 1986 | — | — | 4,042,700 people | 15.08 ‰ | 4.93 ‰ | — |
| 1985 | — | — | 3,997,400 people | 15.74 ‰ | 5.00 ‰ | — |
| 1984 | — | — | 3,957,500 people | 18.90 ‰ | 5.17 ‰ | — |
| 1983 | — | — | 3,906,400 people | 22.30 ‰ | 5.73 ‰ | — |
| 1981 | — | — | 3,760,500 people | 27.63 ‰ | 5.43 ‰ | — |
Detailed population data
Resident, urban/rural, sex, hukou, births/deaths, city population and GDP by year.
| Year | Resident population | Urban population | Rural population | Urbanization rate | Male population | Female population | Registered (hukou) population | Households | City population | City registered population | Births | Deaths | Birth rate | Death rate | Natural growth rate | GDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,815,600 people | 2,160,200 people | 1,655,400 people | 56.6% | — | — | 5,244,800 people | — | — | — | 23,800 people | 37,500 people | 6.22 ‰ | 9.79 ‰ | -3.58 ‰ | — |
| 2024 | 3,841,600 people | 2,121,800 people | — | 55.2% | 2,771,000 people | 2,550,300 people | 5,321,300 people | — | — | — | 27,600 people | 35,100 people | 7.18 ‰ | 9.13 ‰ | -1.95 ‰ | — |
| 2023 | 3,849,100 people | 2,093,500 people | — | 54.4% | 2,781,400 people | 2,569,400 people | 5,350,800 people | 1,485,500 | — | — | 26,800 people | 36,700 people | 6.92 ‰ | 5.58 ‰ | 1.34 ‰ | — |
| 2022 | 3,858,000 people | 2,222,000 people | — | 52.7% | 2,797,600 people | 2,595,900 people | 5,393,500 people | 1,482,100 | — | — | — | — | 7.34 ‰ | 5.65 ‰ | 1.69 ‰ | — |
| 2021 | 3,876,900 people | 2,229,600 people | — | 52.4% | 2,805,100 people | 2,611,700 people | 5,416,800 people | 1,479,500 | — | — | — | — | 8.69 ‰ | 4.94 ‰ | 3.74 ‰ | — |
| 2020 | 3,871,000 people | 2,185,900 people | — | 51.6% | 2,812,800 people | 2,626,800 people | 5,439,600 people | 1,469,900 | — | — | — | — | 10.19 ‰ | 5.03 ‰ | 5.15 ‰ | — |
| 2019 | 3,919,600 people | 2,136,200 people | — | 49.1% | 2,819,000 people | 2,639,600 people | 5,458,500 people | 1,462,600 | — | — | — | — | 11.93 ‰ | 5.16 ‰ | 6.77 ‰ | — |
| 2018 | 3,955,100 people | 2,079,500 people | — | 47.6% | 2,825,900 people | 2,657,000 people | 5,482,900 people | 1,465,600 | — | — | — | — | 12.71 ‰ | 5.37 ‰ | 7.33 ‰ | — |
| 2017 | 4,000,200 people | 2,020,700 people | — | 45.9% | 2,832,900 people | 2,668,200 people | 5,501,100 people | 1,463,100 | — | — | — | — | 14.77 ‰ | 5.79 ‰ | 8.98 ‰ | — |
| 2016 | 4,037,600 people | 1,953,800 people | — | 45.4% | 2,838,800 people | 2,675,200 people | 5,514,000 people | 1,465,300 | — | — | — | — | 14.11 ‰ | 5.64 ‰ | 8.47 ‰ | — |
| 2015 | 4,070,100 people | 1,987,600 people | — | 44.9% | 2,798,300 people | 2,639,600 people | 5,437,900 people | 1,436,000 | — | — | — | — | 12.45 ‰ | 5.65 ‰ | 6.80 ‰ | — |
| 2014 | 4,105,300 people | 1,264,100 people | — | 43.9% | 2,703,800 people | 2,582,600 people | 5,286,400 people | 1,381,500 | — | — | — | — | 13.28 ‰ | 5.84 ‰ | 7.44 ‰ | — |
| 2013 | 4,142,300 people | 1,264,300 people | — | 43.7% | 2,687,100 people | 2,562,400 people | 5,249,600 people | 1,363,700 | — | — | — | — | 12.24 ‰ | 5.47 ‰ | 6.77 ‰ | — |
| 2012 | 4,183,400 people | 1,266,100 people | — | 43.4% | 2,665,800 people | 2,547,800 people | 5,213,500 people | 1,356,900 | — | — | — | — | 15.42 ‰ | 6.36 ‰ | 9.06 ‰ | — |
| 2011 | 4,212,500 people | 1,263,300 people | — | 43.3% | 2,647,900 people | 2,528,100 people | 5,176,000 people | 1,363,200 | — | — | — | — | 11.23 ‰ | 5.59 ‰ | 5.64 ‰ | — |
| 2010 | 4,244,600 people | 1,262,300 people | — | 43.0% | 2,636,400 people | 2,511,100 people | 5,147,500 people | 1,345,500 | — | — | — | — | 10.94 ‰ | 5.70 ‰ | 5.24 ‰ | — |
| 2009 | 4,177,200 people | 1,251,700 people | — | 42.7% | 2,603,200 people | 2,470,400 people | 5,073,600 people | 1,322,200 | — | — | — | — | 11.02 ‰ | 5.58 ‰ | 5.44 ‰ | — |
| 2008 | 4,162,900 people | 1,247,100 people | — | 42.4% | 2,595,000 people | 2,457,800 people | 5,052,800 people | 1,309,000 | — | — | — | — | 10.68 ‰ | 5.63 ‰ | 5.05 ‰ | — |
| 2007 | 4,150,100 people | 1,237,900 people | — | 42.2% | 2,588,900 people | 2,444,700 people | 5,033,600 people | 1,300,700 | — | — | — | — | 10.46 ‰ | 5.48 ‰ | 4.98 ‰ | — |
| 2006 | 4,132,300 people | 1,234,000 people | — | 41.9% | 2,577,300 people | 2,432,100 people | 5,009,400 people | 1,281,600 | — | — | — | — | 10.28 ‰ | 5.35 ‰ | 4.93 ‰ | — |
| 2005 | 4,118,400 people | 1,225,800 people | — | 41.6% | 2,565,500 people | 2,423,700 people | 4,989,200 people | 1,270,100 | — | — | — | — | 10.20 ‰ | 5.39 ‰ | 4.81 ‰ | — |
| 2004 | — | 1,215,800 people | — | — | 2,557,900 people | 2,411,000 people | 4,968,900 people | 1,255,400 | — | — | — | — | 10.09 ‰ | 5.23 ‰ | 4.86 ‰ | — |
| 2003 | — | 1,200,100 people | — | — | 2,527,300 people | 2,378,700 people | 4,906,000 people | 1,249,700 | — | — | — | — | 10.37 ‰ | 5.32 ‰ | 5.05 ‰ | — |
| 2002 | — | 1,186,100 people | — | — | 2,516,000 people | 2,367,200 people | 4,883,200 people | 1,213,700 | — | — | — | — | 10.09 ‰ | 5.19 ‰ | 4.90 ‰ | — |
| 2001 | — | 1,013,900 people | — | — | 2,505,400 people | 2,358,400 people | 4,863,800 people | 1,188,400 | — | — | — | — | 10.53 ‰ | 5.11 ‰ | 5.42 ‰ | — |
| 2000 | 3,802,000 people | 1,001,100 people | — | 37.2% | 2,500,700 people | 2,350,800 people | 4,851,500 people | 1,171,200 | — | — | — | — | 12.60 ‰ | 5.30 ‰ | 7.30 ‰ | — |
| 1999 | — | 969,100 people | — | — | 2,459,900 people | 2,301,400 people | 4,761,300 people | 1,136,000 | — | — | — | — | 14.84 ‰ | 5.34 ‰ | 9.50 ‰ | — |
| 1998 | — | 945,700 people | — | — | 2,445,600 people | 2,288,700 people | 4,734,200 people | 1,111,000 | — | — | — | — | 15.47 ‰ | 5.94 ‰ | 9.53 ‰ | — |
| 1997 | — | 910,800 people | — | — | 2,421,700 people | 2,272,700 people | 4,694,400 people | 1,070,500 | — | — | — | — | 17.06 ‰ | 5.84 ‰ | 11.22 ‰ | — |
| 1996 | — | 862,300 people | — | — | 2,393,000 people | 2,253,100 people | 4,646,100 people | 1,048,900 | — | — | — | — | 18.32 ‰ | 6.11 ‰ | 12.21 ‰ | — |
| 1995 | — | 813,800 people | — | — | 2,359,300 people | 2,228,800 people | 4,588,100 people | 1,029,100 | — | — | — | — | 18.36 ‰ | 6.13 ‰ | 12.23 ‰ | — |
| 1994 | — | 767,700 people | — | — | 2,330,400 people | 2,202,000 people | 4,532,400 people | 1,008,100 | — | — | — | — | 18.50 ‰ | 5.93 ‰ | 12.57 ‰ | — |
| 1993 | — | 723,700 people | — | — | 2,302,100 people | 2,174,300 people | 4,476,400 people | 981,600 | — | — | — | — | 18.61 ‰ | 6.11 ‰ | 12.50 ‰ | — |
| 1992 | — | 683,200 people | — | — | 2,278,000 people | 2,152,900 people | 4,430,900 people | 964,200 | — | — | — | — | 19.72 ‰ | 6.48 ‰ | 13.24 ‰ | — |
| 1991 | — | 647,000 people | — | — | 2,251,700 people | 2,136,800 people | 4,388,500 people | 934,300 | — | — | — | — | 21.63 ‰ | 6.64 ‰ | 14.99 ‰ | — |
| 1990 | — | 623,000 people | — | — | 2,223,100 people | 2,112,300 people | 4,335,400 people | 911,200 | — | — | — | — | 23.26 ‰ | 5.15 ‰ | 18.11 ‰ | — |
| 1989 | — | 614,100 people | — | — | 2,179,600 people | 2,070,900 people | 4,250,500 people | 890,500 | — | — | — | — | 14.04 ‰ | 4.92 ‰ | 9.12 ‰ | — |
| 1988 | — | 600,400 people | — | — | 2,140,100 people | 2,037,700 people | 4,177,800 people | 876,000 | — | — | — | — | 14.09 ‰ | 5.01 ‰ | 9.08 ‰ | — |
| 1987 | — | 595,400 people | — | — | 2,109,900 people | 2,008,100 people | 4,118,000 people | 854,000 | — | — | — | — | 15.83 ‰ | 4.99 ‰ | 10.85 ‰ | — |
| 1986 | — | 560,900 people | — | — | 2,067,900 people | 1,974,800 people | 4,042,700 people | 823,500 | — | — | — | — | 15.08 ‰ | 4.93 ‰ | 10.15 ‰ | — |
| 1985 | — | 536,800 people | — | — | 2,044,000 people | 1,953,400 people | 3,997,400 people | 794,400 | — | — | — | — | 15.74 ‰ | 5.00 ‰ | 10.74 ‰ | — |
| 1984 | — | 469,400 people | — | — | 2,019,400 people | 1,398,100 people | 3,957,500 people | 768,300 | — | — | — | — | 18.90 ‰ | 5.17 ‰ | 13.02 ‰ | — |
| 1983 | — | 384,500 people | — | — | 1,990,700 people | 1,915,700 people | 3,906,400 people | 742,600 | — | — | — | — | 22.30 ‰ | 5.73 ‰ | 16.53 ‰ | — |
| 1981 | — | 353,500 people | — | — | 1,907,900 people | 1,852,600 people | 3,760,500 people | 709,600 | — | — | — | — | 27.63 ‰ | 5.43 ‰ | 22.20 ‰ | — |
Ethnic population and data notes
Ethnic population, resident/hukou basis and source for each year.
| Year | Ethnic population | Data basis / note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | 常住 | 2025年梅州国民经济和社会发展统计公报 |
| 2024 | 全市有少数民族户籍人口10973人。梅州市唯一的少数民族聚居村丰顺县潭江镇凤坪畲族村全村156户960人，其中畲族107户606人。 | 常住 | 2024年统计公报+广东统计年鉴2025 |