Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in China
China: Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents was 19.7% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in China, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in China stood at 19.7%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 16.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in China peaked at 19.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 1950.
That places China 75th out of 180 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.2% | — |
| 1955 | 3.5% | +59.0% |
| 1960 | 4.2% | +19.1% |
| 1965 | 4.5% | +8.9% |
| 1970 | 4.5% | -0.3% |
| 1975 | 4.5% | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 5.6% | +23.9% |
| 1985 | 6.8% | +20.9% |
| 1990 | 7.9% | +16.5% |
| 1995 | 10.2% | +28.5% |
| 2000 | 13.9% | +36.2% |
| 2005 | 15.9% | +14.1% |
| 2010 | 17.0% | +7.0% |
| 2015 | 18.4% | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 19.7% | +7.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 19.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.8%, 100% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- China's 19.7% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 21.4%, 92% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.8% | 2.2% | 3.5% | 2 |
| 1960s | 4.3% | 4.2% | 4.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 6.2% | 5.6% | 6.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 9.1% | 7.9% | 10.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 14.9% | 13.9% | 15.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 17.7% | 17.0% | 18.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 19.7% | 19.7% | 19.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
- 72 Central African Republic 20.2% compare
- 73 Democratic Republic of Congo 20.0% compare
- 74 Paraguay 19.8% compare
- 76 Nicaragua 19.5% compare
- 77 Guinea 19.1% compare
- 78 Azerbaijan 19.0% compare
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in China?
- Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in China was 19.7% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 19.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 1950.
- How does China rank for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents?
- China ranks 75th out of 180 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in cities with 1 million or more people. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.