Urban area over the long-term in China
China: Urban area over the long-term was 89,331 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
89,331 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
2nd
of 202 countries
All-time high
89,331 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
527.06 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in China, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
In 2025, urban area over the long-term in China stood at 89,331 km² per grid cell. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 26.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in China peaked at 89,331 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 527.06 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
China ranks 2nd of 202 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in China, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 527.06 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 1,299 km² per grid cell | +146.5% |
| 1200 | 1,485 km² per grid cell | +14.3% |
| 1300 | 1,152 km² per grid cell | -22.4% |
| 1400 | 1,026 km² per grid cell | -10.9% |
| 1500 | 1,709 km² per grid cell | +66.5% |
| 1600 | 1,978 km² per grid cell | +15.7% |
| 1700 | 1,719 km² per grid cell | -13.1% |
| 1710 | 1,799 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1720 | 2,066 km² per grid cell | +14.9% |
| 1730 | 2,196 km² per grid cell | +6.3% |
| 1740 | 2,472 km² per grid cell | +12.5% |
| 1750 | 3,083 km² per grid cell | +24.7% |
| 1760 | 3,407 km² per grid cell | +10.5% |
| 1770 | 3,806 km² per grid cell | +11.7% |
| 1780 | 4,766 km² per grid cell | +25.2% |
| 1790 | 5,165 km² per grid cell | +8.4% |
| 1800 | 5,048 km² per grid cell | -2.2% |
| 1810 | 5,912 km² per grid cell | +17.1% |
| 1820 | 6,098 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1830 | 6,782 km² per grid cell | +11.2% |
| 1840 | 7,246 km² per grid cell | +6.8% |
| 1850 | 7,645 km² per grid cell | +5.5% |
| 1860 | 7,590 km² per grid cell | -0.7% |
| 1870 | 6,505 km² per grid cell | -14.3% |
| 1880 | 6,647 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1890 | 6,924 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1900 | 7,450 km² per grid cell | +7.6% |
| 1910 | 7,958 km² per grid cell | +6.8% |
| 1920 | 8,910 km² per grid cell | +12.0% |
| 1930 | 9,691 km² per grid cell | +8.8% |
| 1940 | 11,721 km² per grid cell | +20.9% |
| 1950 | 19,683 km² per grid cell | +67.9% |
| 1951 | 20,388 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1952 | 20,936 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1953 | 21,413 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1954 | 22,128 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1955 | 22,829 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1956 | 23,424 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1957 | 24,061 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1958 | 24,659 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1959 | 25,276 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 25,802 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1961 | 26,237 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1962 | 26,621 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1963 | 26,941 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1964 | 27,214 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 1965 | 27,196 km² per grid cell | -0.1% |
| 1966 | 27,176 km² per grid cell | -0.1% |
| 1967 | 27,158 km² per grid cell | -0.1% |
| 1968 | 27,136 km² per grid cell | -0.1% |
| 1969 | 27,116 km² per grid cell | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 27,097 km² per grid cell | -0.1% |
| 1971 | 27,079 km² per grid cell | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 27,061 km² per grid cell | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 27,044 km² per grid cell | -0.1% |
| 1974 | 27,014 km² per grid cell | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 26,995 km² per grid cell | -0.1% |
| 1976 | 26,997 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 27,014 km² per grid cell | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 27,004 km² per grid cell | -0.0% |
| 1979 | 26,992 km² per grid cell | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 26,980 km² per grid cell | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 26,970 km² per grid cell | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 26,961 km² per grid cell | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 26,950 km² per grid cell | -0.0% |
| 1984 | 27,008 km² per grid cell | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 26,998 km² per grid cell | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 27,063 km² per grid cell | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 27,133 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 27,125 km² per grid cell | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 27,115 km² per grid cell | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 27,114 km² per grid cell | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 27,764 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 28,890 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 1993 | 30,044 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 31,317 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1995 | 32,565 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 33,870 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 35,249 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 1998 | 36,788 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1999 | 38,309 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 39,958 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 41,749 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 43,605 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 45,528 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 2004 | 47,591 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 49,716 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 51,806 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 54,030 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 56,255 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2009 | 58,536 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 61,042 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 62,874 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 64,736 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 66,633 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 68,634 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 70,673 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 72,719 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 74,734 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 76,769 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 78,972 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 81,031 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 82,669 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 84,373 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 86,070 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 87,673 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 89,331 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 89,331 km² per grid cell is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 995.59 km² per grid cell, 89.7× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- China's 89,331 km² per grid cell is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 954.94 km² per grid cell, 93.5× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +146.5% | 527.06 km² per grid cell | 1,299 km² per grid cell |
| 1950 | +67.9% | 11,721 km² per grid cell | 19,683 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +66.5% | 1,026 km² per grid cell | 1,709 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 527.06 km² per grid cell | 527.06 km² per grid cell | 527.06 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 1,299 km² per grid cell | 1,299 km² per grid cell | 1,299 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 1,485 km² per grid cell | 1,485 km² per grid cell | 1,485 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 1,152 km² per grid cell | 1,152 km² per grid cell | 1,152 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 1,026 km² per grid cell | 1,026 km² per grid cell | 1,026 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 1,709 km² per grid cell | 1,709 km² per grid cell | 1,709 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 1,978 km² per grid cell | 1,978 km² per grid cell | 1,978 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 1,719 km² per grid cell | 1,719 km² per grid cell | 1,719 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 1,799 km² per grid cell | 1,799 km² per grid cell | 1,799 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 2,066 km² per grid cell | 2,066 km² per grid cell | 2,066 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 2,196 km² per grid cell | 2,196 km² per grid cell | 2,196 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 2,472 km² per grid cell | 2,472 km² per grid cell | 2,472 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 3,083 km² per grid cell | 3,083 km² per grid cell | 3,083 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 3,407 km² per grid cell | 3,407 km² per grid cell | 3,407 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 3,806 km² per grid cell | 3,806 km² per grid cell | 3,806 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 4,766 km² per grid cell | 4,766 km² per grid cell | 4,766 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 5,165 km² per grid cell | 5,165 km² per grid cell | 5,165 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 5,048 km² per grid cell | 5,048 km² per grid cell | 5,048 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 5,912 km² per grid cell | 5,912 km² per grid cell | 5,912 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 6,098 km² per grid cell | 6,098 km² per grid cell | 6,098 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 6,782 km² per grid cell | 6,782 km² per grid cell | 6,782 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 7,246 km² per grid cell | 7,246 km² per grid cell | 7,246 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 7,645 km² per grid cell | 7,645 km² per grid cell | 7,645 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 7,590 km² per grid cell | 7,590 km² per grid cell | 7,590 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 6,505 km² per grid cell | 6,505 km² per grid cell | 6,505 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 6,647 km² per grid cell | 6,647 km² per grid cell | 6,647 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 6,924 km² per grid cell | 6,924 km² per grid cell | 6,924 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 7,450 km² per grid cell | 7,450 km² per grid cell | 7,450 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 7,958 km² per grid cell | 7,958 km² per grid cell | 7,958 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 8,910 km² per grid cell | 8,910 km² per grid cell | 8,910 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 9,691 km² per grid cell | 9,691 km² per grid cell | 9,691 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 11,721 km² per grid cell | 11,721 km² per grid cell | 11,721 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 22,480 km² per grid cell | 19,683 km² per grid cell | 25,276 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 26,860 km² per grid cell | 25,802 km² per grid cell | 27,214 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 27,030 km² per grid cell | 26,992 km² per grid cell | 27,097 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 27,030 km² per grid cell | 26,950 km² per grid cell | 27,133 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 32,191 km² per grid cell | 27,114 km² per grid cell | 38,309 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 48,877 km² per grid cell | 39,958 km² per grid cell | 58,536 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 69,779 km² per grid cell | 61,042 km² per grid cell | 78,972 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 85,191 km² per grid cell | 81,031 km² per grid cell | 89,331 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
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 urban area over the long-term in China?
- Urban area over the long-term in China was 89,331 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 89,331 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 527.06 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does China rank for urban area over the long-term?
- China ranks 2nd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.