Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — China

Urban population share in China in 2025 — 66.3%. Ranked 101 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 46.6 pp.

2025 66.3% +0.4 pp vs 2024
World rank 101of 217
Period maximum 66.3%2025
Period minimum 16.8%1963

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — China, 1960–202502040608019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 19.7%1962: 17.3%1964: 18.3%1966: 17.9%1968: 17.6%1970: 17.4%1972: 17.1%1974: 17.2%1976: 17.4%1978: 17.9%1980: 19.4%1982: 20.6%1984: 23%1986: 24.5%1988: 25.8%1990: 26.2%1992: 27.5%1994: 28.5%1996: 30.5%1998: 33.4%2000: 36.4%2002: 39.1%2004: 41.8%2006: 44.3%2008: 47%2010: 49.2%2012: 53.1%2014: 55.8%2016: 58.8%2018: 61.5%2020: 63.5%2022: 65.2%2024: 65.9%2025: 66.3%
Change over the period: +46.6 pp Annual average: 0.72 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: China

China 66.3%
World 57.8%
Eastern Asia computed 68.9%
Urban population share — China, by year China All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 66.3 +0.4 pp
2024 65.9 +0.4 pp
2023 65.5 +0.3 pp
2022 65.2 +0.5 pp
2021 64.7 +1.2 pp
2020 63.5 +0.8 pp
2019 62.7 +1.2 pp
2018 61.5 +1.3 pp
2017 60.2 +1.4 pp
2016 58.8 +1.5 pp
2015 57.3 +1.6 pp
2014 55.8 +1.3 pp
2013 54.5 +1.4 pp
2012 53.1 +1.3 pp
2011 51.8 +2.6 pp
2010 49.2 +0.9 pp
2009 48.3 +1.4 pp
2008 47 +1.1 pp
2007 45.9 +1.5 pp
2006 44.3 +1.4 pp
2005 43 +1.2 pp
2004 41.8 +1.2 pp
2003 40.5 +1.4 pp
2002 39.1 +1.4 pp
2001 37.7 +1.2 pp
2000 36.4 +1.7 pp
1999 34.8 +1.4 pp
1998 33.4 +1.4 pp
1997 31.9 +1.4 pp
1996 30.5 +1.4 pp
1995 29 +0.5 pp
1994 28.5 +0.5 pp
1993 28 +0.5 pp
1992 27.5 +0.5 pp
1991 26.9 +0.7 pp
1990 26.2 −0 pp
1989 26.2 +0.4 pp
1988 25.8 +0.5 pp
1987 25.3 +0.8 pp
1986 24.5 +0.8 pp
1985 23.7 +0.7 pp
1984 23 +1.4 pp
1983 21.6 +1.1 pp
1982 20.6 +0.4 pp
1981 20.2 +0.8 pp
1980 19.4 +0.4 pp
1979 19 +1 pp
1978 17.9 +0.4 pp
1977 17.6 +0.1 pp
1976 17.4 +0.1 pp
1975 17.3 +0.2 pp
1974 17.2 −0 pp
1973 17.2 +0.1 pp
1972 17.1 −0.1 pp
1971 17.3 −0.1 pp
1970 17.4 −0.1 pp
1969 17.5 −0.1 pp
1968 17.6 −0.1 pp
1967 17.7 −0.1 pp
1966 17.9 −0.1 pp
1965 18 −0.3 pp
1964 18.3 +1.5 pp
1963 16.8 −0.5 pp
1962 17.3 −2 pp
1961 19.3 −0.5 pp
1960 19.7

Eastern Asia, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The share of population living in urban settlements, as a percent of the total. One caveat is central: each country sets the criteria for a city itself — in some places it is a settlement of 2,000 residents or more, in others 20,000, in others administrative status. Cross-country comparisons of urbanization are therefore always approximate, while the trend within a single country is informative.

Important: Sharp jumps in individual years are usually explained not by people moving but by changes in the administrative boundaries of cities.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.