In 2023, around 21.86 million permanent residents were living in the administrative area of Beijing municipality. Back in 2017, the Beijing municipal government had announced plans to limit Beijing's population to 23 million by 2020 in order to mitigate the contradiction between rapid population growth and resource and environment restrictions.

Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Beijing, China metro area from 1950 to 2025. United Nations population projections are also included through the year 2035.

As of 2023, about 10.1 percent of the population in Beijing was between 30 and 34 years of age, whereas only 1.6 percent were aged 85 and above. Beijing is the capital city of China and after Shanghai, the second largest city in the country. Beijing’s age distribution A broad age distribution of Beijing’s inhabitants reveals that a comparatively large share of the total population is of working age, while few children live in the city. This gap becomes even more obvious when looking at the age distribution by five-year groups: While the age cohorts between 25 and 39 accounts for 28 percent of the population, the age group between 0 and 19 accounts for only 14.6 percent. Two main reasons are responsible for this gap: On the one hand, many young people in their early working years move to the city and search for job opportunities; on the other hand, the motivation for having children in the city is low, mostly due to economic reasons. Many migrant workers from outside the city even leave their children behind when searching for better jobs in the city. Not only is the national average age distribution more balanced in this regard, but also that of many other larger cities. Prospects for the future In recent years, Beijing’s municipal government was determined to limit population inflow into the city. At the same time, former national measures of birth control were gradually relaxed and restrictions for migrants to take their children with them were partially lifted, which already had a positive effect on the number of children in the youngest age cohorts. However, given the very high costs of living in Beijing and its low attractiveness to family-oriented people, it is very likely that the average age of the population will increase quickly, leading to all the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly aging society.

In 2023, the average population density of Beijing municipality was 1,331 people per square kilometer, slightly less than in the previous year. Beijing municipality includes the city center and the relatively large urban area around the city. The population density in different districts of Beijing municipality varies greatly.

Population: Beijing data was reported at 23.018 Person th in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 22.372 Person th for 2022. Population: Beijing data is updated yearly, averaging 17.454 Person th from Dec 1982 (Median) to 2023, with 29 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 21,893.095 Person th in 2020 and a record low of 12.245 Person th in 1999. Population: Beijing data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Sample Survey: By Region.

In 2023, Chaoyang district had the largest number of permanent residents among all districts of Beijing municipality, numbering around .344 million. The total number of inhabitants in the administrative area of Beijing municipality amounted to 21.86 million in 2023.

Population: Age 15 to 64: Beijing data was reported at 15.764 Person th in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 16.290 Person th for 2022. Population: Age 15 to 64: Beijing data is updated yearly, averaging 14.031 Person th from Dec 1982 (Median) to 2023, with 29 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16,389.528 Person th in 2020 and a record low of 9.156 Person th in 1999. Population: Age 15 to 64: Beijing data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Sample Survey: By Age and Region.

Population: Beijing: Shunyi data was reported at 1,325.000 Person th in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,326.000 Person th for 2021. Population: Beijing: Shunyi data is updated yearly, averaging 1,004.000 Person th from Dec 2006 (Median) to 2022, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,326.000 Person th in 2021 and a record low of 562.000 Person th in 2006. Population: Beijing: Shunyi data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GW: Population: Municipality District.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the China population over the last 20 plus years. It lists the population for each year, along with the year on year change in population, as well as the change in percentage terms for each year. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population change of China across the last two decades. For example, using this dataset, we can identify if the population is declining or increasing. If there is a change, when the population peaked, or if it is still growing and has not reached its peak. We can also compare the trend with the overall trend of United States population over the same period of time.

Key observations

In 2023, the population of China was 1,282, a 0.71% increase year-by-year from 2022. Previously, in 2022, China population was 1,273, a decline of 0.70% compared to a population of 1,282 in 2021. Over the last 20 plus years, between 2000 and 2023, population of China increased by 120. In this period, the peak population was 1,289 in the year 2020. The numbers suggest that the population has already reached its peak and is showing a trend of decline. Source: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP).

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP).

Data Coverage:

• From 2000 to 2023

Variables / Data Columns

• Year: This column displays the data year (Measured annually and for years 2000 to 2023)
• Population: The population for the specific year for the China is shown in this column.
• Year on Year Change: This column displays the change in China population for each year compared to the previous year.
• Change in Percent: This column displays the year on year change as a percentage. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for China Population by Year. You can refer the same here

Beijing is the capital city of the most populous country in the world. In 2010, the resident population living in the urban areas of Beijing amounted to about 16.44 million inhabitants and was forecasted to grow up to almost 21.77 million by 2023. The population of the administrative area of Beijing municipality, including the outskirts of the city, reached 21.86 million in 2023.

Population development of China

As the political and cultural center of China, Beijing has proven its attractiveness to Chinese as well as foreigners as a place to work and live. Furthering its appeal, Beijing is home to some of the best education and medical resources in China. Due to China’s Hukou system, permanent residents who are registered in Beijing can enjoy social benefits that are different from those in other regions. Beijing is also one of the key destinations for migrant workers in China. These migrant workers have contributed significantly to the rapid development of this giant city over the past years.

Pressure from increasing population

Beijing is faced with pressure from its increasing population. Despite poor air quality, increasing traffic congestion, crowded subway trains, and unaffordable housing prices, Beijing is still perceived as a place for many young people to pursue their dreams. The government is spending more on infrastructure construction to increase the city’s capacity and to improve the connection of suburban areas to the downtown. The Daxing International Airport, which was put into operation in 2019, will alleviate the pressure on the current Beijing Capital International Airport and hopefully improve the economic development of the southern part of Beijing.

Population: Beijing: Tongzhou data was reported at 1,845.000 Person th in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,843.000 Person th for 2022. Population: Beijing: Tongzhou data is updated yearly, averaging 1,367.000 Person th from Dec 2006 (Median) to 2023, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,845.000 Person th in 2023 and a record low of 637.000 Person th in 2006. Population: Beijing: Tongzhou data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GW: Population: Municipality District.

This dataset is about cities and is filtered where the country includes China and the city includes Beijing, featuring 3 columns: city, country, and population. The preview is ordered by population (descending).

Population: District under City: Household Registration: Beijing data was reported at 14,312.385 Person th in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 14,277.092 Person th for 2022. Population: District under City: Household Registration: Beijing data is updated yearly, averaging 12,877.000 Person th from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2023, with 24 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14,312.385 Person th in 2023 and a record low of 11,075.000 Person th in 2000. Population: District under City: Household Registration: Beijing data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GE: Population: Prefecture Level City: District under City.

Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Shanghai, China metro area from 1950 to 2025. United Nations population projections are also included through the year 2035.

Population: Town: Age 15 to 64: Beijing data was reported at 1.103 Person th in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.233 Person th for 2021. Population: Town: Age 15 to 64: Beijing data is updated yearly, averaging 0.718 Person th from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2022, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,106.512 Person th in 2020 and a record low of 0.261 Person th in 2001. Population: Town: Age 15 to 64: Beijing data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Sample Survey: By Age and Region: Town.

China is a vast and diverse country and population density in different regions varies greatly. In 2023, the estimated population density of the administrative area of Shanghai municipality reached about 3,922 inhabitants per square kilometer, whereas statistically only around three people were living on one square kilometer in Tibet. Population distribution in China China's population is unevenly distributed across the country: while most people are living in the southeastern half of the country, the northwestern half – which includes the provinces and autonomous regions of Tibet, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, and Inner Mongolia – is only sparsely populated. Even the inhabitants of a single province might be unequally distributed within its borders. This is significantly influenced by the geography of each region, and is especially the case in the Guangdong, Fujian, or Sichuan provinces due to their mountain ranges. The Chinese provinces with the largest absolute population size are Guangdong in the south, Shandong in the east and Henan in Central China. Urbanization and city population Urbanization is one of the main factors which have been reshaping China over the last four decades. However, when comparing the size of cities and urban population density, one has to bear in mind that data often refers to the administrative area of cities or urban units, which might be much larger than the contiguous built-up area of that city. The administrative area of Beijing municipality, for example, includes large rural districts, where only around 200 inhabitants are living per square kilometer on average, while roughly 20,000 residents per square kilometer are living in the two central city districts. This is the main reason for the huge difference in population density between the four Chinese municipalities Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chongqing shown in many population statistics.

In 2023, around 22.6 percent of the population of Beijing municipality in China were 60 years old or older. The share of people aged 65 or older amounted to 15.9 percent. The share of old people will further grow in the future as the median age of the population is gradually rising.

getchee China Grid Square Statistics Statistics data by 500 500 square meter Grids in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen cities in China. Including: 1. Total daytime simulated population 2. Total night-time residential population 3. Total household numbers 4. Residential population by 5-year age group 5. Male population 6. Female population

Population: County: Age 0 to 14: Beijing data was reported at 0.297 Person th in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.319 Person th for 2021. Population: County: Age 0 to 14: Beijing data is updated yearly, averaging 0.308 Person th from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2022, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 585.400 Person th in 2000 and a record low of 0.208 Person th in 2019. Population: County: Age 0 to 14: Beijing data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Sample Survey: By Age and Region: Rural.

Population: City: Age 65 and Above: Beijing data was reported at 2.733 Person th in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.636 Person th for 2021. Population: City: Age 65 and Above: Beijing data is updated yearly, averaging 1.241 Person th from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2022, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,333.618 Person th in 2020 and a record low of 0.895 Person th in 2001. Population: City: Age 65 and Above: Beijing data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Sample Survey: By Age and Region: City.