In 2024, there were around 719 million male inhabitants and 689 million female inhabitants living in China, amounting to around 1.41 billion people in total. China's total population decreased for the first time in decades in 2022, and population decline is expected to accelerate in the upcoming years. Birth control in China From the beginning of the 1970s on, having many children was no longer encouraged in mainland China. The one-child policy was then introduced in 1979 to control the total size of the Chinese population. According to the one-child policy, a married couple was only allowed to have one child. With the time, modifications were added to the policy, for example parents living in rural areas were allowed to have a second child if the first was a daughter, and most ethnic minorities were excepted from the policy. Population ageing The birth control led to a decreasing birth rate in China and a more skewed gender ratio of new births due to boy preference. Since the negative economic and social effects of an aging population were more and more felt in China, the one-child policy was considered an obstacle for the country’s further economic development. Since 2014, the one-child policy has been gradually relaxed and fully eliminated at the end of 2015. However, many young Chinese people are not willing to have more children due to high costs of raising a child, especially in urban areas.

Population, female (% of total population) in China was reported at 49.06 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Population, female (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

The statistic shows the distribution of the total population in China from 1950 to 2024, by gender. In 2024, about 51.06 percent of the Chinese population were male.

China Population: Female: Age 25 to 29 data was reported at 39.756 Person th in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 40.234 Person th for 2022. China Population: Female: Age 25 to 29 data is updated yearly, averaging 50.255 Person th from Dec 1982 (Median) to 2023, with 36 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 57,371.507 Person th in 2000 and a record low of 37.803 Person th in 2009. China Population: Female: Age 25 to 29 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 Sex.

Population ages 30-34, female (% of female population) in China was reported at 7.2045 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Population ages 30-34, female (% of female population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

The gender or sex ratio in China has been a contentious issue since the introduction of the one-child policy in 1979, intended to limit the population of the country. Although the policy is no longer in place, the population gender difference throughout the country is still evident. In 2023, fifteen to nineteen-year-old children had the largest gender disparity of 115.3 males to every 100 females. Gender imbalance While the difference of gender at birth has been decreasing in the country over the past decade, China still boasts the world’s most skewed sex ratio at birth at around 110 males born for every 100 females as of 2023. That means there are about 31 million more men in the country than women. This imbalance likely came from the country’s traditional preference for male children to continue the family lineage, in combination with the population control policies enforced. Where does that leave the population? The surplus of young, single men across the country poses a risk for China in many different socio-economic areas. Some of the roll-on effects include males overrepresenting specific labor markets, savings rates increasing, consumption reducing and violent crime increasing across the country. However, the adult mortality rate in China, that is, the probability of a 15-year-old dying before reaching age 60, was significantly higher for men than for women. For the Chinese population over 60 years of age, the gender ratio is in favor of women, with more females outliving their male counterparts.

China Population: Female: Age 10 to 14 data was reported at 44.208 Person th in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 42.781 Person th for 2022. China Population: Female: Age 10 to 14 data is updated yearly, averaging 49.745 Person th from Dec 1982 (Median) to 2023, with 36 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 63,973.025 Person th in 1982 and a record low of 26.422 Person th in 2013. China Population: Female: Age 10 to 14 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 Sex.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the population of China by gender across 18 age groups. It lists the male and female population in each age group along with the gender ratio for China. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population distribution of China by gender and age. For example, using this dataset, we can identify the largest age group for both Men and Women in China. Additionally, it can be used to see how the gender ratio changes from birth to senior most age group and male to female ratio across each age group for China.

Key observations

Largest age group (population): Male # 15-19 years (52) | Female # 20-24 years (65). Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Age groups:

• Under 5 years
• 5 to 9 years
• 10 to 14 years
• 15 to 19 years
• 20 to 24 years
• 25 to 29 years
• 30 to 34 years
• 35 to 39 years
• 40 to 44 years
• 45 to 49 years
• 50 to 54 years
• 55 to 59 years
• 60 to 64 years
• 65 to 69 years
• 70 to 74 years
• 75 to 79 years
• 80 to 84 years
• 85 years and over

Scope of gender :

Please note that American Community Survey asks a question about the respondents current sex, but not about gender, sexual orientation, or sex at birth. The question is intended to capture data for biological sex, not gender. Respondents are supposed to respond with the answer as either of Male or Female. Our research and this dataset mirrors the data reported as Male and Female for gender distribution analysis.

Variables / Data Columns

• Age Group: This column displays the age group for the China population analysis. Total expected values are 18 and are define above in the age groups section.
• Population (Male): The male population in the China is shown in the following column.
• Population (Female): The female population in the China is shown in the following column.
• Gender Ratio: Also known as the sex ratio, this column displays the number of males per 100 females in China for each age group.

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 Gender. You can refer the same here

China Population: City: Female: Age 30 to 34 data was reported at 26.107 Person th in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 27.300 Person th for 2022. China Population: City: Female: Age 30 to 34 data is updated yearly, averaging 17.819 Person th from Dec 1982 (Median) to 2023, with 35 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 29,556.203 Person th in 2020 and a record low of 6.818 Person th in 1994. China Population: City: Female: Age 30 to 34 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 Sex: City.

The age distribution of China's population by five-year age groups in 2023 demonstrates that there are more females than males in the population for all age groups below 60 to 64 years. The largest gender difference exists for the younger age groups born between 2000 and 2010 when the one-child policy had been enforced most strictly.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the population of China town by gender across 18 age groups. It lists the male and female population in each age group along with the gender ratio for China town. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population distribution of China town by gender and age. For example, using this dataset, we can identify the largest age group for both Men and Women in China town. Additionally, it can be used to see how the gender ratio changes from birth to senior most age group and male to female ratio across each age group for China town.

Key observations

Largest age group (population): Male # 25-29 years (307) | Female # 55-59 years (294). Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Age groups:

• Under 5 years
• 5 to 9 years
• 10 to 14 years
• 15 to 19 years
• 20 to 24 years
• 25 to 29 years
• 30 to 34 years
• 35 to 39 years
• 40 to 44 years
• 45 to 49 years
• 50 to 54 years
• 55 to 59 years
• 60 to 64 years
• 65 to 69 years
• 70 to 74 years
• 75 to 79 years
• 80 to 84 years
• 85 years and over

Scope of gender :

Please note that American Community Survey asks a question about the respondents current sex, but not about gender, sexual orientation, or sex at birth. The question is intended to capture data for biological sex, not gender. Respondents are supposed to respond with the answer as either of Male or Female. Our research and this dataset mirrors the data reported as Male and Female for gender distribution analysis.

Variables / Data Columns

• Age Group: This column displays the age group for the China town population analysis. Total expected values are 18 and are define above in the age groups section.
• Population (Male): The male population in the China town is shown in the following column.
• Population (Female): The female population in the China town is shown in the following column.
• Gender Ratio: Also known as the sex ratio, this column displays the number of males per 100 females in China town for each age group.

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 town Population by Gender. You can refer the same here

Population, female in China was reported at 691221827 Persons in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Population, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

China Population: Female: Age 15 to 19 data was reported at 39.858 Person th in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 36.873 Person th for 2022. China Population: Female: Age 15 to 19 data is updated yearly, averaging 44.269 Person th from Dec 1982 (Median) to 2023, with 36 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 61,561.763 Person th in 1982 and a record low of 25.560 Person th in 2019. China Population: Female: Age 15 to 19 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 Sex.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the data for the China, TX population pyramid, which represents the China population distribution across age and gender, using estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. It lists the male and female population for each age group, along with the total population for those age groups. Higher numbers at the bottom of the table suggest population growth, whereas higher numbers at the top indicate declining birth rates. Furthermore, the dataset can be utilized to understand the youth dependency ratio, old-age dependency ratio, total dependency ratio, and potential support ratio.

Key observations

• Youth dependency ratio, which is the number of children aged 0-14 per 100 persons aged 15-64, for China, TX, is 25.5.
• Old-age dependency ratio, which is the number of persons aged 65 or over per 100 persons aged 15-64, for China, TX, is 39.1.
• Total dependency ratio for China, TX is 64.6.
• Potential support ratio, which is the number of youth (working age population) per elderly, for China, TX is 2.6.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Age groups:

• Under 5 years
• 5 to 9 years
• 10 to 14 years
• 15 to 19 years
• 20 to 24 years
• 25 to 29 years
• 30 to 34 years
• 35 to 39 years
• 40 to 44 years
• 45 to 49 years
• 50 to 54 years
• 55 to 59 years
• 60 to 64 years
• 65 to 69 years
• 70 to 74 years
• 75 to 79 years
• 80 to 84 years
• 85 years and over

Variables / Data Columns

• Age Group: This column displays the age group for the China population analysis. Total expected values are 18 and are define above in the age groups section.
• Population (Male): The male population in the China for the selected age group is shown in the following column.
• Population (Female): The female population in the China for the selected age group is shown in the following column.
• Total Population: The total population of the China for the selected age group is shown in the following column.

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 Age. You can refer the same here

China Population: Education Level: Primary: Female data was reported at 195.372 Person th in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 184,765.550 Person th for 2020. China Population: Education Level: Primary: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 195.865 Person th from Dec 1982 (Median) to 2021, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 224,578.928 Person th in 2000 and a record low of 135.591 Person th in 2019. China Population: Education Level: Primary: Female 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: Level of Education.

Population ages 25-29, female (% of female population) in China was reported at 5.6423 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Population ages 25-29, female (% of female population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 2023, the gender ratio in different regions in China varied greatly, from around 113.2 men per 100 women in Hainan province to only 97.1 men per 100 women in Liaoning. In most provinces in China, there are living more men than women, leading to a national gender ratio of around 104.2 men to 100 women in 2023.

China Population: Female: Age 35 to 39 data was reported at 57.624 Person th in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 53.435 Person th for 2022. China Population: Female: Age 35 to 39 data is updated yearly, averaging 53.448 Person th from Dec 1982 (Median) to 2023, with 36 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 57,634.855 Person th in 2010 and a record low of 26.412 Person th in 1994. China Population: Female: Age 35 to 39 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 Sex.

As of 2023, the male population of Guangdong province in China accounted for about ***** percent of total population. Guangdong is the most populous province in China, and its population density is higher than in many countries in the world.

As of 2023, the bulk of the Chinese population was aged between 25 and 59 years, amounting to around half of the population. A breakdown of the population by broad age groups reveals that around 61.3 percent of the total population was in working age between 16 and 59 years in 2023. Age cohorts below 25 years were considerably smaller, although there was a slight growth trend in recent years. Population development in China Population development in China over the past decades has been strongly influenced by political and economic factors. After a time of high fertility rates during the Maoist regime, China introduced birth-control measures in the 1970s, including the so-called one-child policy. The fertility rate dropped accordingly from around six children per woman in the 1960s to below two at the end of the 20th century. At the same time, life expectancy increased consistently. In the face of a rapidly aging society, the government gradually lifted the one-child policy after 2012, finally arriving at a three-child policy in 2021. However, like in most other developed countries nowadays, people in China are reluctant to have more than one or two children due to high costs of living and education, as well as changed social norms and private values. China’s top-heavy age pyramid The above-mentioned developments are clearly reflected in the Chinese age pyramid. The age cohorts between 30 and 39 years are the last two larger age cohorts. The cohorts between 15 and 24, which now enter childbearing age, are decisively smaller, which will have a negative effect on the number of births in the coming decade. When looking at a gender distribution of the population pyramid, a considerable gender gap among the younger age cohorts becomes visible, leaving even less room for growth in birth figures.