By 2035, nearly 17 million people are predicted to call Guangzhou home. As one of the key cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou’s vibrancy is very attractive to people searching for their opportunities there.

Megacity – Guangzhou

As China’s cities become increasingly urbanized, the demographic of this megacity has also changed considerably over the years, with more and more Chinese locals and foreigners opting to dwell in Guangzhou for work and cultural opportunities. Together with Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, Guangzhou is listed as one of China’s first-tier cities, indicating its great economic power and developing potential. Guangzhou has been a large port of China for over two thousand years and has contributed significantly to the economic and cultural exchange between China and the world. Today, the Guangzhou Port is one of the largest in the world.

Multicultural hub

The traces of immigrants from different times to this city can be easily found in Guangzhou’s architecture. In the former colonial area, there are still plenty of old western style buildings. Today’s Guangzhou is one of the Chinese cities with the highest density of skyscrapers in some business areas. The Canton Tower, landmark of Guangzhou, is 604 meters tall and the second tallest tower in the world after Tokyo Skytree. In this capital city of the Guangdong province, Cantonese culture is highly respected and well developed. Guangzhou is also one of the Chinese cities with the largest foreign population. Cantonese, Mandarin and English are the widely used languages of the residents in Guangzhou.

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

In 2023, the population of Guangdong province in China amounted to around 127.06 million inhabitants, ranking first among all the provinces in China. The population density in Guangdong is also higher than in many countries in the world.

Population: Guangdong: Guangzhou: Household Registration data was reported at 10,566.070 Person th in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 10,349.074 Person th for 2022. Population: Guangdong: Guangzhou: Household Registration data is updated yearly, averaging 7,066.438 Person th from Dec 1978 (Median) to 2023, with 46 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10,566.070 Person th in 2023 and a record low of 4,828.961 Person th in 1978. Population: Guangdong: Guangzhou: Household Registration data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GE: Population: Prefecture Level City.

This statistic illustrates the population of the Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macao Greater Bay Area cities in 2023. That year, the population of Guangzhou amounted to approximately 18.83 million people, making it the largest city by population in the region.

Population: Household Registration: Birth Rate: Guangdong: Guangzhou data was reported at 11.070 ‰ in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 10.720 ‰ for 2022. Population: Household Registration: Birth Rate: Guangdong: Guangzhou data is updated yearly, averaging 10.905 ‰ from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2023, with 24 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 22.730 ‰ in 2017 and a record low of 7.920 ‰ in 2003. Population: Household Registration: Birth Rate: Guangdong: Guangzhou data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GE: Population: Prefecture Level City: Household Registration: Natural Growth Rate.

By the end of 2023, around 11.39 million people were employed in Guangdong's capital Guangzhou. As a part of China's Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou has attracted various Chinese and foreigners to work in the city.

Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Guangdong: Guangzhou data was reported at 86.760 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 86.480 % for 2022. Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Guangdong: Guangzhou data is updated yearly, averaging 84.380 % from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2023, with 14 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 86.760 % in 2023 and a record low of 83.790 % in 2010. Population: Usual Residence: Urbanization Rate: Guangdong: Guangzhou data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GE: Population: Prefecture Level City: Urbanization Rate.

Population: Guangdong: Guangzhou: Usual Residence data was reported at 18,827.000 Person th in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 18,734.100 Person th for 2022. Population: Guangdong: Guangzhou: Usual Residence data is updated yearly, averaging 12,795.150 Person th from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2023, with 24 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18,827.000 Person th in 2023 and a record low of 9,496.800 Person th in 2005. Population: Guangdong: Guangzhou: Usual Residence data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GE: Population: Prefecture Level City.

This statistic depicts the number of workers in Guangzhou urban area in China as of December 2019, by employment status. By the end of 2019, around four million people were employed in non-private urban units in the urban area of Guangzhou.

In 2023, per capita gross domestic product (GDP) of the city of Guangzhou in China amounted to approximately 161,634 yuan. Guangzhou is the capital city of Guangdong province in South China and one of the largest cities in China.

Population: Household Registration: Male: Guangdong: Guangzhou data was reported at 5,207.800 Person th in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 5,115.503 Person th for 2022. Population: Household Registration: Male: Guangdong: Guangzhou data is updated yearly, averaging 4,142.038 Person th from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2023, with 24 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,207.800 Person th in 2023 and a record low of 3,605.481 Person th in 2000. Population: Household Registration: Male: Guangdong: Guangzhou data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GE: Population: Prefecture Level City: Household Registration: By Sex.

Population: Non Agricultural: Guangdong: Guangzhou data was reported at 7,662.869 Person th in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 7,530.842 Person th for 2013. Population: Non Agricultural: Guangdong: Guangzhou data is updated yearly, averaging 6,681.980 Person th from Dec 1996 (Median) to 2014, with 19 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7,662.869 Person th in 2014 and a record low of 4,032.700 Person th in 1996. Population: Non Agricultural: Guangdong: Guangzhou data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GE: Population: Prefecture Level City: Non Agricultural. The agricultural population and nonagricultural population were cataloged by residence registration before 2003. From 2003 to 2014 the statistical coverage of nonagricultural population has been adjusted in accordance with The Notice about Some Items on Changing the Annual Reporting Tables of Population Statistics Transmitted from the Ministry of Public Security stipulated by Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Public Security. The permanent population living in the region of sub-district offices under the jurisdiction of districts, neighborhood committees under the jurisdiction of towns and village committees where town governments seat are cataloged to non-agricultural population. 农业与非农业人口统计，2003年以前按户口性质分类。2003-2014年，非农业人口的统计口径根据省公安厅《转发公安部办公厅关于修改人口统计年报表等有关问题的通知》（广公（办）字[2003]146号）调整为：设区市的区和不设区市的市区所辖街道办事处区域内的常住人口和市辖镇、县辖镇所辖居民委员会或镇政府驻地村委会区域内的常住人口按非农业人口统计。

As of 2023, around 9.96 percent of the total population of Guangdong province in China were 65 years old or older. Guangdong is the most populous province in China, and its population density is higher than in many countries in the world.

1 Continuous variables were shown as the means±standard deviation. Categorical variables were shown as numbers (percents). Variables were evaluated in conditional logistic model.2 Variables were scored as yes or no, and numbers (percents) of yes responses were listed. House decoration refers to replacement of floor board, wall, and indoor painting for almost a whole flat or house; new furniture refers to a set of new furniture for living room(s) and bed room(s). 3 Occupation was categorized into 3 levels on the basis of the intensity of occupational physical activity.4 Smoking status was defined as current smoker, ex-smoker or nonsmoker (a smoker was defined as someone smoking at least one cigarette per day for at least six months).5 Passive smoking was designated as exposure to other peoples' tobacco smoke for at least 5 minutes daily in the previous five years.6 Physical activity was defined as occupational, leisure time and household chores activity, and evaluated by metabolic equivalent hours per day (MET∙ h/d).Abbreviations: BMI: body mass index; NPC: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma; MET: metabolic equivalent1 .

Population: Guangdong: Guangzhou: Conghua data was reported at 610.000 Person th in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 602.000 Person th for 2013. Population: Guangdong: Guangzhou: Conghua data is updated yearly, averaging 565.755 Person th from Dec 2004 (Median) to 2014, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 610.000 Person th in 2014 and a record low of 540.000 Person th in 2005. Population: Guangdong: Guangzhou: Conghua 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.GJ: Population: County Level Region.

Population: Outflow: Guangdong: Guangzhou data was reported at 42.800 Person th in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 36.485 Person th for 2022. Population: Outflow: Guangdong: Guangzhou data is updated yearly, averaging 65.303 Person th from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2023, with 24 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 107.175 Person th in 2000 and a record low of 36.485 Person th in 2022. Population: Outflow: Guangdong: Guangzhou data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GE: Population: Prefecture Level City: Non-natural Change.

Population: Rural: Guangdong: Guangzhou: Zengcheng data was reported at 871.000 Person th in 2012. This records a decrease from the previous number of 880.000 Person th for 2011. Population: Rural: Guangdong: Guangzhou: Zengcheng data is updated yearly, averaging 830.305 Person th from Dec 2004 (Median) to 2012, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 880.000 Person th in 2011 and a record low of 720.000 Person th in 2005. Population: Rural: Guangdong: Guangzhou: Zengcheng 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.GJ: Population: Rural: County Level Region.

As of January 2024, Guangzhou had the largest metropolitan population in the Asia-Pacific region, with approximately 70.1 million inhabitants. Tokyo had the second-largest metropolitan population of around 41 million inhabitants. There were a total of 28 megacities with a population of over 10 million inhabitants in the Asia-Pacific region as of January 2024.

Population: Usual Residence: Urban: Guangdong: Guangzhou data was reported at 16,334.305 Person th in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 16,201.250 Person th for 2022. Population: Usual Residence: Urban: Guangdong: Guangzhou data is updated yearly, averaging 14,448.700 Person th from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2023, with 14 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16,334.305 Person th in 2023 and a record low of 10,649.361 Person th in 2010. Population: Usual Residence: Urban: Guangdong: Guangzhou data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GE: Population: Prefecture Level City: Usual Residence: By Residence.