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China vs Japan population

In 2025 China has 11.4× as many people as Japan: 1.41 billion against 123 million. The difference is 1.28 billion.

China 1.41 billion and Japan 123 million in 2025, 1 dot = 20 million peopleChina has 1,406,585,000 people and Japan has 123,366,734 in 2025. Each dot is 20 million people.
China 1.41 billion and Japan 123 million in 2025, 1 dot = 20 million peopleChina has 1,406,585,000 people and Japan has 123,366,734 in 2025. Each dot is 20 million people.
China 1.41 billion and Japan 123 million in 2025, 1 dot = 50 million peopleChina has 1,406,585,000 people and Japan has 123,366,734 in 2025. Each dot is 50 million people.

Japan would fit inside China 11 times over.

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Population of China and Japan, 1960 to 2050: China 1.41 billion and Japan 123 million in 2025
Population of China and Japan, 1960 to 2050: China 1.41 billion and Japan 123 million in 2025
Population of China and Japan, 1960 to 2050: China 1.41 billion and Japan 123 million in 2025

How the two compare

In 2025 China has 11.4× as many people as Japan: 1.41 billion against 123 million. The difference is 1.28 billion. Japan would fit inside China 11 times over. Together they hold 18.7% of the 8.19 billion counted here.

Then and now

In 1960 the order was China ahead, 667 million to 93.2 million, a ratio of 7.16×. Since then China has grown 2.11× and Japan 1.32×, averaging 1.15% and 0.43% a year.

The lines never cross between 1960 and 2050: China stays ahead throughout, and the gap narrows by 2050.

Towards 2050

Projected to 2050, China reaches 1.24 billion (11.7% fewer than today) and Japan reaches 105 million (14.8% fewer). By then the ratio is 11.8× in favour of China.

Land and people

Land changes the picture: China has 9,388,210 km² and 150 people per km², Japan has 364,569 km² and 338 per km². Japan is 2.26× more densely settled.

Behind the totals, fertility is 1.01 in China and 1.15 in Japan; life expectancy is 78 against 84 years; 14.9% against 30% of people are 65 or older. The younger the population, the longer it keeps growing after birth rates fall.

Where the numbers come from

Figures are the World Bank's "Population estimates and projections" series, built from United Nations and national statistics. Values up to 2025 are estimates; 2026–2050 are projections that assume current fertility, mortality and migration trends continue, so they are not forecasts of events such as wars or policy changes. Territories are listed as the World Bank lists them, and a small number of places have gaps in some years.

How the numbers are taken. Total population from the World Bank's population estimates and projections (built from United Nations and national statistics). Values to 2025 are estimates; 2026–2050 are projections that continue current fertility, mortality and migration trends. Sources and limits.

China on its own · Japan on its own