Population ages 65 and above, total in China

China: Population ages 65 and above, total was 209.74 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
209.74 million
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
1st
of 218 countries
All-time high
209.74 million
in 2025
All-time low
25.46 million
in 1962
Years of data
66
1960–2025

Population ages 65 and above, total in China, 1960–2025

50.0M100.0M150.0M200.0M196019922025

Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.

Analysis

In 2025, population ages 65 and above, total in China stood at 209.74 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 51.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population ages 65 and above, total in China peaked at 209.74 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 25.46 million, in 1962.

China ranks 1st of 218 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Population ages 65 and above, total in China, year by year

Annual values for Population ages 65 and above, total in China, 1960 to 2025.
Year Value Change
1960 26.46 million —
1961 25.63 million -3.1%
1962 25.46 million -0.7%
1963 25.62 million +0.7%
1964 25.75 million +0.5%
1965 26.07 million +1.3%
1966 26.71 million +2.5%
1967 27.48 million +2.9%
1968 28.35 million +3.2%
1969 29.32 million +3.4%
1970 30.34 million +3.5%
1971 31.45 million +3.7%
1972 32.53 million +3.4%
1973 33.67 million +3.5%
1974 34.94 million +3.8%
1975 36.21 million +3.6%
1976 37.38 million +3.2%
1977 38.55 million +3.1%
1978 39.96 million +3.6%
1979 41.56 million +4.0%
1980 43.13 million +3.8%
1981 44.63 million +3.5%
1982 46.17 million +3.4%
1983 47.69 million +3.3%
1984 49.24 million +3.2%
1985 50.94 million +3.5%
1986 52.74 million +3.5%
1987 54.54 million +3.4%
1988 56.43 million +3.5%
1989 58.53 million +3.7%
1990 60.68 million +3.7%
1991 62.75 million +3.4%
1992 64.97 million +3.5%
1993 67.48 million +3.9%
1994 70.14 million +3.9%
1995 72.93 million +4.0%
1996 75.79 million +3.9%
1997 78.74 million +3.9%
1998 82.00 million +4.1%
1999 85.37 million +4.1%
2000 88.61 million +3.8%
2001 91.75 million +3.5%
2002 94.77 million +3.3%
2003 97.66 million +3.0%
2004 100.28 million +2.7%
2005 102.86 million +2.6%
2006 105.59 million +2.7%
2007 108.23 million +2.5%
2008 110.68 million +2.3%
2009 113.13 million +2.2%
2010 115.86 million +2.4%
2011 119.16 million +2.8%
2012 123.08 million +3.3%
2013 127.55 million +3.6%
2014 132.61 million +4.0%
2015 138.72 million +4.6%
2016 145.59 million +5.0%
2017 153.32 million +5.3%
2018 161.54 million +5.4%
2019 169.79 million +5.1%
2020 178.44 million +5.1%
2021 186.51 million +4.5%
2022 194.62 million +4.3%
2023 201.96 million +3.8%
2024 206.63 million +2.3%
2025 209.74 million +1.5%

China compared with similar countries

  • China's 209.74 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 528,918, 396.5× the median. (59 countries reporting)
  • China's 209.74 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 103,535, 2025.8× the median. (37 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 26.68 million 25.46 million 29.32 million 10
1970s 35.66 million 30.34 million 41.56 million 10
1980s 50.41 million 43.13 million 58.53 million 10
1990s 72.09 million 60.68 million 85.37 million 10
2000s 101.36 million 88.61 million 113.13 million 10
2010s 138.72 million 115.86 million 169.79 million 10
2020s 196.32 million 178.44 million 209.74 million 6

Countries ranked near China

  1. 2 India 107.98 million compare
  2. 3 United States 62.84 million compare
  3. 4 Japan 37.00 million compare

See the full ranking of 266 places →

More health data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is population ages 65 and above, total in China?
Population ages 65 and above, total in China was 209.74 million in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
What is the highest population ages 65 and above, total recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 209.74 million in 2025.
What is the lowest population ages 65 and above, total recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 25.46 million in 1962.
How does China rank for population ages 65 and above, total?
China ranks 1st out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
Is population ages 65 and above, total rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is up 51.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China data come from?
The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population ages 65 and above, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Population ages 65 and above, total in China. Statizoid, drawing on World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Retrieved 12 October 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/population-ages-65-and-above-total/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Population ages 65 and above, total
Source
World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
266 places, 17,526 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Total population 65 years of age or older. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.