China's Global Rankings: Land Area & Population
By the Numbers (2024 Estimates)
| Metric | World Total | China | China's Rank |
|---|
| Land Area | 148.9M km² | 9.60M km² | #3 (after Russia 17.1M, Canada 9.98M) |
| Population | 8.1B | 1.42B | #1 (ahead of India 1.41B, USA 340M) |
Nuances
- Land area disputes: China claims territories (Aksai Chin, Arunachal Pradesh, South China Sea features) not universally recognized. UN figure: 9.60M km².
- Population peak: China's population declined in 2023 for first time since 1961; India likely surpassed it in 2023.
- Density: 148/km² (similar to Denmark) – but highly uneven: 94% live east of the Hu Line.
Why It Matters
China's scale drives global resource demand, emissions, labour markets, and geopolitics. Its demographic transition (aging, shrinking workforce) will reshape the 21st-century economy.
Wanderlust World