Climate
From tropical conditions in the south to subarctic conditions in the north, China's climate is extremely diverse.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Country
China
32.50° N, 106.34° E
1,397,715,000 people live here — no country on Earth has more.
population 1,397,715,000 · 1st/235
Natural Earth · ranks computed across the countries in this atlas that carry the value
- Population
- 1,397,715,000
- Natural Earth population estimate.
- Area
- 9,596,960 km²
- Official total area (land + water) from the CIA World Factbook. Computed from the Natural Earth boundary: ≈ 9,373,043 km².
- Population density
- ≈ 149 / km²
- Population divided by the computed boundary area.
- ISO codes
- CN · CHN
- GDP (nominal)
- $18.74 trillion
- Field “Economy → GDP (official exchange rate)” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP per capita (PPP)
- $23,800
- Field “Economy → Real GDP per capita → Real GDP per capita 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
China 9,596,960 km²Australia 7,741,220 km²
geometry: Natural Earth 1:50m · EPSG:6933 equal-area
Where China sits in the world
Each line is every country in this atlas that carries the value, ordered smallest to largest. The line down the middle is the world median; the mark on each line is this country.
- Median age40.8 years59th of 224 · median 32.6 years
- Life expectancy78.7 years73rd of 224 · median 76.2 years
- Fertility rate1.2 children per woman219th of 225 · median 1.92 children per woman
- Population1,397,715,0001st of 235 · median 5,454,073
- Total area9,596,960 km²5th of 228 · median 83,736 km²
- Coastline14,500 km12th of 229 · median 402 km
Overview
People and society
Han Chinese live alongside ethnic minorities including Zhang, Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, and other nationalities. Standard Chinese or Mandarin, based on the Beijing dialect, is official; Yue, Wu, Minbei, Minnan, Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, and minority languages are also spoken. Religious affiliations include folk religion, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, other faiths including Daoist (Taoist), and no affiliation.
People are concentrated in the eastern half, while the west's vast mountainous and desert areas are sparsely populated. High population density occurs along the Yangtze and Yellow River valleys, the Xi Jiang River delta, the Sichuan Basin around Chengdu, in and around Beijing, and the industrial area around Shenyang.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Flag and symbols
A red flag bears a large five-pointed yellow star and four smaller stars in its upper-left corner, arranged in a vertical arc around the large one. Red represents revolution, while the stars symbolize the working class, the peasantry, the urban petty bourgeoisie, and the national bourgeoisie (capitalists) united under the Communist Party of China. The national symbols are the dragon and giant panda.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Key figures
CIA World Factbook
Economy
- GDP (nominal)
- $18.74 trillion
- Field “Economy → GDP (official exchange rate)” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP (PPP)
- $33.6 trillion
- Field “Economy → Real GDP (purchasing power parity) → Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP per capita (PPP)
- $23,800
- Field “Economy → Real GDP per capita → Real GDP per capita 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP growth
- +5%
- Field “Economy → Real GDP growth rate → Real GDP growth rate 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Inflation (consumer prices)
- 0.2%
- Field “Economy → Inflation rate (consumer prices) → Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Unemployment
- 4.6%
- Field “Economy → Unemployment rate → Unemployment rate 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Exports
- $3.79 trillion
- Field “Economy → Exports → Exports 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Imports
- $3.25 trillion
- Field “Economy → Imports → Imports 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
People
- Life expectancy
- 78.7 years
- Field “People and Society → Life expectancy at birth → total population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Median age
- 40.8 years
- Field “People and Society → Median age → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Birth rate
- 7.28 per 1,000
- Field “People and Society → Birth rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Death rate
- 7.97 per 1,000
- Field “People and Society → Death rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Fertility rate
- 1.2 children per woman
- Field “People and Society → Total fertility rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Population growth
- -0.08% a year
- Field “People and Society → Population growth rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Urban population
- 64.6%
- Field “People and Society → Urbanization → urban population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Literacy
- 96.7%
- Field “People and Society → Literacy → total population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Languages
- Standard Chinese or Mandarinofficial
- Yue
- Wu
- Minbei
- Minnan
- Xiang
- Gan
- Hakka dialects
- minority languages
- note - Zhuang is official in Guangxi Zhuang
- Yue is official in Guangdong
- Mongolian is official in Nei Mongol
- Uyghur is official in Xinjiang Uygur
- Kyrgyz is official in Xinjiang Uyghur
- and Tibetan is official in Xizang
- Field “People and Society → Languages → Languages” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Land
- Total area
- 9,596,960 km²Land 9,326,410 km² · Water 270,550 km²
- Field “Geography → Area → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Coastline
- 14,500 km
- Field “Geography → Coastline” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Land borders
- 22,457 km
- Field “Geography → Land boundaries → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Mean elevation
- 1,840 m
- Field “Geography → Elevation → mean elevation” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Highest point
- 8,849 m Mount Everest (highest peak in Asia and highest point on earth above sea level)
- Field “Geography → Elevation → highest point” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Values from the CIA World Factbook archive. Each carries the year it describes; open a year for the exact source field.
Connections
Natural geography 90
Natural Earth outlines · features with a Wikidata ID
Straits 2
Gulfs 1
Bays 1
Lakes 46
- Hongze Hu
- Lake Khanka
- Qinghai Hu
- Bosten Hu
- Hulun Nuur
- Liangzi Hu
- Long Hu
- Nam Co
- Poyang Hu
- Siling Co
- Tai Hu
- Ayakkum Hu
34 more
- Buyr Nuur
- Chao Hu
- Gaoyou Hu
- Gyaring Hu
- Hong Hu
- Lake Ngangla Ringeo
- Langa Co
- Mapam Yumco
- Ngoring Hu
- Puma Yumco
- Shijiu Hu
- Tangra Yumco
- Weishan Hu
- Yamzho Yumco
- Banggong Co
- Dongting Hu
- Ge Hu
- Ulansuhai Nur
- Dongping Hu
- Elsen Nur
- Qagan Nur
- Aqqikkol Hu
- Dalai Nur
- Ebinur Hu
- Gas Hu
- Gozha Co
- Gyaring Co
- Huiten Nur
- Lake Alesayqin Ha
- Lumajangdong Co
- Luoma Hu
- Ngangzi Co
- Songhua Hu
- Wuchang Hu
Islands 1
Mountain ranges 21
Deserts 3
Peninsulas 5
Geographic regions 2
Largest cities 366
Population · Natural Earth
- Nanjing
- Guiyang
- Harbin
- Urumqi
- Zhangzhou
- Changchun
- Dalian
- Zibo
- Hangzhou
- Kunming
- Taiyuan
- Qingdao
- Jinan
- Zhengzhou
- Fuzhou
- Changsha
- Xiangtan
- Lanzhou
- Xiamen
- Jinxi
- Shijiazhuang
- Jilin
- Nanchang
- Wenzhou
- Nanchong
- Nanning
- Zaozhuang
- Yantai
- Xuzhou
- Linyi
- Haikou
- Baotou
- Hefei
- Suzhou
- Nanyang
- Ningbo
- Tangshan
- Datong
- Shuyang
- Shangqiu
- Wuxi
- Hohhot
- Luoyang
- Jianmen
- Daqing
- Luan
- Wanzhou
- Suzhou
- Qiqihar
- Anshan
- Handan
- Taian
- Shantou
- Zhanjiang
- Xiantao
- Weifang
- Xinyang
- Luzhou
- Ganzhou
- Liuzhou
- Fushun
- Changde
- Neijiang
- Quanzhou
- Huainan
- Suining
- Mianyang
- Maanshan
- Yiyang
- Heze
- Changzhou
- Chifeng
- Huaiyin
- Mudangiang
- Huzhou
- Tianshui
- Liupanshui
- Maoming
- Jining
- Leshan
- Shangrao
- Yulin
- Xianyang
- Baoding
- Zigong
- Ankang
- Jinhua
- Zhuzhou
- Xiangyang
- Zhucheng
- Xining
- Zhangjiakou
- Zhuhai
- Jiamusi
- Hengyang
- Benxi
- Qinhuangdao
- Baoshan
- Yongzhou
- Yinchuan
- Jiaxing
- Guilin
- Yichun
- Yangquan
- Jixi
- Xinyi
- Pingxiang
- Jinzhou
- Nantong
- Foshan
- Huaibei
- Xinyu
- Xinxiang
- Yibin
- Bengbu
- Anyang
- Tongliao
- Yichang
- Yangjiang
- Kaifeng
- Dandong
- Xuanzhou
- Rizhao
- Jiaozuo
- Zhenjiang
- Shache
- Zunyi
- Anshun
- Pingdingshan
- Yuci
- Yancheng
- Linfen
- Yueyang
- Xingyi
- Langfang
- Wuhu
- Zhaotang
- Lingyuan
- Baoji
- Yingkow
- Liaoyang
- Shaoxing
- Yichun
- Fuyang
- Fuxin
- Shiyan
- Jincheng
- Hegang
- Beihai
- Shaoguan
- Lianyungang
- Qingyuan
- Changzhi
- Aksu
- Huangshi
- Puyang
- Zhanyi
- Turpan
- Shihezi
- Zhuozhou
- Changping
- Korla
- Taizhou
- Xiangtai
- Anqing
- Hami
- Shuozhou
- Tongling
- Weihai
- Siping
- Jiujiang
- Yining
- Yangzhou
- Linxia
- Jiangmen
- Cangzhou
- Jian
- Jingzhou
- Kashgar
- Liaoyuan
- Shuangyashan
- Songyuan
- Wuwei
- Yanji
- Zhaoqing
- Jiaojing
- Kuqa
- Chaoyang
- Panzhihua
- Jingdezhen
- Hengshui
- Qitaihe
- Chengde
- Xuchang
- Wuzhou
- Guangyuan
- Chaozhou
- Luohe
- Meizhou
- Xuanhua
- Hotan
- Jingmen
- Yuxi
- Baicheng
- Xichang
- Dezhou
- Zhoukou
- Putian
- Quzhou
- Longyan
- Sanya
- Wafangdian
- Longxi
- Yumen
- Yaan
- Tieling
- Hangu
- Heyuan
- Baishan
- Chenzhou
- Ninde
- Mengzi
- Hulan Ergi
- Huizhou
- Tongchuan
- Jining
- Xinzhou
- Jinshi
- Zhuanghe
- Karamay
- Chuxiong
- Suihua
- Linhai
- Laiyang
- Qinzhou
- Hebi
- Ulanhot
- Linchuan
- Zicheng
- Shishou
- Hailar
- Zhangye
- Beipiao
- Liaocheng
- Hancheng
- Lhasa
- Wuhai
- Nanping
- Sanming
- Pingliang
- Jiutai
- Puqi
- Lianxian
- Huangyan
- Dunhua
- Anda
- Zhaodong
- Bose
- Lishui
- Weinan
- Fuyang
- Simao
- Xiaogan
- Dali
- Yulin
- Beian
- Guangshui
- Dingzhou
- Wenshan
- Deyang
- Gejiu
- Jiayuguan
- Hanzhong
- Jinchang
- Altay
- Jieshou
- Nongan
- Dunhuang
- Zalantun
- Shizuishan
- Yunxian
- Shuangcheng
- Macheng
- Tengchong
- Laiwu
- Jiaohe
- Nancha
- Xilinhot
- Huanghua
- Tongren
- Huanren
- Taonan
- Yakeshi
- Buizhou
- Zhijiang
- Shaowu
- Linqing
- Hailun
- Dali
- Tieli
- Heihe
- Nehe
- Golmud
- Longjiang
- Houma
- Chamdo
- Tumen
- Fengzhen
- Shangzhi
- Boli
- Yishui
- Manzhouli
- Daan
- Fuan
- Danjiangkou
- Pingdu
- Fujin
- Wangqing
- Changting
- Mishan
- Nenjiang
- Panshi
- Helong
- Linjiang
- Nangong
- Xigaze
- Koktokay
- Shulan
- Pingyi
- Linkou
- Jiexiu
- Tailai
- Shanxian
- Lanxi
- Keshan
- Anlu
- Baiquan
- Rongzhag
- Liuhe
- Minxian
- Huinan
- Quiemo
- Qinggang
- Fengcheng
- Langzhong
- Dengzhou
- Gannan
- Suileng
- Alxa Zuoqi
- Changling
- Xinqing
- Ningan
- Qingan
- Bairin Zuoqi