📅This fact may be outdated
This fact was accurate in the past but is no longer true. As of 2025, China's population is approximately 1.42 billion, representing about 17.2% of the world's 8.2 billion people—closer to one-sixth rather than one-quarter. India has surpassed China as the world's most populous country with over 1.47 billion people. China's population is declining (-0.23% annual growth rate) while India continues to grow.
Roughly a quarter of the world's people live in China.
Did China Ever Have a Quarter of the World's Population?
For decades, the idea that "roughly a quarter of the world lives in China" was close enough to reality that it became a common factoid. But like many population statistics, this one has an expiration date—and that date has passed.
Today, China is home to about 1.42 billion people, which sounds massive until you realize the world population has hit 8.2 billion. Do the math, and China represents roughly 17.2% of humanity—closer to one-sixth than one-quarter. Still enormous, but the gap matters.
When Did the Shift Happen?
China held the title of world's most populous country for centuries, and at various points in the 20th century, it did approach that 25% mark. But two major forces changed the equation: China's population growth slowed dramatically, and the rest of the world didn't.
China's one-child policy, enforced from 1980 to 2015, put the brakes on population growth in a way few nations have attempted. Meanwhile, regions like Africa and South Asia continued rapid expansion. The result? China's slice of the global pie started shrinking.
India Takes the Crown
In 2023, India officially surpassed China as the world's most populous nation. India now has around 1.47 billion people and counting, with a growth rate of 0.89% annually. China, by contrast, is losing people—its population shrank by 0.23% last year.
Demographers predict India's population will peak around 1.7 billion by 2061, while China's numbers could dip below 1 billion by 2070. The reversal is stark: the country that once symbolized overpopulation is now grappling with an aging society and potential labor shortages.
Why the Old Stat Stuck Around
Outdated facts have staying power, especially when they're repeated in classrooms, trivia games, and casual conversation for decades. "One in four people is Chinese" was never perfectly accurate, but it was close enough during the late 20th century to become shorthand for China's demographic dominance.
Now, the more accurate (if less catchy) version is: "Roughly one in six people lives in China." Not quite as punchy, but at least it won't be wrong in ten years.
- China: 1.42 billion people, 17.2% of world population, shrinking
- India: 1.47 billion people, 17.9% of world population, growing
- Together: Over 35% of humanity lives in just two countries
The next time someone drops the "quarter of the world" line, you'll know the real numbers—and the fascinating demographic shift behind them.