China Total Population

Absolute population level — now declining, a structural headwind for future GDP growth.

1.4Bpersons

Trend YoY growth is +0.1%, slowing by 3 bps/year over the last 23Y. Deviations have remained below trend for 6 consecutive periods. Latest: -0.1%, 27 bps below trend, a 1.6σ deviation.

Level

YoY %

y = 0.8% 3 bps/yr · t

Deviation from trend

Forecast

Projected value by forecast vintage (persons)

Projected value (persons)

Forecast made in201720182019202020212022202320242025202620272028MAPE
20171.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B978%
20181.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B907%
20191.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B577%
20201.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B335%
20211.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B117%
20221.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B75%
20231.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B67%
20241.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B
20251.4B1.4B1.4B1.4B

YoY change forecast

Forecast made in201720182019202020212022202320242025202620272028MAPE
2017+0.6%+0.6%+0.5%+0.5%+0.5%+0.5%+0.5%+0.5%+0.4%+0.4%+0.4%+0.4%978%
2018+0.5%+0.5%+0.5%+0.4%+0.4%+0.4%+0.3%+0.3%+0.3%+0.3%+0.2%907%
2019+0.4%+0.4%+0.3%+0.2%+0.2%+0.1%+0.1%+0.0%+0.0%-0.1%577%
2020+0.2%+0.2%+0.1%+0.0%-0.1%-0.2%-0.3%-0.4%-0.5%335%
2021+0.1%+0.0%-0.2%-0.3%-0.4%-0.5%-0.7%-0.8%117%
2022+0.0%-0.1%-0.3%-0.4%-0.5%-0.6%-0.8%75%
2023-0.1%-0.2%-0.4%-0.5%-0.6%-0.7%67%
2024-0.1%-0.3%-0.3%-0.4%-0.5%
2025-0.3%-0.3%-0.4%-0.5%

Forecasts use ordinary least-squares linear regression fitted to the YoY change series over a rolling 5Y window. Each row shows a vintage — the forecast as it would have appeared at that point in time. Projected values apply the forecasted YoY change to the prior year's level, chaining forward where actuals are unavailable. MAPE measures forecast accuracy against realized values. These are mechanical trend extrapolations, not economic models.