Median age in China
China: Median age was 39.07 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Median age in China, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for median age in China is 39.07 years, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, median age in China peaked at 39.07 years in 2023 and was at its lowest, 18 years, in 1969.
China ranks 63rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 20.92 years | 19.85 years | 22.25 years | 10 |
| 1960s | 18.9 years | 18 years | 20.03 years | 10 |
| 1970s | 19.07 years | 18.03 years | 20.56 years | 10 |
| 1980s | 21.84 years | 20.89 years | 23.36 years | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.93 years | 23.73 years | 28.39 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 31.44 years | 28.96 years | 33.74 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.57 years | 34.14 years | 37.03 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.28 years | 37.49 years | 39.07 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 60 Russia 39.45 years compare
- 61 Saint Martin (French part) 39.36 years compare
- 62 Montenegro 39.29 years compare
- 64 Barbados 38.91 years compare
- 65 Luxembourg 38.89 years compare
- 66 Gibraltar 38.88 years compare
More reference data data for China
- Number of child deaths per woman 0.0096 under-five deaths per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 0.999 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 0.999 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate vs. Human Development Index 0.999 live births per woman (2023)
- Human Development Index 0.797 (2023)
- Rule of Law - Governance estimate -0.5793 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 (2024)
- Rule of Law - Governance score 46.99 0-100 (2024)
- Voice and Accountability - Governance estimate -1.65 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 (2024)
- Voice and Accountability - Governance score 27.91 0-100 (2024)
- Political Stability - Governance estimate -0.1533 approx. -2.5 to +2.5 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is median age in China?
- Median age in China was 39.07 years in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest median age recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 39.07 years in 2023.
- What is the lowest median age recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 18 years in 1969.
- How does China rank for median age?
- China ranks 63rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is median age rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Median age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The age that divides the population into two halves of equal size — half are younger and half are older.