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China Provinces and Regions

Introduction

China is divided into a large number of provincial-level administrative divisions covering vast differences in geography, population, culture, climate, and economic activity. Among these, provinces and autonomous regions form two important categories of first-level administrative divisions.

The City Population dataset lists 22 provinces and 5 autonomous regions of the People’s Republic of China, with population figures based on national census results. The latest census shown in the supplied dataset is the 2020 census, conducted on November 1, 2020. The dataset also provides historical population figures from the 1982, 1990, 2000, and 2010 censuses.

The 22 provinces include major population and economic centers such as Guangdong, Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Hebei, Hunan, and Zhejiang. The five autonomous regions are Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang, and Tibet.

China Provinces and Autonomous Regions by Population

According to the 2020 census figures in the City Population dataset, the 27 provinces and autonomous regions can be ranked by population as follows.

The figures above are from the 2020 census column of the supplied City Population dataset. The source identifies the underlying population data as coming from China’s National Bureau of Statistics.

Provinces of China

The City Population dataset lists 22 provinces in its provinces and autonomous regions table. These provinces range from highly populated eastern coastal regions to sparsely populated western and northern areas.

1. Guangdong

Guangdong Province is the most populous province in the City Population dataset, with 126,012,510 people in the 2020 census.

Its capital is Guangzhou, while Shenzhen is another major urban and economic center. Guangdong is located in southeastern China and has an important position in manufacturing, trade, technology, finance, transportation, and international commerce.

The province had a population of 59,299,220 in 1982 and reached 126,012,510 by 2020, showing substantial long-term population growth.

2. Shandong

Shandong Province had a population of 101,527,453 in 2020, making it China’s second-most populous province in the supplied dataset.

Its capital is Jinan. Shandong occupies an important position along China’s eastern coast and has a large agricultural, industrial, manufacturing, and commercial economy.

Its population increased from 74,419,054 in 1982 to more than 101.5 million in 2020.

3. Henan

Henan Province had 99,365,519 people in the 2020 census.

Its capital is Zhengzhou, an important transportation and economic center in central China. Henan is also one of China’s historically significant regions and has a large agricultural and industrial population.

The province’s population rose from 74,422,739 in 1982 to 99,365,519 in 2020.

4. Jiangsu

Jiangsu Province had a 2020 population of 84,748,016.

Its capital is Nanjing, while cities such as Suzhou and other major urban centers contribute to the province’s highly developed economy.

Jiangsu is located along China’s eastern coast and is one of the country’s most economically developed provinces.

5. Sichuan

Sichuan Province had 83,674,866 people in 2020.

Its capital is Chengdu, one of the largest urban centers in western China. Sichuan is known for its large population, mountainous landscapes, agricultural regions, and major economic and technological centers.

The source records 99,713,310 people in 1982, followed by 78,352,102 in 1990 and 83,674,866 in 2020.

6. Hebei

Hebei Province had a population of 74,610,235 in 2020.

Its capital is Shijiazhuang. Hebei surrounds much of the Beijing-Tianjin metropolitan area and occupies an important geographical and economic position in northern China.

The province’s population increased from 53,005,875 in 1982 to 74,610,235 in 2020.

7. Hunan

Hunan Province recorded 66,444,864 people in 2020.

Its capital is Changsha. The province is located in south-central China and is known for its agricultural production, river systems, mountainous landscapes, manufacturing, and growing urban centers.

8. Zhejiang

Zhejiang Province had 64,567,588 people in the 2020 census.

Its capital is Hangzhou, a major technology, business, tourism, and cultural center. Zhejiang is situated on China’s eastern coast and has a highly developed private-sector economy and extensive manufacturing and commercial activity.

9. Anhui

Anhui Province had 61,027,171 people in 2020.

Its capital is Hefei. Anhui lies in eastern China and connects several major economic regions. Its economy includes manufacturing, agriculture, technology, and services.

10. Hubei

Hubei Province recorded 57,752,557 people in 2020.

Its capital is Wuhan, a major transportation, educational, industrial, and commercial center in central China.

Hubei’s population was 47,804,150 in 1982 and 57,752,557 in 2020.

11. Yunnan

Yunnan Province had 47,209,277 people in 2020.

Its capital is Kunming. Located in southwestern China, Yunnan is known for its mountainous terrain, biodiversity, ethnic diversity, and proximity to several Southeast Asian countries.

12. Jiangxi

Jiangxi Province had a 2020 population of 45,188,635.

Its capital is Nanchang. The province is located in southeastern-central China and is characterized by extensive river and lake systems, agricultural areas, and growing industrial centers.

13. Liaoning

Liaoning Province recorded 42,591,407 people in 2020.

Its capital is Shenyang, while Dalian is another major economic and port city.

Liaoning is the southernmost province of China’s northeastern region and has historically been important for heavy industry, manufacturing, mining, and maritime trade.

14. Fujian

Fujian Province had 41,540,086 people in 2020.

Its capital is Fuzhou. Located on the southeastern coast opposite Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait, Fujian is known for coastal trade, manufacturing, maritime activity, and strong commercial links.

15. Shaanxi

Shaanxi Province had 39,528,999 people in 2020.

Its capital is Xi’an, one of China’s most historically important cities and a major modern center for education, technology, manufacturing, and transportation.

Shaanxi’s population increased from 28,904,423 in 1982 to 39,528,999 in 2020.

16. Guizhou

Guizhou Province had 38,562,148 people in 2020.

Its capital is Guiyang. Guizhou is characterized by mountainous terrain, karst landscapes, extensive ethnic diversity, and rapidly developing technology and infrastructure.

17. Shanxi

Shanxi Province had 34,915,616 people in 2020.

Its capital is Taiyuan. The province is historically associated with coal mining and heavy industry and occupies an important position in northern China’s interior.

18. Heilongjiang

Heilongjiang Province recorded 31,850,088 people in 2020.

Its capital is Harbin, a major city in northeastern China. Heilongjiang is China’s northernmost province and is known for agriculture, forestry, winter tourism, and historical connections with Russia and northeastern Asia.

19. Gansu

Gansu Province had 25,019,831 people in 2020.

Its capital is Lanzhou. Gansu extends across north-central and northwestern China and historically formed an important corridor connecting eastern China with Central Asia.

20. Jilin

Jilin Province had 24,073,453 people in 2020.

Its capital is Changchun. Located in northeastern China, Jilin is known for agriculture, automobile manufacturing, forestry, and its proximity to Russia and North Korea.

21. Hainan

Hainan Province had 10,081,232 people in 2020.

Its capital is Haikou. Hainan is China’s major tropical island province and is known for tourism, coastal development, agriculture, and maritime activity.

22. Qinghai

Qinghai Province had 5,923,957 people in 2020.

Its capital is Xining. Qinghai is located on the northeastern part of the Tibetan Plateau and contains extensive high-altitude landscapes and important headwaters of major Asian rivers.

Autonomous Regions of China

China has five autonomous regions represented in the City Population province-level dataset. They are Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang, and Tibet. Autonomous regions are provincial-level administrative divisions associated with areas containing significant populations of officially recognized ethnic minorities.

1. Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

Guangxi had 50,126,804 people in the 2020 census.

Its capital is Nanning. Guangxi is located in southern China and borders Vietnam. It is home to a large Zhuang population and has important agricultural, industrial, tourism, and coastal economic areas.

Among the five autonomous regions, Guangxi is by far the most populous according to the 2020 figures.

2. Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region

Xinjiang had 25,852,345 people in 2020.

Its capital is Ürümqi. Xinjiang occupies a vast area in northwestern China and borders several countries in Central and South Asia.

The region has major deserts, mountain systems, oases, agricultural areas, mineral resources, and important transport routes. Its population increased from 13,081,681 in 1982 to 25,852,345 in 2020.

3. Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Inner Mongolia had 24,049,155 people in 2020.

Its capital is Hohhot. The region stretches across northern China and contains extensive grasslands, deserts, agricultural areas, and mineral resources.

The City Population dataset records a population of 19,274,279 in 1982 and 24,049,155 in 2020.

4. Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region

Ningxia had 7,202,654 people in 2020.

Its capital is Yinchuan. Ningxia is located in north-central China and is particularly associated with its Hui Muslim population.

The source records 3,895,578 inhabitants in 1982 and 7,202,654 in 2020.

5. Tibet Autonomous Region

Tibet, officially the Tibet Autonomous Region, had 3,648,100 people in the 2020 census.

Its capital is Lhasa. Tibet occupies a vast area of the Tibetan Plateau and is characterized by extremely high elevations, mountains, valleys, lakes, and extensive pastoral regions.

The City Population data records the region’s population at 1,892,393 in 1982 and 3,648,100 in 2020.

Largest Chinese Province by Population

Guangdong is the most populous province in the supplied City Population dataset, with 126,012,510 people in 2020. It is the only province in this table with a population exceeding 120 million.

Guangdong’s population is substantially larger than that of the second-ranked Shandong Province, which had 101,527,453 people.

Smallest Chinese Province by Population

Qinghai is the least populous province in the dataset, with 5,923,957 people in 2020.

Although Qinghai is geographically large, its high-altitude terrain and harsh environmental conditions contribute to a relatively low population density compared with China’s eastern provinces.

Most Populous Autonomous Region

Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is the most populous of China’s five autonomous regions in the City Population dataset, with 50,126,804 people in 2020.

Xinjiang ranks second among the five autonomous regions with 25,852,345 people, followed by Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, and Tibet.

Least Populous Autonomous Region

Tibet Autonomous Region is the least populous of the five autonomous regions, with 3,648,100 people in 2020.

Tibet is also geographically vast, meaning its population density is exceptionally low compared with the densely populated eastern provinces.

Population of China’s Provinces and Autonomous Regions Over Time

The City Population dataset provides census figures from 1982 through 2020, making it possible to examine long-term population changes.

The historical figures demonstrate major differences in population growth. Guangdong, Zhejiang, Fujian, and several other eastern provinces experienced strong long-term increases, while some northeastern regions experienced population declines or slower growth in more recent census periods.

Provinces With More Than 100 Million People

Two provinces in the dataset exceeded 100 million people in the 2020 census:

1. Guangdong — 126,012,510

2. Shandong — 101,527,453

Henan followed closely with 99,365,519 people.

Provinces With More Than 80 Million People

Five provinces had populations above 80 million in 2020:

• Guangdong — 126,012,510

• Shandong — 101,527,453

• Henan — 99,365,519

• Jiangsu — 84,748,016

• Sichuan — 83,674,866

Together, these provinces represent some of China’s largest population concentrations.

Provinces With Fewer Than 10 Million People

The dataset contains three provincial-level units with fewer than 10 million people:

Hainan, with 10,081,232 people, was just above the 10-million threshold.

China Provinces and Autonomous Regions by Area

Population size and geographical area vary dramatically among China’s provinces and autonomous regions.

The largest areas in the supplied dataset include:

The figures illustrate the enormous geographical differences between China’s provincial-level regions. Xinjiang alone covers more than 1.6 million square kilometers, while Tibet and Inner Mongolia each cover more than 1.1 million square kilometers.

Population Density Differences

China’s population is highly unevenly distributed. The eastern and southeastern provinces generally contain much larger populations within comparatively smaller territories, while western and northern regions often have enormous areas with relatively small populations.

Guangdong, for example, has more than 126 million people across approximately 197,100 km², while Tibet has about 3.65 million people across approximately 1.22 million km².

This contrast reflects China’s varied geography, including coastal plains, river valleys, plateaus, deserts, mountains, grasslands, and tropical islands.

China Province-Level Administrative Structure

The provincial-level administrative structure includes several different categories.

The City Population dataset specifically separates provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. Provinces and autonomous regions are the focus of this article, while municipalities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Chongqing belong to a separate provincial-level category.

The supplied dataset lists:

• 22 provinces

• 5 autonomous regions

• 4 municipalities

• China as the sovereign-state total

Therefore, the 27 regions covered in the main ranking should not be interpreted as the complete number of all provincial-level administrative units in China.

Provinces and Autonomous Regions vs Municipalities

China’s provincial-level administrative divisions are not all provinces.

The four municipalities are:

• Beijing

• Shanghai

• Tianjin

• Chongqing

These municipalities are directly administered by the central government and have provincial-level status. The City Population source lists them separately from provinces and autonomous regions. For example, Beijing had a 2020 population of 21,893,095, Shanghai 24,870,895, Tianjin 13,866,009, and Chongqing 32,054,159 in the source’s province-level table.

They are therefore excluded from the 27-region province and autonomous-region ranking above.

Why China’s Provinces Matter

China’s provinces and autonomous regions are important for understanding the country’s geography, population distribution, economy, culture, transportation, and regional development.

Eastern provinces such as Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, and Fujian have major coastal economies and dense urban populations. Central provinces such as Henan, Hubei, Hunan, and Anhui connect eastern and western parts of the country.

Western and northern regions such as Xinjiang, Tibet, Qinghai, Gansu, and Inner Mongolia cover enormous territories and contain important mountain, plateau, desert, grassland, mineral, agricultural, and transportation resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many provinces are listed in the City Population China dataset?

The supplied City Population table lists 22 provinces in its provinces and autonomous regions section.

How many autonomous regions does China have?

China has 5 autonomous regions represented in the supplied dataset: Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang, and Tibet.

Which is the most populous province in China?

Guangdong is the most populous province in the supplied dataset, with 126,012,510 people in the 2020 census.

Which is the second-most populous province?

Shandong ranks second, with 101,527,453 people in 2020.

Which province has the smallest population?

Qinghai is the least populous province in the dataset, with 5,923,957 people in 2020.

Which autonomous region has the largest population?

Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is the most populous autonomous region, with 50,126,804 people in 2020.

Which autonomous region has the smallest population?

Tibet Autonomous Region has the smallest population among the five autonomous regions, with 3,648,100 people in 2020.

Which Chinese province has the largest area?

Xinjiang has the largest area among the provinces and autonomous regions listed by City Population, at approximately 1,646,900 km².

Which province has the largest population density?

The most densely populated provinces are concentrated primarily in eastern and southeastern China, where large populations live in relatively compact areas.

What year are the population figures based on?

The principal population figures in this article are from the 2020 census, dated November 1, 2020, as presented by City Population.

What is the population of Guangdong?

Guangdong had 126,012,510 people in the 2020 census.

What is the population of Shandong?

Shandong had 101,527,453 people in 2020.

What is the population of Henan?

Henan had 99,365,519 people in 2020.

What is the population of Sichuan?

Sichuan had 83,674,866 people in 2020.

What is the population of Xinjiang?

Xinjiang had 25,852,345 people in 2020.

What is the population of Tibet?

Tibet had 3,648,100 people in the 2020 census.

Key Facts About China Provinces and Autonomous Regions

• China has 22 provinces listed in the supplied City Population province-level dataset.
• China has 5 autonomous regions.
• The dataset therefore covers 27 provinces and autonomous regions.
• Guangdong is the most populous province.
• Shandong is the second-most populous province.
• Henan ranks third.
• Guangxi is the most populous autonomous region.
• Tibet is the least populous autonomous region.
• Qinghai is the least populous province.
• Xinjiang is the largest province-level region by area among the regions listed.
• The population figures in the main ranking come from the 2020 census.
• The source also provides historical census figures for 1982, 1990, 2000, and 2010.
• The four municipalities—Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Chongqing—are separate provincial-level categories and are not included in the 27-region ranking.

Sources

• City Population — China: Provinces and Major Cities
• City Population — Inner Mongolia Population Statistics
• City Population — Ningxia Population Statistics
• China National Bureau of Statistics, as cited by City Population.