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China vs Spain Population
China has held the lead throughout the published window. In 1960 Spain stood at roughly 5% of China’s Population; today the figure is about 4%, and the pair was closest in 1962 (5%).
| Year | China | Spain | Spain as % of China |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 667,070,000 | 30,455,000 | 5% |
| 1970 | 818,315,000 | 33,814,531 | 4% |
| 1980 | 981,235,000 | 37,491,165 | 4% |
| 1990 | 1,135,185,000 | 38,867,322 | 3% |
| 2000 | 1,262,645,000 | 40,567,864 | 3% |
| 2010 | 1,337,705,000 | 46,576,897 | 3% |
| 2020 | 1,411,100,000 | 47,359,424 | 3% |
| 2025 | 1,406,585,000 | 49,355,143 | 4% |
Frequently asked questions
When did China pass Spain in Population?
It has not come to that. China has held the larger Population in every published year (1960–2025).
How do China and Spain compare today?
China is ahead: 1,406,585,000 against 49,355,143 — the trailing economy stands at about 4% of the leader.
Are these Population figures nominal or adjusted?
They are exactly as the World Bank publishes them — people — with no inflation restatement, no PPP conversion and no interpolation for missing years.
Full series
Every published year for both economies, with charts, downloads and citations: