What is the population of Beijing?
Beijing has a city population of 18,960,744. That is the population within the city's own boundary, not its wider metropolitan area. City population, GeoNames.
39.907, 116.397
About Beijing
Beijing, the capital of the People's Republic of China, is the political, cultural, and educational center of the world's most populous nation. With a history spanning over 3,000 years, Beijing combines ancient imperial grandeur with modern ambition, hosting world-famous landmarks like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall.
Metro population
21,542,000
0.260% of world population
Archive estimateAnnual growth
+0.95%
Archive estimateDensity
5,199/km²
4,144 km² metro area
Key Facts
Country
Region
Rank in region
#1of 8
Founded
1403
Leadership
Yin Yong
Coordinates
39.907, 116.397
Record updated
15 December 2025
Entry edited, not measured
City population, GeoNames. GeoNames publishes no year for its population figures, so “record updated” is when the entry was last edited — not the date the population was measured. Elevation is modelled from a digital elevation model rather than surveyed, so it is approximate.
Nearby Cities
All 2,091 in ChinaClosest listed cities by great-circle distance from the city centre.
Compared with the World's Largest Cities
City-proper population against the fifteen largest cities in the dataset.
| Name | City population |
|---|---|
| Shanghai | 24.9M |
| Beijing | 19M |
| Shenzhen | 17.5M |
| Guangzhou | 16.1M |
| Kinshasa | 16M |
| Istanbul | 15.7M |
| Lagos | 15.4M |
| Ho Chi Minh City | 14M |
| Chengdu | 13.6M |
| Lahore | 13M |
| Mumbai | 12.7M |
| São Paulo | 12.4M |
| Mexico City | 12.3M |
| Karachi | 11.6M |
| Tianjin | 11.1M |
Airports
Scheduled-service airports within 100 km, nearest first.
- Beijing Capital International AirportPEK
25 km from the city centre
- Beijing Daxing International AirportPKX
45 km from the city centre
Source: OurAirports, matched by distance.
History
Beijing's history as a capital city dates back to 1271 when Kublai Khan established it as the capital of the Yuan Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) built the Forbidden City and much of the city's iconic architecture. As the capital of the People's Republic since 1949, Beijing has witnessed China's transformation from an agrarian society to a global superpower.
Economy
Beijing is China's political and cultural capital, though Shanghai leads in finance. Major sectors include technology (Zhongguancun is China's Silicon Valley), education, research, and state-owned enterprises. Many of China's largest tech companies like ByteDance, Baidu, and Xiaomi are headquartered here.
Culture
Beijing's culture blends imperial traditions with communist history and contemporary cosmopolitanism. The city is famous for Peking opera, traditional hutong alleyways, imperial cuisine (Peking duck), and a thriving arts scene in areas like 798 Art District. Mandarin Chinese spoken in Beijing is the basis for standard Putonghua.
Transportation
Beijing's subway system is one of the world's longest and busiest. High-speed rail connects to Shanghai in under 5 hours. Beijing Capital International Airport and the new Beijing Daxing International Airport (a massive starfish-shaped terminal) serve as major hubs.
Current Challenges
Beijing faces severe air pollution (though improving), traffic congestion, water scarcity, and an extremely high cost of living. The city experiences cold, dry winters and hot summers, with occasional sandstorms from the Gobi Desert.
Highlights
Landmarks & Attractions
- Forbidden City
- Great Wall of China
- Temple of Heaven
- Tiananmen Square
- Summer Palace
- National Stadium (Bird's Nest)
- 798 Art District
- Hutong neighborhoods
- Beihai Park
- National Centre for the Performing Arts
What Beijing Is Known For
- Forbidden City
- Great Wall
- Peking duck
- Imperial history
- Olympics
- Technology hub
Universities
- Peking University
- Tsinghua University
- Renmin University
- Beijing Normal University
Sports Teams
- Beijing Guoan FC
- Beijing Ducks (basketball)
- Beijing Enterprises (ice hockey)
Interesting Facts
- The Forbidden City has 9,999 rooms and took 14 years to build
- The Great Wall near Beijing (Badaling section) receives over 10 million visitors annually
- Beijing has hosted both the Summer (2008) and Winter (2022) Olympics
- The city's hutong alleyways date back 800 years
- Beijing Daxing Airport is the world's largest single-building airport terminal
Population Trend in China
No free source publishes city population back to 1950, so the parent country's series is shown instead.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 544,044,358 |
| 1960 | 654,802,069 |
| 1970 | 823,308,967 |
| 1980 | 983,163,542 |
| 1990 | 1,153,582,724 |
| 2000 | 1,269,581,175 |
| 2010 | 1,351,561,514 |
| 2020 | 1,426,106,093 |
| 2030 | 1,398,153,832 |
| 2040 | 1,342,816,657 |
| 2050 | 1,260,289,093 |
| 2060 | 1,135,127,191 |
| 2070 | 998,784,319 |
| 2080 | 870,252,344 |
| 2090 | 744,902,836 |
| 2100 | 633,368,113 |
Beijing Population FAQ
Where is Beijing?
Beijing is in Beijing, China. Its coordinates are 39.907, 116.397.
How big is Beijing compared with other cities in China?
It is the 2nd largest of the 2,091 cities listed in China, holding 1.3% of the national population.