What is the population of Beijing?
Beijing's metropolitan area has about 21,542,000 people, making it the 9th largest metro area in our dataset of 140 major cities.
In China · Also known as The Northern Capital, Peking
Metro population
21,542,000
0.260% of world population
Archive estimateAnnual growth
+0.95%
About 561 people a day
Archive estimateDensity
5,199/km²
4,144 km² metro area
City proper
18,960,744
Within the administrative boundary
GeoNamesAbout 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.
Key Facts
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
Compared with the World's Largest Cities
Metropolitan population against the fifteen largest metro areas.
| Name | Metro population |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | 37.4M |
| Delhi | 32.9M |
| Shanghai | 29.2M |
| São Paulo | 22.6M |
| Dhaka | 22.5M |
| Mexico City | 22.3M |
| Cairo | 22.2M |
| Mumbai | 21.7M |
| Beijing | 21.5M |
| Osaka | 19M |
| New York | 18.9M |
| Karachi | 17.1M |
| Kinshasa | 17.1M |
| Chongqing | 16.9M |
| Lagos | 15.9M |
Population Trend in China
No free source publishes metropolitan 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 |
Other Major Cities in China
11 more cities in our dataset.
Nearest Major Cities
Closest cities in our dataset by great-circle distance.
Beijing Population FAQ
What is the difference between Beijing's city and metro population?
About 18,960,744 people live within the city proper, while the wider metropolitan area holds roughly 21,542,000. Metro figures include surrounding commuter areas that fall outside the city's administrative boundary.
Is Beijing growing or shrinking?
Beijing is growing at +0.95% a year.
What share of China's population lives in Beijing?
Beijing's metro area holds about 1.5% of China's total population.
How densely populated is Beijing?
Beijing has roughly 5,199 people per km² across a metro area of about 4,144 km².
Which airports serve Beijing?
The nearest major airports are Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX).
Which country is Beijing in?
Beijing is in China, in Asia.
Explore More Cities
- #1 TokyoJapan · 37.4M · −0.14%
- #2 DelhiIndia · 32.9M · +2.78%
- #3 ShanghaiChina · 29.2M · +0.86%
- #4 São PauloBrazil · 22.6M · +0.75%
- #5 DhakaBangladesh · 22.5M · +2.89%
- #6 Mexico CityMexico · 22.3M · +0.80%