What is the population of Shenzhen?
Shenzhen's metropolitan area has about 13,438,800 people, making it the 23rd largest metro area in our dataset of 140 major cities.
In China · Also known as China's Silicon Valley, Hardware Capital of the World, Instant City
Metro population
13,438,800
0.162% of world population
Archive estimateAnnual growth
+1.85%
About 681 people a day
Archive estimateDensity
6,556/km²
2,050 km² metro area
City proper
17,494,398
Within the administrative boundary
GeoNamesAbout Shenzhen
Shenzhen is China's youngest major city and one of the world's most remarkable urban success stories. From a fishing village of 30,000 people in 1979, it has grown to over 13 million, becoming China's technology capital and a global hub for electronics manufacturing and innovation.
Key Facts
Airports
Scheduled-service airports within 100 km, nearest first.
- Shenzhen Bao'an International AirportSZX
29 km from the city centre
- Huizhou Pingtan AirportHUZ
78 km from the city centre
- Zhuhai Jinwan AirportZUH
93 km from the city centre
Source: OurAirports, matched by distance.
History
Shenzhen was a small market town until 1980 when Deng Xiaoping designated it China's first Special Economic Zone. This experiment in capitalism within communist China triggered explosive growth. By 2010, Shenzhen surpassed Hong Kong in GDP. The city represents China's reform-era transformation.
Economy
Shenzhen is China's technology capital, home to giants like Huawei, Tencent, BYD, and DJI. The city manufactures a significant portion of the world's electronics. Financial services, logistics, and biotech are growing. Shenzhen Stock Exchange is one of China's two main exchanges. The startup ecosystem rivals Silicon Valley.
Culture
Shenzhen's culture is defined by youth and innovation—average age is around 30. The city is pragmatic, fast-paced, and entrepreneurial. As a migrant city, it lacks traditional culture but creates new ones. The tech scene dominates. Art districts like OCT-LOFT are emerging. Cantonese and Mandarin are both spoken.
Transportation
Shenzhen has an extensive metro system (among China's longest). High-speed rail connects to Guangzhou (30 min) and Hong Kong. Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport is a major hub. The city pioneered electric buses and taxis (100% electric fleet). Bridge connections link to Hong Kong.
Current Challenges
Shenzhen faces challenges including extreme housing costs, intense work culture ('996': 9am-9pm, 6 days/week), pollution, and the human cost of rapid industrialization. Competition for talent is fierce. The city struggles with providing services for its massive migrant population. US-China tech tensions affect local companies.
Highlights
Landmarks & Attractions
- Ping An Finance Centre (599m)
- Window of the World theme park
- OCT-LOFT Creative Culture Park
- Splendid China folk village
- Shenzhen Bay Park
- Civic Center
- Huaqiangbei electronics market
What Shenzhen Is Known For
- Technology
- Manufacturing
- Speed of growth
- Innovation
- Electronics
Universities
- Southern University of Science and Technology
- Shenzhen University
Sports Teams
- Shenzhen FC (football)
Interesting Facts
- Shenzhen grew from 30,000 people in 1979 to over 13 million today
- The city has 100% electric public buses and most taxis are electric
- Huaqiangbei is the world's largest electronics market
- Tencent and Huawei are headquartered in Shenzhen
- The Ping An tower is the 4th tallest in the world
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 |
| Shenzhen | 13.4M |
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.
Shenzhen Population FAQ
What is the difference between Shenzhen's city and metro population?
About 17,494,398 people live within the city proper, while the wider metropolitan area holds roughly 13,438,800. Metro figures include surrounding commuter areas that fall outside the city's administrative boundary.
Is Shenzhen growing or shrinking?
Shenzhen is growing at +1.85% a year.
What share of China's population lives in Shenzhen?
Shenzhen's metro area holds about 1.0% of China's total population.
How densely populated is Shenzhen?
Shenzhen has roughly 6,556 people per km² across a metro area of about 2,050 km².
Which airports serve Shenzhen?
The nearest major airports are Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX), Huizhou Pingtan Airport (HUZ), Zhuhai Jinwan Airport (ZUH).
Which country is Shenzhen in?
Shenzhen is in China, in Asia.
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