Table 3.1. Population Estimates of Major Chinese Dynasties and Periods
Xia
Possibly 2206–
1766
Population in Millions1
Shang
1766/1480–1122
BC2
Not estimated
Zhou
1122–221 BC
Not estimated
Spring and Autumn
722–481 BC
Not estimated
Warring States
452–221 BC
Not estimated
Qin
221–206 BC
Not estimated
Han
206 BC–AD 220
59.6 (AD 2)
Wei, Jin, and Northern
and Southern dynasties
AD 220–581
16.2 (AD 280)
Sui
AD 581–618
46.0 (AD 606)
Tang
AD 618–907
52.9 (AD 755)
Five Dynasties and Ten
Kingdoms
AD 907–959
Not estimated
Northern Song
AD 960–1126
46.7 (AD 1110)
Southern Song
AD 1126–1279
Not estimated
Yuan (Mongol)
AD 1271–1368
58.9 (AD 1290)
Ming
AD 1368–1644
59.9 (AD 1381) 63.7 (AD
1562)
Qing
AD 1644–1911
102.8 (AD 1753) 377.6 (AD
1887)
Republic of China
AD 1911 - 1949
474.8 (AD 1928)
People’s Republic of
China
AD 1949–
541.4 (AD 1949)
1.389 billion (June, 2015)
1
Estimates prior to 1949 are often widely debated. These are from Zhao (1994).
2
Estimates for the year marking the beginning of Shang vary widely. The earliest estimate is Zhao (1994),
and the later estimate is Sivin (1988).
Sources: National Bureau of Statistics (2002, 2015), Sivin (1988), World Bank 2015, Zhao (1994).