Written by
Anthony
Under the 2025 year-end permanent resident population standard, Chongqing is the largest city in China among cities with published official 2025 data, with 31.8726 million residents. This ranking counts the full administrative city area, not only the built-up urban core or metro area. That point matters because Chongqing covers a very large municipality, including urban districts, suburbs, counties, and rural areas.
Largest city: Chongqing, with 31.8726 million permanent residents.
Top 3: Chongqing, Shanghai, and Beijing.
Top 5: Chongqing, Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, and Guangzhou.
Data standard: 2025 year-end permanent resident population within the full administrative city boundary.
Important limitation: Some major cities had not released official 2025 figures by May 30, 2026, so the lower ranking may change.
Best way to read the ranking: Use it as an official administrative population ranking, not as a ranking of urban core size, density, GDP, or travel appeal.
“Largest city” can mean different things depending on the population standard. This article uses 2025 year-end permanent resident population within each city’s full administrative boundary. That means the count may include central urban districts, suburbs, counties, county-level cities, and rural areas where applicable. This is why large-area cities such as Chongqing, Nanyang, and Weifang can rank high, while cities such as Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou may look stronger under urban core, built-up area, or density standards.
| Population Term | What It Means | Why It Changes the Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent resident population | People who usually live in the city for six months or more, including many non-hukou residents | Main standard used in this article |
| Administrative city population | Population within the full city-level boundary, including urban and non-urban areas | Favors cities with large administrative areas, such as Chongqing or Nanyang |
| Urban core / built-up area | Population in the continuously urbanized part of the city | Better reflects the real city center and may make Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou look larger |
| Metro area | Core city plus nearby areas closely linked by commuting and economic activity | Better reflects a city’s wider economic reach |
| Hukou population | People officially registered in the city’s household system | Can miss large migrant populations in economically active cities |
This ranking uses official 2025 year-end permanent resident population data published in 2026. Only cities with clear official figures available by the cutoff date are included. I would not use media estimates, encyclopedia values, or older population figures to fill missing cities, because that would make the ranking look more complete but less reliable.
This table ranks the 30 listed cities with official 2025 year-end permanent resident population data available by May 30, 2026. The figures use full administrative city boundaries, not built-up urban cores or metro areas. Because some major cities had not released official 2025 data by the cutoff date, this is the latest published-data ranking, not a final all-city national ranking.
| Rank | City | Chinese Name | Province / Region | 2025 Population | 2024 Population | Change | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chongqing | 重庆 | Chongqing | 31.8726 million | 31.9047 million | -32,100 | -0.10% |
| 2 | Shanghai | 上海 | Shanghai | 24.8541 million | 24.8026 million | +51,500 | +0.21% |
| 3 | Beijing | 北京 | Beijing | 21.8000 million | 21.8320 million | -32,000 | -0.15% |
| 4 | Chengdu | 成都 | Sichuan | 21.5350 million | 21.4740 million | +61,000 | +0.28% |
| 5 | Guangzhou | 广州 | Guangdong | 19.1010 million | 18.9780 million | +123,000 | +0.65% |
| 6 | Shenzhen | 深圳 | Guangdong | 18.2485 million | 17.9895 million | +259,000 | +1.44% |
| 7 | Wuhan | 武汉 | Hubei | 13.8619 million | 13.8091 million | +52,800 | +0.38% |
| 8 | Tianjin | 天津 | Tianjin | 13.6300 million | 13.6400 million | -10,000 | -0.07% |
| 9 | Xi’an | 西安 | Shaanxi | 13.2363 million | 13.1676 million | +68,700 | +0.52% |
| 10 | Zhengzhou | 郑州 | Henan | 13.1380 million | 13.0860 million | +52,000 | +0.40% |
| 11 | Suzhou | 苏州 | Jiangsu | 13.0477 million | 12.9870 million | +60,700 | +0.47% |
| 12 | Hangzhou | 杭州 | Zhejiang | 12.7000 million | 12.6240 million | +76,000 | +0.60% |
| 13 | Shijiazhuang | 石家庄 | Hebei | 11.2469 million | 11.2466 million | +300 | +0.00% |
| 14 | Dongguan | 东莞 | Guangdong | 10.8004 million | 10.5708 million | +229,600 | +2.17% |
| 15 | Changsha | 长沙 | Hunan | 10.7214 million | 10.6165 million | +104,900 | +0.99% |
| 16 | Qingdao | 青岛 | Shandong | 10.5155 million | 10.4425 million | +73,000 | +0.70% |
| 17 | Hefei | 合肥 | Anhui | 10.0020 million | 9.8530 million | +149,000 | +1.51% |
| 18 | Wenzhou | 温州 | Zhejiang | 9.9020 million | 9.8520 million | +50,000 | +0.51% |
| 19 | Ningbo | 宁波 | Zhejiang | 9.8330 million | 9.7770 million | +56,000 | +0.57% |
| 20 | Foshan | 佛山 | Guangdong | 9.7919 million | 9.6989 million | +93,000 | +0.96% |
| 21 | Nanjing | 南京 | Jiangsu | 9.6385 million | 9.5770 million | +61,500 | +0.64% |
| 22 | Jinan | 济南 | Shandong | 9.6160 million | 9.5147 million | +101,300 | +1.06% |
| 23 | Nanyang | 南阳 | Henan | 9.3950 million | 9.4540 million | -59,000 | -0.62% |
| 24 | Shenyang | 沈阳 | Liaoning | 9.2760 million | 9.2430 million | +33,000 | +0.36% |
| 25 | Weifang | 潍坊 | Shandong | 9.2712 million | 9.3199 million | -48,700 | -0.52% |
| 26 | Changchun | 长春 | Jilin | 9.1050 million | 9.0851 million | +19,900 | +0.22% |
| 27 | Nanning | 南宁 | Guangxi | 9.0166 million | 8.9719 million | +44,700 | +0.50% |
| 28 | Kunming | 昆明 | Yunnan | 8.7440 million | 8.6870 million | +57,000 | +0.66% |
| 29 | Fuzhou | 福州 | Fujian | 8.5210 million | 8.4600 million | +61,000 | +0.72% |
| 30 | Jinhua | 金华 | Zhejiang | 7.2690 million | 7.2090 million | +60,000 | +0.83% |
The 2025 data shows where China’s population is still concentrating, which cities are stabilizing, and why administrative boundaries matter when reading “largest city” rankings.
These short profiles explain why the largest listed cities have such large populations. The focus is population logic, not a full travel or city guide.
Chongqing ranks first mainly because it is counted as a full municipality-level administrative area, not just an urban core. Its scale includes dense city districts, towns, counties, mountainous areas, and rural communities across southwest China.
Shanghai is China’s most internationally connected modern metropolis. Unlike Chongqing, its population is concentrated in a much denser urban area, making it one of the clearest examples of China’s urban core strength.
Beijing remains one of China’s three largest cities, even though its population has slightly declined under long-term urban management policies. Its size comes from the concentration of national-level institutions and resources.
Chengdu is one of the strongest population centers in western China. It combines regional economic power with a lifestyle appeal that continues to attract residents from Sichuan and beyond.
Guangzhou is one of South China’s most important population and commercial centers. Its large population reflects both its historic role as a trade city and its current role in the Greater Bay Area.
Shenzhen is one of China’s fastest-growing major cities by population. Its rise is strongly tied to technology, finance, entrepreneurship, and its position beside Hong Kong.
Wuhan is the largest city in central China by this ranking. Its population reflects its role as a transport crossroads, education center, and industrial base.
Tianjin is a major northern port city and one of China’s four municipalities. Its population is now stable, but its industrial and maritime role remains important.
Xi’an is both a historical capital and a modern regional center in northwest China. Its population size is supported by culture, education, industry, and technology.
Zhengzhou’s large population comes from its role as the core city of one of China’s most populous provinces. Its transport position also makes it a major national logistics center.
Suzhou is one of China’s strongest prefecture-level cities. Its large population is driven less by administrative status and more by manufacturing, exports, and deep integration with Shanghai.
Hangzhou combines digital-economy strength with famous scenic appeal. Its population growth reflects both economic opportunity and quality-of-life attraction.
Shijiazhuang is a large provincial capital in North China. It is less internationally visible than Beijing or Tianjin, but it plays an important supporting role in the regional urban system.
Dongguan is a classic example of a manufacturing-driven megacity. It is not a provincial capital, but its industrial base gives it a population scale larger than many capitals.
Changsha has become one of central China’s most dynamic population growth cities. Its appeal comes from a mix of industry, consumption, culture, and youth-oriented urban life.
Qingdao is one of northern China’s most important coastal cities. Its population is supported by port trade, marine industries, manufacturing, and tourism.
Hefei crossed the 10-million mark in 2025, making it one of the key new population stories in the ranking. Its growth reflects the rise of inland technology and innovation hubs.
Wenzhou’s population scale is built on private business, light manufacturing, and a long tradition of entrepreneurship. It is not a provincial capital, but its commercial energy is strong.
Ningbo is one of China’s major port and manufacturing cities. Its population reflects strong trade, industry, and Yangtze River Delta integration rather than provincial-capital status.
Foshan is a major manufacturing city closely tied to Guangzhou and the Greater Bay Area. Its population reflects strong private industry and dense urban-industrial development.
Chongqing ranks first in this list because “largest” here means permanent resident population within the full administrative city boundary. In 2025, Chongqing had 31.8726 million permanent residents, but that figure covers far more than the central urban area. Chongqing is a directly administered municipality with an administrative area of about 82,400 square kilometers, making it closer to a province-sized region than a normal city in many countries.
The 2025 data shows a clear split between fast-growing industrial and innovation cities, stable major centers, and large administrative cities facing slower growth or slight decline.
| Pattern | Example Cities | What It Suggests |
|---|---|---|
| Strong population gain | Shenzhen, Dongguan, Hefei | Industry, technology, manufacturing, and job opportunities remain strong population magnets. |
| Stable large-city attraction | Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Suzhou | Major economic centers still attract residents, even when growth is no longer explosive. |
| New 10-million city | Hefei | Hefei’s rise reflects the growing pull of inland innovation hubs and Yangtze River Delta integration. |
| Slight decline | Chongqing, Beijing, Tianjin | Decline can reflect policy adjustment, population control, statistical changes, or demographic pressure. |
| Traditional large-area cities under pressure | Nanyang, Weifang | Population may be shifting from broad administrative cities toward stronger provincial capitals and economic hubs. |
Shenzhen recorded the strongest increase among the listed cities, growing by about 259,000 people. Dongguan added about 229,600 residents, while Hefei grew by about 149,000 and crossed the 10-million mark. Guangzhou, Changsha, Jinan, Hangzhou, Qingdao, Xi’an, Suzhou, and Chengdu also grew.
Decline does not automatically mean urban decline. For Beijing and Tianjin, population control, industrial upgrading, and regional redistribution may matter. For Nanyang and Weifang, the decline may reflect migration from traditional population-heavy areas toward stronger regional hubs.
China’s largest cities are not spread evenly across the country. They cluster around the strongest economic belts, coastal regions, major river corridors, and powerful provincial capitals. This pattern broadly matches China’s population geography: the east, southeast coast, Yangtze River corridor, and major inland hubs carry far more population weight than the west and far northwest.
This ranking is useful, but only if it is read correctly. A high population rank means a city has a large permanent resident population within its full administrative boundary. It does not automatically mean the city has the biggest urban core, the strongest economy, the highest density, or the best travel value.
Population size is not a reliable guide for planning a China trip. Large cities such as Nanyang, Weifang, and Shijiazhuang may rank high by administrative population, but they are usually not first-choice destinations for most international travelers. Visitors more often prioritize Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Shenzhen because they offer stronger landmark density, easier routes, famous food, or clearer cultural value. For broader route planning, use our China Travel Guide.
Under the 2025 year-end permanent resident population standard, Chongqing is the largest city among Chinese cities with published official 2025 data. Its permanent resident population was 31.8726 million. This figure counts the full administrative municipality, including central urban districts, outer districts, counties, rural areas, mountains, and smaller towns.
It depends on the definition of “bigger.” Chongqing is larger than Shanghai by full administrative permanent population, but this does not mean its urban core is larger or denser. Chongqing covers about 82,400 square kilometers, while Shanghai is much more compact. Under built-up urban area, density, or core-city standards, Shanghai may look larger or more urbanized.
Based on currently published official 2025 year-end permanent resident population data, the top five are Chongqing, Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, and Guangzhou. Chongqing ranks first with 31.8726 million people, followed by Shanghai with 24.8541 million, Beijing with 21.8000 million, Chengdu with 21.5350 million, and Guangzhou with 19.1010 million.
Based on the published 2025 official data used in this article, 17 listed cities have more than 10 million permanent residents. They range from Chongqing at 31.8726 million to Hefei at 10.0020 million. This number may change when more cities release official 2025 year-end population figures.
Some major cities are missing because they had not released official, precise 2025 year-end permanent population data by the May 30, 2026 cutoff date. Cities such as Harbin, Baoding, Handan, Xuzhou, and Dalian may be large enough to affect the ranking, but they are excluded here to avoid using media estimates or outdated figures.
Permanent population counts people who actually live in a city for a certain period, usually six months or more, including many migrant residents. Hukou population counts people officially registered in that city’s household registration system. In fast-growing economic cities, permanent population is often more useful because many residents live and work there without local hukou.
No. The largest cities by population are not automatically the best travel destinations. Travel value depends on history, scenery, food, culture, transport access, landmark density, and route fit. Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Guangzhou are often more useful for international travelers than some higher-ranked administrative population cities.
Among the cities listed with official 2025 data, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Hefei, Guangzhou, Changsha, and Jinan show some of the strongest population growth. Shenzhen grew by about 259,000 people, Dongguan by about 229,600, and Hefei by about 149,000. These gains reflect strong industry, employment, manufacturing, technology, and regional city-cluster appeal.
This ranking uses 2025 year-end permanent resident population within full administrative boundaries. That standard is important. Chongqing ranking first reflects its vast municipality-level administrative area, not necessarily the largest or densest urban core in China. A different standard, such as built-up urban area, metro population, GDP, or population density, would produce a different ranking.
The real value of this list is not memorizing rank numbers. It helps show how China’s urban system is changing: population continues to concentrate in the Yangtze River Delta, the Greater Bay Area, the Chengdu-Chongqing region, and strong provincial capitals. Some cities are still growing fast, while others are stabilizing or adjusting. As more official data is released, especially for missing cities, the lower part of the ranking may change.
The ranking is based on 2025 year-end permanent resident population figures published by official statistical bulletins, government data pages, official population releases, and listed source pages available by the cutoff date. The source list below matches the cities included in the ranking.
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