China vs Papua New Guinea
China vs Papua New Guinea: Median age
Median age in 2023: 39.1 years in China and 22.3 years in Papua New Guinea, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in China, by 16.7 years, or 1.75 times that in Papua New Guinea.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- China has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
- In 2023, China ranked 60 and Papua New Guinea ranked 172 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts China at 60.7 years and Papua New Guinea at 37.2 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 30.4 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | China | Papua New Guinea | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 39.1 | 22.3 | 30.4 |
| 2022 | 38.5 | 22.1 | 30.1 |
| 2021 | 38 | 21.9 | 29.8 |
| 2020 | 37.5 | 21.7 | 29.6 |
| 2019 | 37 | 21.5 | 29.3 |
| 2018 | 36.6 | 21.4 | 29 |
| 2017 | 36.3 | 21.2 | 28.8 |
| 2016 | 36 | 21 | 28.5 |
| 2015 | 35.7 | 20.8 | 28.3 |
| 2014 | 35.4 | 20.6 | 28.1 |
| 2013 | 35.1 | 20.5 | 27.8 |
| 2012 | 34.9 | 20.3 | 27.6 |
| 2011 | 34.5 | 20.1 | 27.4 |
| 2010 | 34.1 | 20 | 27.2 |
| 2009 | 33.7 | 19.8 | 27 |
| 2008 | 33.3 | 19.7 | 26.7 |
| 2007 | 32.8 | 19.5 | 26.5 |
| 2006 | 32.3 | 19.4 | 26.3 |
| 2005 | 31.8 | 19.3 | 26.1 |
| 2004 | 31.2 | 19.2 | 25.9 |
| 2003 | 30.7 | 19 | 25.7 |
| 2002 | 30.1 | 18.9 | 25.5 |
| 2001 | 29.5 | 18.9 | 25.3 |
| 2000 | 29 | 18.8 | 25.1 |
| 1999 | 28.4 | 18.7 | 24.9 |
| 1998 | 27.8 | 18.6 | 24.7 |
| 1997 | 27.2 | 18.4 | 24.4 |
| 1996 | 26.7 | 18.3 | 24.2 |
| 1995 | 26.1 | 18.2 | 24 |
| 1994 | 25.6 | 18.1 | 23.8 |
| 1993 | 25.1 | 18 | 23.5 |
| 1992 | 24.6 | 17.9 | 23.3 |
| 1991 | 24.1 | 17.7 | 23.1 |
| 1990 | 23.7 | 17.6 | 22.9 |
| 1989 | 23.4 | 17.6 | 22.8 |
| 1988 | 23 | 17.5 | 22.6 |
| 1987 | 22.6 | 17.5 | 22.4 |
| 1986 | 22.2 | 17.4 | 22.2 |
| 1985 | 21.7 | 17.3 | 22 |
| 1984 | 21.4 | 17.3 | 21.9 |
| 1983 | 21.2 | 17.2 | 21.8 |
| 1982 | 21.2 | 17.1 | 21.7 |
| 1981 | 21.1 | 17 | 21.6 |
| 1980 | 20.9 | 16.9 | 21.5 |
| 1979 | 20.6 | 16.7 | 21.3 |
| 1978 | 20.2 | 16.5 | 21.1 |
| 1977 | 19.8 | 16.4 | 21 |
| 1976 | 19.4 | 16.2 | 20.8 |
| 1975 | 19.1 | 16.1 | 20.7 |
| 1974 | 18.8 | 16.1 | 20.5 |
| 1973 | 18.5 | 16 | 20.4 |
| 1972 | 18.3 | 16 | 20.4 |
| 1971 | 18.1 | 16.1 | 20.3 |
| 1970 | 18 | 16.2 | 20.3 |
| 1969 | 18 | 16.3 | 20.3 |
| 1968 | 18.1 | 16.4 | 20.4 |
| 1967 | 18.1 | 16.6 | 20.5 |
| 1966 | 18.2 | 16.7 | 20.6 |
| 1965 | 18.5 | 16.8 | 20.8 |
| 1964 | 18.9 | 17 | 21 |
| 1963 | 19.4 | 17.1 | 21.2 |
| 1962 | 19.9 | 17.2 | 21.4 |
| 1961 | 20 | 17.3 | 21.4 |
| 1960 | 19.9 | 17.5 | 21.5 |
| 1959 | 19.9 | 17.6 | 21.5 |
| 1958 | 19.9 | 17.7 | 21.5 |
| 1957 | 20.2 | 17.8 | 21.6 |
| 1956 | 20.5 | 17.8 | 21.7 |
| 1955 | 20.7 | 17.8 | 21.8 |
| 1954 | 21 | 17.8 | 21.9 |
| 1953 | 21.3 | 17.7 | 22 |
| 1952 | 21.6 | 17.6 | 22.1 |
| 1951 | 22 | 17.5 | 22.1 |
| 1950 | 22.3 | 17.3 | 22.2 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | China | Papua New Guinea | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 39.639.6–39.6 | 22.622.5–22.7 | 30.6 |
| 2025 | 40.140–40.2 | 22.822.5–23 | 30.9 |
| 2026 | 40.740.5–40.7 | 2322.6–23.4 | 31.1 |
| 2027 | 41.241.1–41.3 | 23.222.6–23.8 | 31.3 |
| 2028 | 41.841.6–41.9 | 23.522.7–24.2 | 31.6 |
| 2029 | 42.342.2–42.5 | 23.722.7–24.6 | 31.8 |
| 2030 | 42.942.7–43.1 | 23.922.8–25 | 32 |
| 2031 | 43.543.3–43.7 | 24.222.9–25.4 | 32.2 |
| 2032 | 44.143.8–44.3 | 24.423–25.8 | 32.4 |
| 2033 | 44.744.4–44.9 | 24.623.1–26.1 | 32.6 |
| 2034 | 45.345–45.5 | 24.923.2–26.5 | 32.8 |
| 2035 | 45.845.5–46.1 | 25.123.4–26.9 | 33 |
| 2036 | 46.446.1–46.7 | 25.323.5–27.3 | 33.2 |
| 2037 | 4746.6–47.3 | 25.623.6–27.7 | 33.4 |
| 2038 | 47.547.2–47.8 | 25.823.7–28.1 | 33.6 |
| 2039 | 48.147.7–48.4 | 2623.8–28.4 | 33.8 |
| 2040 | 48.648.2–49 | 26.323.9–28.8 | 34 |
| 2041 | 49.148.6–49.5 | 26.524.1–29.2 | 34.2 |
| 2042 | 49.549–50 | 26.724.2–29.5 | 34.4 |
| 2043 | 49.949.3–50.4 | 2724.3–29.9 | 34.6 |
| 2044 | 50.349.6–50.8 | 27.224.4–30.3 | 34.8 |
| 2045 | 50.649.9–51.2 | 27.424.5–30.6 | 35 |
| 2046 | 5150.2–51.6 | 27.624.6–31 | 35.2 |
| 2047 | 51.350.5–51.9 | 27.924.8–31.3 | 35.4 |
| 2048 | 51.650.7–52.3 | 28.124.9–31.7 | 35.6 |
| 2049 | 51.951–52.6 | 28.325–32 | 35.9 |
| 2050 | 52.151.2–52.9 | 28.525.1–32.3 | 36.1 |
| 2051 | 52.451.4–53.2 | 28.825.3–32.6 | 36.3 |
| 2052 | 52.751.6–53.5 | 2925.5–32.9 | 36.5 |
| 2053 | 52.951.8–53.8 | 29.225.7–33.2 | 36.7 |
| 2054 | 53.252.1–54.1 | 29.425.8–33.5 | 36.9 |
| 2055 | 53.452.3–54.4 | 29.626–33.8 | 37.1 |
| 2056 | 53.752.5–54.7 | 29.826.1–34.2 | 37.3 |
| 2057 | 53.952.8–55 | 3026.3–34.5 | 37.5 |
| 2058 | 54.253–55.2 | 30.226.4–34.8 | 37.6 |
| 2059 | 54.453.2–55.5 | 30.426.5–35.1 | 37.8 |
| 2060 | 54.753.4–55.8 | 30.626.6–35.4 | 37.9 |
| 2061 | 54.953.6–56.1 | 30.826.7–35.6 | 38 |
| 2062 | 55.253.8–56.4 | 30.926.8–35.8 | 38.1 |
| 2063 | 55.554.1–56.8 | 31.127–36 | 38.3 |
| 2064 | 55.854.4–57.1 | 31.327.1–36.2 | 38.4 |
| 2065 | 56.154.7–57.5 | 31.527.2–36.4 | 38.5 |
| 2066 | 56.454.9–57.9 | 31.727.3–36.6 | 38.6 |
| 2067 | 56.755.2–58.3 | 31.827.4–36.8 | 38.7 |
| 2068 | 57.155.5–58.7 | 3227.5–36.9 | 38.8 |
| 2069 | 57.455.7–59.1 | 32.227.6–37.1 | 38.9 |
| 2070 | 57.756–59.5 | 32.427.7–37.2 | 39 |
| 2071 | 58.156.3–60 | 32.527.9–37.4 | 39.1 |
| 2072 | 58.556.6–60.4 | 32.728–37.5 | 39.2 |
| 2073 | 58.956.9–60.9 | 32.928.1–37.6 | 39.3 |
| 2074 | 59.257.2–61.3 | 3328.3–37.7 | 39.4 |
| 2075 | 59.657.5–61.8 | 33.228.4–37.8 | 39.5 |
| 2076 | 6057.7–62.3 | 33.428.6–37.8 | 39.6 |
| 2077 | 60.357.9–62.7 | 33.628.7–37.9 | 39.7 |
| 2078 | 60.758.1–63.2 | 33.728.9–38 | 39.8 |
| 2079 | 61.158.1–63.7 | 33.929.1–38.1 | 40 |
| 2080 | 61.457.9–64.2 | 34.129.2–38.2 | 40.1 |
| 2081 | 61.757.6–64.7 | 34.229.4–38.3 | 40.2 |
| 2082 | 6257.2–65.2 | 34.429.5–38.4 | 40.3 |
| 2083 | 62.257.1–65.7 | 34.529.7–38.5 | 40.4 |
| 2084 | 62.256.9–66.3 | 34.729.9–38.6 | 40.5 |
| 2085 | 62.256.7–66.8 | 34.930–38.7 | 40.6 |
| 2086 | 6256.6–67.3 | 3530.2–38.7 | 40.7 |
| 2087 | 61.956.4–67.8 | 35.230.4–38.8 | 40.9 |
| 2088 | 61.756.3–68.2 | 35.330.6–38.9 | 41 |
| 2089 | 61.656.2–68.6 | 35.530.8–38.9 | 41.1 |
| 2090 | 61.456.1–69 | 35.730.9–39 | 41.2 |
| 2091 | 61.356.1–69.3 | 35.831.1–39 | 41.3 |
| 2092 | 61.256–69.6 | 3631.3–39 | 41.4 |
| 2093 | 61.156–69.7 | 36.131.4–39.1 | 41.5 |
| 2094 | 6156–69.8 | 36.331.6–39.2 | 41.6 |
| 2095 | 60.956–69.8 | 36.431.8–39.2 | 41.7 |
| 2096 | 60.856.1–69.7 | 36.631.9–39.2 | 41.8 |
| 2097 | 60.856.2–69.6 | 36.732.1–39.1 | 41.9 |
| 2098 | 60.756.3–69.5 | 36.932.2–39 | 42 |
| 2099 | 60.756.4–69.3 | 3732.4–38.9 | 42 |
| 2100 | 60.756.5–69.1 | 37.232.5–38.8 | 42.1 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- Half the people are older than this age and half are younger.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
China vs Papua New Guinea
Health
- Life expectancyChina: 78 years in 2023Papua New Guinea: 66.1 years in 2023
- Child mortalityChina: 0.6 per 100 live births in 2024Papua New Guinea: 3.9 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityChina: 5.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023Papua New Guinea: 32.2 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionChina: 3.31% in 2017Papua New Guinea: 3.17% in 2017
- Suicide rateChina: 7.2 per 100,000 people in 2017Papua New Guinea: 23.1 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationChina: 1.42 billion people in 2023Papua New Guinea: 10.4 million people in 2023
- Population growthChina: -0.24% a year in 2023Papua New Guinea: 1.8% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateChina: 1 births per woman in 2023Papua New Guinea: 3.1 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationChina: 66.3% in 2025Papua New Guinea: 15.8% in 2025
- People aged 65 and overChina: 14.3% in 2023Papua New Guinea: 3.3% in 2023
- Net migration rateChina: -0.4 per 1,000 people in 2023Papua New Guinea: -0.1 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingChina: 1.73% of GDP in 2025Papua New Guinea: 0.35% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsChina: $335B in 2025Papua New Guinea: $110M in 2025
- Military spending per personChina: $237 in 2025Papua New Guinea: $10 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingChina: 5.1% of government spending in 2025Papua New Guinea: 1.6% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelChina: 2.54 million people in 2020Papua New Guinea: 4,000 people in 2020
- National powerChina: 23.41% of world capability in 2022Papua New Guinea: 0.03% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersChina: 0.33% of the labour force in 2020Papua New Guinea: 0.12% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsChina: 207 million TIV in 2025Papua New Guinea: 9 million TIV in 2023