Nanjing's 2026 population is now estimated at 8,562,383. In 1990, the population of Nanjing was 2,322,947. Nanjing has grown by 173,761 in the last year, which represents a 2.07% annual change. These population values and projections come from China city population series 1990-2020 via CityPopulation official attribution and World Population Review Internal Projections .
Nanjing is a city that is located in China. It it’s the capital city of the Jiangsu province. It is also the second most populous city in East China. The Nanjing Metropolitan Region is much larger, at over 23,000 square miles with a population surpassing 30 million inhabitants.
The city has a population of 8,270,500 people stretched across 2,500 square miles. This makes the population density 3,183 people residing here per square mile.
The city has a long and unique history dating back to the 3rd century, and in modern times, is a center for education, culture and tourism. It is also the site of one of the largest inland ports in the world. Nanjing is also known for its number of universities and research centers and is one of the top scientific research centers in the country.
The majority of people living in Nanjing are of the Han nationality, similar to other Chinese cities. There are also about 50 additional nationalities residing within this city. Of the minority nationalities, almost 84% are Hui, with other nationalities including Manchu and Zhuang. Most of the minority groups live in Nanjing’s Jianye District.
There are more male inhabitants than female, with 107.31 men for every 100 women.
The city is split into 11 districts, with Gulou being the most populous, followed by Jiangning and Qinhuai.
The city has seen steady growth throughout the years, posting double-digit growth during the 1960s and 1970s. The city’s natural growth rate has slowed in recent years, but because of Nanjing’s rich culture and history, its thriving economy and educational opportunities, this growth is expected to continue.
| City | 2026 Pop. ↓ | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | 24,722,254 | 1.93% |
| Beijing | 21,571,693 | 2.06% |
| Shenzhen | 20,622,629 | 2.64% |
| Guangzhou | 18,515,410 | 2.23% |
| Chengdu | 15,831,571 | 2.44% |
| Tianjin | 12,361,093 | 1.8% |
| Wuhan | 11,746,708 | 1.81% |
| Dongguan | 11,485,606 | 2.74% |
| Chongqing | 10,933,060 | 2.1% |
| Xi'an | 10,738,037 | 2.13% |
| Hangzhou | 10,697,657 | 2.33% |
| Foshan | 10,673,812 | 2.61% |
| Nanjing | 8,562,383 | 2.07% |
| Shenyang | 7,701,267 | 1.48% |
| Zhengzhou | 7,487,991 | 2.34% |
| Qingdao | 7,080,465 | 2.2% |
| Suzhou | 6,911,912 | 2.52% |
| Changsha | 6,494,068 | 2.27% |
| Jinan | 6,436,275 | 2.08% |
| Kunming | 6,061,121 | 2.21% |
