Capital of China: Beijing
The capital of China is Beijing. China sits in Asia, has a population of 1,425,887,337, and uses the CNY. Official languages include Mandarin.
Quick facts
- Capital: Beijing
- Continent: Asia
- Population: ~1,425,887,337
- Area: 9,596,961 km²
- Population density: 149 people per km²
- Official language: Mandarin
- Currency: CNY
- ISO code: CN
How big is China?
By population, China ranks 1st in the world, holding roughly 17.93% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 4th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. China has 149 people per square kilometre, which is about 2.5 times the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Asia, China is the most populous country of 48.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to China in population are India (1,417,173,173) and United States (333,287,557).
By land area, its closest counterparts are United States (9,833,517 km²) and Canada (9,984,670 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Mandarin is spoken officially in 3 countries in this dataset, including Singapore and Taiwan.
China uses the CNY, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
China in Asia
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Asia is the block China belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for China and a page on the flag of China.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of China?
The capital of China is Beijing.
What is the population of China?
About 1,425,887,337, making it the 1st most populous country in the world.
How big is China?
9,596,961 square kilometres, ranking 4th by land area, at a density of 149 people per square kilometre.
What currency does China use?
The CNY, which no other country uses.