What was the population of ancient China?

Answer 1

Ancient China had 13 dynasties, with recorded history of over 4,500 years. The population generally increased over time, but had some periods during which the number dropped. This may correspond to lack of agricultural land, or relocations due to internal conflicts.

One estimate for the population in 2200 BC (Xia Dynasty) is about 13.5 million. By 221 BC (start of the Qin Dynasty), this had grown to around 30 to 40 million. By around 2 AD, the estimate was 59.5 million. But then the total population declined or remained mostly unchanged for nearly 1000 years. During the early Northern Song Dynasty, it was only just above 60 million, but rose to 76.8 million in 1193 AD after the split between the Jin and the Southern Song dynasties. More than 60% of China's population lived in the southern half during this period.

Toward the end of the last dynasty in the late 1800's, China had a recorded population around 430 million people.

Answer 2

In 1814, the population of China was 419,441,300. China's population had tripled since the 1500. The rapid population growth led to land shortages, famine, and widespread poverty, which caused a massive population decline in the 1820's; China's population declined by almost 70 million people. A series of foreign and civil wars fought in the mid-19th century - The Opium Wars and the Taiping Rebellion - exacerbated the decline. China's population did not recover until the 1870's.

Answer 3

Probably around 120 million.