Largest population
China has 1,412,914,089 people in the 2026 medium projection.
Eastern Asia population pyramid 2026
1,648,245,779 people in 2026 (projected), a UN subregion of Asia with 8 countries and areas.
- 2026 population
- 1.65Bmedium projection
- Median age
- 41.5 years
- Under age 15
- 14.4%
- Age 65+
- 16.5%
Eastern Asia population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
Medium projection
Eastern Asia population pyramid for 2026: males on the left and females on the right
100+
95–99
90–94
85–89
80–84
75–79
70–74
65–69
60–64
55–59
50–54
45–49
40–44
35–39
30–34
25–29
20–24
15–19
10–14
5–9
0–4
Hover over or tap a bar to see exact values.
Estimate or projection?
The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Eastern Asia age structure
In 2026, children under 15 make up 14.4% of Eastern Asia’s projected population, compared with 16.5% aged 65 or older. The conventional working-age group, 15–64, accounts for 69.1%.
By 2050, the medium scenario places the population at 1,467,038,093—a 11% decrease from 2026. The 65+ share is projected to reach 31.6%.
Births, deaths, and migration in Eastern Asia
The subregion is projected to record 10,174,434 births and 13,991,282 deaths in 2026, a natural decrease of 3,816,848, with net migration of −70,433. Deaths have exceeded births every year since 2021. Between 2000 and 2023, cumulative net migration was −4,075,599.
Annual values; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection.
Mid-year population for every year; the medium scenario reaches 1.47B in 2050.
Demographic contrasts within Eastern Asia
A regional pyramid is an aggregate, not a description of every country. The profiles within Eastern Asia range from a median age of 27.0 years in Mongolia to 50.2 years in Japan. Those age structures imply different balances of schools, working-age cohorts, and older-age services.
Youngest median age
Mongolia has a median age of 27.0 years and 30.9% under 15.
Fastest 2026 growth
Mongolia has projected annual growth of +1.1%.
Countries and areas in Eastern Asia
| Rank | Country or area | 2026 population | Median age | Under 15 | 65+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 1,412,914,089 | 40.6 | 14.8% | 15.1% |
| 2 | Japan | 122,427,731 | 50.2 | 11.0% | 30.2% |
| 3 | South Korea | 51,600,388 | 46.2 | 9.8% | 21.4% |
| 4 | North Korea | 26,633,691 | 36.8 | 18.9% | 13.0% |
| 5 | Taiwan | 23,011,292 | 45.4 | 11.3% | 20.9% |
| 6 | Hong Kong | 7,378,602 | 47.9 | 10.0% | 24.7% |
| 7 | Mongolia | 3,556,798 | 27.0 | 30.9% | 5.7% |
| 8 | Macao | 723,188 | 40.3 | 13.4% | 15.9% |
Source and interpretation
Regional age groups and totals come directly from the UN WPP 2024 medium series. Country groupings follow the UN M49 regions and subregions used in the source; territories and statistical areas may appear separately. Projection results depend on future fertility, mortality, and migration assumptions.
Questions about Eastern Asia
What is the population of Eastern Asia in 2026?
The UN WPP 2024 medium scenario projects Eastern Asia's 2026 population at 1,648,245,779.
Which is the most populous country or area in Eastern Asia?
China is the largest profile in this regional directory, with a projected 2026 population of 1,412,914,089.
Is Eastern Asia's population projected to grow by 2050?
The medium scenario shows a 11.0% decrease between 2026 and 2050.