Hunan Facts
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Population, Nationalities and Religions
Population
Of the population, 33.46 million were male, deceasing by 0.51 percent year on year; and, 31.93 million were female, down 0.35 percent over the previous year. The proportions of males and females to the total population were 51.17 percent and 48.83 percent, respectively decreasing 0.04 percentage points and increasing 0.04 percentage points year on year. The male-to-female ratio hit 104.43, which was 0.55 percentage points lower than that in 2023.
The population aged between zero and 15 hit 11.81 million, 18.06 percent in proportion to the total. Those aged between 16-59 reached 38.22 million, 58.45 percent of the total. The population aged 60 or above hit 15.36 million, accounting for 23.49 percent of the total. Among the aging population, those aged 65 or above amounted to 10.91 million, accounting for 16.68 percent.
The urban population reached 40.59 million, accounting for 62.07 percent of the total, while the rural population was 24.8 million, taking up 37.93 percent. Compared with 2023, the urbanization rate has increased by 0.91 percentage points, resulting in 420,000 more individuals residing in urban areas and 780,000 less residing in rural areas.
In 2024, 386,000 babies were born around the province, 9,000 less than that in 2023. The birth rate was 5.89 per 1,000 people, down 0.011 percentage points from the previous year and the natural population growth rate was -3.04 per 1,000 people.
Nationalities
Autonomous prefecture, counties, or townships are specially set for Tujia, Miao, Dong, Yao, Bai, Hui, Zhuang, and Uyghur ethnic groups who have resided in Hunan for generations. These ethnic minority areas include:
One autonomous prefecture – Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, composed of Longshan, Yongshun, Baojing, Huayuan, Guzhang, Fenghuang, and Luxi counties, and Jishou City;
7 autonomous counties – Tongdao Dong, Jianghua Yao, Chengbu Miao, Xinhuang Dong, Zhijiang Dong, Jingzhou Miao, and Mayang Miao autonomous counties;
3 counties and districts that enjoy related preferential policies for ethnic autonomous areas – Sangzhi County, Yongding District, and Wulingyuan District;
6 counties with more than half of their population being ethnic residents – Suining, Huitong, Yuanling, Jiangyong, Shimen, and Cili counties; and,
84 ethnic townships.
Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn
Hunan is a multiethnic province, where the Han nationality and other 55 ethnic groups reside. According to the 7th nationwide population census in 2020, the population of 55 ethnic groups in Hunan Province amounted to 6.6852 million, accounting for 10.06% of the total. Ethnic people reside in all cities, autonomous prefecture, counties, and districts of Hunan Province. Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Huaihua, and Zhangjiajie have more than one million of ethnic residents each, while Yongzhou, Shaoyang, Changde, and Changsha have more than 100,000 each.
Autonomous prefecture, counties, or townships are specially set for Tujia, Miao, Dong, Yao, Bai, Hui, Zhuang, and Uyghur ethnic groups who have resided in Hunan for generations. These ethnic minority areas include:
One autonomous prefecture – Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, composed of Longshan, Yongshun, Baojing, Huayuan, Guzhang, Fenghuang, and Luxi counties, and Jishou City;
7 autonomous counties – Tongdao Dong, Jianghua Yao, Chengbu Miao, Xinhuang Dong, Zhijiang Dong, Jingzhou Miao, and Mayang Miao autonomous counties;
3 counties and districts that enjoy related preferential policies for ethnic autonomous areas – Sangzhi County, Yongding District, and Wulingyuan District;
6 counties with more than half of their population being ethnic residents – Suining, Huitong, Yuanling, Jiangyong, Shimen, and Cili counties; and,
84 ethnic townships.
For more information about the ethnic groups in Hunan, please refer to National Customs.
Religion
Multiple religions have coexisted in Hunan for a long history, including Buddhism, Taoism, Islamism, Catholicism, and Christianity. There are about 5.4 million religious people, more than 6,200 registered clerical personnel, 255 patriotic religious organizations, three religious colleges and schools, and more than 5,400 lawful religious venues including 6 national key Buddhist temples in Han nationality areas. Among the 36 Dongtian (caves lead to heaven) and 72 Fudi (blessed spots) of Taoism, about 1/6 are located in Hunan.
Updated in April 2025