East China’s Hefei city has reached a new milestone, becoming the nation’s 18th city to surpass 10 million permanent residents. According to the 2024 Annual Population Sample Survey of Anhui Province released on Monday, Hefei’s population now stands at 10.002 million, boasting an impressive urbanization rate of 86.38%.
Anhui Province’s total permanent residents reached 61.23 million by the end of 2024, marking a slight increase of 20,000 people from the previous year. Among the province’s 16 cities, Hefei stands out for its rapid growth and development.
Hefei joins the ranks of other megacities like Chongqing, Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Tianjin, Xi’an, Suzhou, Zhengzhou, Hangzhou, Shijiazhuang, Linyi, Dongguan, Changsha, and Qingdao. Notably, 15 of these 17 cities also boast GDPs exceeding one trillion yuan, highlighting the strong link between large populations and economic prowess.
Within the Yangtze River Delta region, cities such as Wenzhou, Ningbo, Nanjing, and Xuzhou, each with over 9 million residents, are potential candidates to join the 10-million club. As these cities continue to grow, they’re set to play significant roles in China’s urban landscape.
