The 2020 Chinese census counted its population at 4,512,762 of whom 1,504,014 live in the built-up (or metro) area made of three urban districts (Hailing, Jiangyan and Gaogang).

At the end of 2019, the urbanization population of permanent residents reached 66.8%, an increase of 0.8 percentage points over the previous year.

[4] Taizhou was known as Haiyang (Chinese: 海陽; pinyin: Hǎiyáng) in the Spring and Autumn period, supposedly.

[6] As a part of Linhuai Commandery, Hailing (海陵; Hǎilíng; 'sea mound') county was founded in what is modern-day Taizhou, during the Western Han.

Hailing and its neighbourhood were taken away from Yangzhou to create a prefecture, Tai zhou, in 937 when Li Bian of the Southern Tang reigned over the area.

Then the downtown of the county was separated to found Taizhou city, which was the seat of the Administrative Commission for Northern Jiangsu until November.

Taizhou is a center for flour mills, textile works, fishing net manufacturing, and other industries based on local agriculture.

It is one of the central cities inside the Yangtse River Delta with its developed industry, convenient transportation and prosperous commerce.

Five county-level cities or districts are ranked among the "China's Top 100 Counties with Greatest Comprehensive Power".