Updated
Overview
China has 32 times the population of Afghanistan: 1.41 billion people against 43.84 million (2025).
China's economy is 1,097 times the size of Afghanistan's, at $19.50T versus $17.78B.
Per person, China is the wealthier of the two: $13,862 against $417 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | China | Afghanistan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $19.50T | $17.78B | 2025 / 2024 | $18.74T / $17.15B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $13,862 | $417 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.0% | 1.9% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Inflation | 0.1% | Lower: -6.6% | 2025 / 2024 | 0.2% / — |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.6% | 13.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $807 | $172 | 2022 / 2020 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $268 | $72 | 2024 / 2020 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.91 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.41 billion | 43.84 million | 2025 | 1.41 billion / 49.47 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 17.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.02 | 4.66 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 78.0 yrs | 66.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 66% | 26% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 92% | 16% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,596,960 km² | 652,230 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 146.6/km² | 67.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | Lower: 11 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.7 t | Lower: 0.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $313.66B | $278.25M | 2024 / 2021 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.7% | 1.8% | 2024 / 2021 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 2.5 million | 165,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
China is growing much faster: 5.0% annual GDP growth versus 1.9%.
China runs the hotter price environment: 0.1% inflation versus -6.6%.
Average monthly earnings favour China: $807 against $172 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Afghanistan is the far younger society: median age 17.3 versus 40.1 years.
Life expectancy is 11.7 years longer in China (78.0 vs 66.3).
China is considerably more urbanized: 66% of people live in cities, against 26%.
Internet adoption is higher in China (92% vs 16% of the population).
Geography
By land area, China is 15 times the size of Afghanistan: 9,596,960 km² versus 652,230 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
China is far more densely settled: 147 people per km² against 67.
Military
China spends 1,127 times as much on defence as Afghanistan: $313.66B versus $278.25M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
China fields the larger armed forces: 2.5 million personnel against 165,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is China bigger than Afghanistan?
- China is larger by land area. China covers 9,596,960 km² while Afghanistan covers 652,230 km², so China is 15 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, China or Afghanistan?
- China has the larger population: 1.41 billion versus 43.84 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is China richer than Afghanistan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, China is richer: $13,862 against $417. Total GDP tells the same story: $19.50T for China versus $17.78B for Afghanistan.
- Who spends more on their military, China or Afghanistan?
- China spends more: $313.66B versus $278.25M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).