Updated
Overview
China has 51 times the population of Australia: 1.41 billion people against 27.61 million (2025).
China's economy is 11 times the size of Australia's, at $19.50T versus $1.80T.
Per person, Australia is the wealthier of the two: $65,130 against $13,862 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | China | Australia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $19.50T | $1.80T | 2025 | $18.74T / $1.75T |
| GDP per capita | $13,862 | Higher: $65,130 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.0% | 1.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.1% | 2.9% | 2025 | 0.2% / 3.2% |
| Unemployment | 4.6% | Lower: 4.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 90 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $807 | Higher: $4,436 | 2022 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $268 | Higher: $2,655 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.91 | $5.95 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.41 billion | 27.61 million | 2025 | 1.41 billion / 27.49 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 1.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 38.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.02 | 1.64 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.0 yrs | Higher: 83.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 66% | 88% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 92% | Higher: 96% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,596,960 km² | 7,692,024 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 146.6/km² | 3.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | Lower: 387 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 8.7 t | 14.5 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $313.66B | $33.82B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.7% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 2.5 million | 60,000 | 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 1.4%.
Australia runs the hotter price environment: 2.9% inflation versus 0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in China: a price level of 47 versus 90 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Australia: $4,436 against $807 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 40.1 (China) and 38.3 (Australia).
Life expectancy is 5.0 years longer in Australia (83.1 vs 78.0).
Australia is considerably more urbanized: 88% of people live in cities, against 66%.
Geography
By land area, China is 25% larger than Australia: 9,596,960 km² versus 7,692,024 km².
China is far more densely settled: 147 people per km² against 4.
Military
China spends 9.3 times as much on defence as Australia: $313.66B versus $33.82B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
China fields the larger armed forces: 2.5 million personnel against 60,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is China bigger than Australia?
- China is larger by land area. China covers 9,596,960 km² while Australia covers 7,692,024 km², so China is 25% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, China or Australia?
- China has the larger population: 1.41 billion versus 27.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is China richer than Australia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Australia is richer: $65,130 against $13,862. Total GDP tells a different story: $19.50T for China versus $1.80T for Australia.
- Who spends more on their military, China or Australia?
- China spends more: $313.66B versus $33.82B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).