Updated
Overview
China has 6.6 times the population of Brazil: 1.41 billion people against 212.81 million (2025).
China's economy is 8.6 times the size of Brazil's, at $19.50T versus $2.28T.
Per person, China is the wealthier of the two: $13,862 against $10,713 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | China | Brazil | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $19.50T | $2.28T | 2025 | $18.74T / $2.18T |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $13,862 | $10,713 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.0% | 2.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.1% | 5.0% | 2025 | 0.2% / 4.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.6% | 6.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 46 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $807 | $607 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $268 | $262 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.91 | $4.71 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.41 billion | 212.81 million | 2025 | 1.41 billion / 221.36 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 0.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 34.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.02 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 78.0 yrs | 76.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 66% | 88% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 92% | 84% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,596,960 km² | 8,515,767 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 146.6/km² | 25.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | Lower: 483 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.7 t | Lower: 2.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $313.66B | $20.95B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.7% | 1.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 2.5 million | 762,000 | 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 faster: 5.0% annual GDP growth versus 2.3%.
Brazil runs the hotter price environment: 5.0% inflation versus 0.1%.
Average monthly earnings favour China: $807 against $607 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Brazil is the younger society: median age 34.8 versus 40.1 years.
Life expectancy is 2.0 years longer in China (78.0 vs 76.0).
Brazil is considerably more urbanized: 88% of people live in cities, against 66%.
Geography
By land area, China is 13% larger than Brazil: 9,596,960 km² versus 8,515,767 km².
China is far more densely settled: 147 people per km² against 25.
Military
China spends 15 times as much on defence as Brazil: $313.66B versus $20.95B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
China fields the larger armed forces: 2.5 million personnel against 762,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is China bigger than Brazil?
- China is larger by land area. China covers 9,596,960 km² while Brazil covers 8,515,767 km², so China is 13% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, China or Brazil?
- China has the larger population: 1.41 billion versus 212.81 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is China richer than Brazil?
- Measured by GDP per capita, China is richer: $13,862 against $10,713. Total GDP tells the same story: $19.50T for China versus $2.28T for Brazil.
- Who spends more on their military, China or Brazil?
- China spends more: $313.66B versus $20.95B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).