Updated
Overview
China has 71 times the population of Chile: 1.41 billion people against 19.86 million (2025).
China's economy is 55 times the size of Chile's, at $19.50T versus $357.37B.
Per person, Chile is the wealthier of the two: $17,995 against $13,862 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | China | Chile | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $19.50T | $357.37B | 2025 | $18.74T / $330.27B |
| GDP per capita | $13,862 | Higher: $17,995 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.0% | 2.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.1% | 4.2% | 2025 | 0.2% / 4.3% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.6% | 9.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 48 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $807 | Higher: $1,024 | 2022 / 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $268 | Higher: $530 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.91 | $5.41 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.41 billion | 19.86 million | 2025 | 1.41 billion / 19.09 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 36.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.02 | 1.13 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.0 yrs | Higher: 81.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 66% | 89% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 92% | Higher: 96% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,596,960 km² | 756,102 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 146.6/km² | 26.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | Lower: 79 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.7 t | Lower: 4.0 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $313.66B | $5.11B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.7% | 1.6% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 2.5 million | 114,000 | 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 2.5%.
Chile runs the hotter price environment: 4.2% inflation versus 0.1%.
Average monthly earnings favour Chile: $1,024 against $807 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Chile is the younger society: median age 36.9 versus 40.1 years.
Life expectancy is 3.3 years longer in Chile (81.4 vs 78.0).
Chile is considerably more urbanized: 89% of people live in cities, against 66%.
Geography
By land area, China is 13 times the size of Chile: 9,596,960 km² versus 756,102 km².
China is far more densely settled: 147 people per km² against 26.
Military
China spends 61 times as much on defence as Chile: $313.66B versus $5.11B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
China fields the larger armed forces: 2.5 million personnel against 114,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is China bigger than Chile?
- China is larger by land area. China covers 9,596,960 km² while Chile covers 756,102 km², so China is 13 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, China or Chile?
- China has the larger population: 1.41 billion versus 19.86 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is China richer than Chile?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Chile is richer: $17,995 against $13,862. Total GDP tells a different story: $19.50T for China versus $357.37B for Chile.
- Who spends more on their military, China or Chile?
- China spends more: $313.66B versus $5.11B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).