Updated
Overview
China has 12 times the population of Egypt: 1.41 billion people against 118.37 million (2025).
China's economy is 53 times the size of Egypt's, at $19.50T versus $365.25B.
Per person, China is the wealthier of the two: $13,862 against $3,086 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | China | Egypt | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $19.50T | $365.25B | 2025 | $18.74T / $389.06B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $13,862 | $3,086 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.0% | 4.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.1% | 14.1% | 2025 | 0.2% / 28.3% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.6% | 6.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 15 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $807 | $109 | 2022 / 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $268 | $132 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.91 | $2.87 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.41 billion | 118.37 million | 2025 | 1.41 billion / 112.87 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 24.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.02 | 2.71 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 78.0 yrs | 71.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 66% | 43% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 92% | 75% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,596,960 km² | 1,002,450 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 146.6/km² | 118.1/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | Lower: 258 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.7 t | Lower: 2.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $313.66B | $2.40B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.7% | 0.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 2.5 million | 836,000 | 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 4.4%.
Egypt runs the hotter price environment: 14.1% inflation versus 0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Egypt: a price level of 15 versus 47 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour China: $807 against $109 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Egypt is the far younger society: median age 24.5 versus 40.1 years.
Life expectancy is 6.2 years longer in China (78.0 vs 71.8).
China is considerably more urbanized: 66% of people live in cities, against 43%.
Internet adoption is higher in China (92% vs 75% of the population).
Geography
By land area, China is 9.6 times the size of Egypt: 9,596,960 km² versus 1,002,450 km².
Military
China spends 131 times as much on defence as Egypt: $313.66B versus $2.40B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, China carries the heavier military burden: 1.7% of GDP versus 0.7%.
China fields the larger armed forces: 2.5 million personnel against 836,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is China bigger than Egypt?
- China is larger by land area. China covers 9,596,960 km² while Egypt covers 1,002,450 km², so China is 9.6 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, China or Egypt?
- China has the larger population: 1.41 billion versus 118.37 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is China richer than Egypt?
- Measured by GDP per capita, China is richer: $13,862 against $3,086. Total GDP tells the same story: $19.50T for China versus $365.25B for Egypt.
- Who spends more on their military, China or Egypt?
- China spends more: $313.66B versus $2.40B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).