Updated
Overview
China has 249 times the population of Finland: 1.41 billion people against 5.65 million (2025).
China's economy is 62 times the size of Finland's, at $19.50T versus $317.04B.
Per person, Finland is the wealthier of the two: $56,149 against $13,862 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | China | Finland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $19.50T | $317.04B | 2025 | $18.74T / $299.84B |
| GDP per capita | $13,862 | Higher: $56,149 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.0% | 0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.1% | 0.3% | 2025 | 0.2% / 1.6% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.6% | 9.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $807 | Higher: $5,760 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $268 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.91 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.41 billion | 5.65 million | 2025 | 1.41 billion / 5.55 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 43.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.02 | 1.30 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.0 yrs | Higher: 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 66% | 75% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 92% | Higher: 94% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,596,960 km² | 338,424 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 146.6/km² | 16.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | Lower: 30 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.7 t | Lower: 5.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $313.66B | $6.99B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.7% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 2.5 million | 22,000 | 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 0.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.1% in China and 0.3% in Finland.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in China: a price level of 47 versus 85 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Finland: $5,760 against $807 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
China is the younger society: median age 40.1 versus 43.2 years.
Life expectancy is 4.3 years longer in Finland (82.3 vs 78.0).
Geography
By land area, China is 28 times the size of Finland: 9,596,960 km² versus 338,424 km².
China is far more densely settled: 147 people per km² against 17.
Military
China spends 45 times as much on defence as Finland: $313.66B versus $6.99B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
China fields the larger armed forces: 2.5 million personnel against 22,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is China bigger than Finland?
- China is larger by land area. China covers 9,596,960 km² while Finland covers 338,424 km², so China is 28 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, China or Finland?
- China has the larger population: 1.41 billion versus 5.65 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is China richer than Finland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Finland is richer: $56,149 against $13,862. Total GDP tells a different story: $19.50T for China versus $317.04B for Finland.
- Who spends more on their military, China or Finland?
- China spends more: $313.66B versus $6.99B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).