Updated
Overview
China has 17 times the population of Germany: 1.41 billion people against 83.49 million (2025).
China's economy is 3.9 times the size of Germany's, at $19.50T versus $5.05T.
Per person, Germany is the wealthier of the two: $60,496 against $13,862 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | China | Germany | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $19.50T | $5.05T | 2025 | $18.74T / $4.66T |
| GDP per capita | $13,862 | Higher: $60,496 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.0% | 0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.1% | 2.2% | 2025 | 0.2% / 2.3% |
| Unemployment | 4.6% | Lower: 3.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 80 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $807 | Higher: $4,647 | 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $268 | Higher: $2,442 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.91 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.41 billion | 83.49 million | 2025 | 1.41 billion / 84.01 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 0.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 45.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.02 | 1.46 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.0 yrs | Higher: 80.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 66% | 82% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 92% | Higher: 93% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,596,960 km² | 357,114 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 146.6/km² | 233.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | Lower: 572 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.7 t | Lower: 6.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $313.66B | $88.46B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.7% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 2.5 million | 183,000 | 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%.
Germany runs the hotter price environment: 2.2% inflation versus 0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in China: a price level of 47 versus 80 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Germany: $4,647 against $807 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
China is the younger society: median age 40.1 versus 45.5 years.
Life expectancy is 2.8 years longer in Germany (80.8 vs 78.0).
Germany is considerably more urbanized: 82% of people live in cities, against 66%.
Geography
By land area, China is 27 times the size of Germany: 9,596,960 km² versus 357,114 km².
Military
China spends 3.5 times as much on defence as Germany: $313.66B versus $88.46B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
China fields the larger armed forces: 2.5 million personnel against 183,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is China bigger than Germany?
- China is larger by land area. China covers 9,596,960 km² while Germany covers 357,114 km², so China is 27 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, China or Germany?
- China has the larger population: 1.41 billion versus 83.49 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is China richer than Germany?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Germany is richer: $60,496 against $13,862. Total GDP tells a different story: $19.50T for China versus $5.05T for Germany.
- Who spends more on their military, China or Germany?
- China spends more: $313.66B versus $88.46B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).