Updated
Overview
China has 67 times the population of Kazakhstan: 1.41 billion people against 20.84 million (2025).
China's economy is 64 times the size of Kazakhstan's, at $19.50T versus $306.24B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | China | Kazakhstan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $19.50T | $306.24B | 2025 | $18.74T / $288.41B |
| GDP per capita | $13,862 | Higher: $14,692 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 5.0% | Higher: 6.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.1% | 11.4% | 2025 | 0.2% / 8.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.6% | 4.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 33 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $807 | $673 | 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $268 | $181 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.91 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.41 billion | 20.84 million | 2025 | 1.41 billion / 20.43 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 29.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.02 | 2.95 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 78.0 yrs | 74.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 66% | 62% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 92% | Higher: 93% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,596,960 km² | 2,724,900 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 146.6/km² | 7.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | Lower: 287 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 8.7 t | 13.9 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $313.66B | $1.21B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.7% | 0.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 2.5 million | 71,000 | 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
Kazakhstan is growing faster: 6.5% annual GDP growth versus 5.0%.
Kazakhstan runs the hotter price environment: 11.4% inflation versus 0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Kazakhstan: a price level of 33 versus 47 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour China: $807 against $673 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Kazakhstan is the far younger society: median age 29.7 versus 40.1 years.
Life expectancy is 3.5 years longer in China (78.0 vs 74.5).
Geography
By land area, China is 3.5 times the size of Kazakhstan: 9,596,960 km² versus 2,724,900 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
China is far more densely settled: 147 people per km² against 8.
Military
China spends 259 times as much on defence as Kazakhstan: $313.66B versus $1.21B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, China carries the heavier military burden: 1.7% of GDP versus 0.4%.
China fields the larger armed forces: 2.5 million personnel against 71,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is China bigger than Kazakhstan?
- China is larger by land area. China covers 9,596,960 km² while Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 km², so China is 3.5 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, China or Kazakhstan?
- China has the larger population: 1.41 billion versus 20.84 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is China richer than Kazakhstan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Kazakhstan is richer: $14,692 against $13,862. Total GDP tells a different story: $19.50T for China versus $306.24B for Kazakhstan.
- Who spends more on their military, China or Kazakhstan?
- China spends more: $313.66B versus $1.21B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).