Updated
Overview
China has 192 times the population of Kyrgyzstan: 1.41 billion people against 7.34 million (2025).
China's economy is 862 times the size of Kyrgyzstan's, at $19.50T versus $22.62B.
Per person, China is the wealthier of the two: $13,862 against $3,081 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | China | Kyrgyzstan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $19.50T | $22.62B | 2025 | $18.74T / $17.48B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $13,862 | $3,081 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 5.0% | Higher: 11.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.1% | 8.2% | 2025 | 0.2% / 10.8% |
| Unemployment | 4.6% | Lower: 3.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 33 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $807 | $329 | 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $268 | $29 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.91 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.41 billion | 7.34 million | 2025 | 1.41 billion / 6.22 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 1.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 25.4 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.02 | 2.75 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 78.0 yrs | 72.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 66% | 35% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 92% | Higher: 92% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,596,960 km² | 199,951 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 146.6/km² | 36.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | Lower: 12 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.7 t | Lower: 1.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $313.66B | $473.05M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.7% | 3.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 2.5 million | 21,000 | 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
Kyrgyzstan is growing much faster: 11.1% annual GDP growth versus 5.0%.
Kyrgyzstan runs the hotter price environment: 8.2% inflation versus 0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Kyrgyzstan: a price level of 33 versus 47 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour China: $807 against $329 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Kyrgyzstan is the far younger society: median age 25.4 versus 40.1 years.
Life expectancy is 5.6 years longer in China (78.0 vs 72.4).
China is considerably more urbanized: 66% of people live in cities, against 35%.
Geography
By land area, China is 48 times the size of Kyrgyzstan: 9,596,960 km² versus 199,951 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 37.
Military
China spends 663 times as much on defence as Kyrgyzstan: $313.66B versus $473.05M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Kyrgyzstan carries the heavier military burden: 3.0% of GDP versus 1.7%.
China fields the larger armed forces: 2.5 million personnel against 21,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is China bigger than Kyrgyzstan?
- China is larger by land area. China covers 9,596,960 km² while Kyrgyzstan covers 199,951 km², so China is 48 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, China or Kyrgyzstan?
- China has the larger population: 1.41 billion versus 7.34 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is China richer than Kyrgyzstan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, China is richer: $13,862 against $3,081. Total GDP tells the same story: $19.50T for China versus $22.62B for Kyrgyzstan.
- Who spends more on their military, China or Kyrgyzstan?
- China spends more: $313.66B versus $473.05M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).