Updated
Overview
China has 11 times the population of Mexico: 1.41 billion people against 131.95 million (2025).
China's economy is 11 times the size of Mexico's, at $19.50T versus $1.83T.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | China | Mexico | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $19.50T | $1.83T | 2025 | $18.74T / $1.85T |
| GDP per capita | $13,862 | Higher: $13,889 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.0% | 0.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.1% | 3.8% | 2025 | 0.2% / 4.7% |
| Unemployment | 4.6% | Lower: 2.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 54 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $807 | $551 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $268 | Higher: $353 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.91 | $6.27 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.41 billion | 131.95 million | 2025 | 1.41 billion / 130.74 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 0.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 29.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.02 | 1.87 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 78.0 yrs | 75.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 66% | 80% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 92% | 83% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,596,960 km² | 1,964,375 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 146.6/km² | 67.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | Lower: 461 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.7 t | Lower: 3.5 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $313.66B | $16.73B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.7% | 0.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 2.5 million | 341,000 | 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 0.6%.
Mexico runs the hotter price environment: 3.8% inflation versus 0.1%.
Average monthly earnings favour China: $807 against $551 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Mexico is the far younger society: median age 29.6 versus 40.1 years.
Life expectancy is 2.8 years longer in China (78.0 vs 75.3).
Mexico is considerably more urbanized: 80% of people live in cities, against 66%.
Geography
By land area, China is 4.9 times the size of Mexico: 9,596,960 km² versus 1,964,375 km².
China is far more densely settled: 147 people per km² against 67.
Military
China spends 19 times as much on defence as Mexico: $313.66B versus $16.73B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, China carries the heavier military burden: 1.7% of GDP versus 0.9%.
China fields the larger armed forces: 2.5 million personnel against 341,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is China bigger than Mexico?
- China is larger by land area. China covers 9,596,960 km² while Mexico covers 1,964,375 km², so China is 4.9 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, China or Mexico?
- China has the larger population: 1.41 billion versus 131.95 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is China richer than Mexico?
- They are effectively level on GDP per capita: $13,862 for China against $13,889 for Mexico, a gap too small to call. Total GDP tells a different story: $19.50T for China versus $1.83T for Mexico.
- Who spends more on their military, China or Mexico?
- China spends more: $313.66B versus $16.73B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).