Updated
Overview
China has 394 times the population of Mongolia: 1.41 billion people against 3.57 million (2025).
China's economy is 769 times the size of Mongolia's, at $19.50T versus $25.37B.
Per person, China is the wealthier of the two: $13,862 against $7,108 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | China | Mongolia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $19.50T | $25.37B | 2025 | $18.74T / $23.59B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $13,862 | $7,108 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 5.0% | Higher: 6.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.1% | 8.6% | 2025 | 0.2% / 6.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.6% | 5.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 34 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $807 | $561 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $268 | $195 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.91 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.41 billion | 3.57 million | 2025 | 1.41 billion / 3.28 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 26.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.02 | 2.58 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 78.0 yrs | 72.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 66% | 71% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 92% | 85% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,596,960 km² | 1,564,110 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 146.6/km² | 2.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | Lower: 45 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 8.7 t | 12.9 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $313.66B | $180.84M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.7% | 0.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 2.5 million | 18,000 | 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
Mongolia is growing faster: 6.8% annual GDP growth versus 5.0%.
Mongolia runs the hotter price environment: 8.6% inflation versus 0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Mongolia: a price level of 34 versus 47 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour China: $807 against $561 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Mongolia is the far younger society: median age 26.9 versus 40.1 years.
Life expectancy is 5.6 years longer in China (78.0 vs 72.4).
Geography
By land area, China is 6.1 times the size of Mongolia: 9,596,960 km² versus 1,564,110 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 2.
Military
China spends 1,734 times as much on defence as Mongolia: $313.66B versus $180.84M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, China carries the heavier military burden: 1.7% of GDP versus 0.7%.
China fields the larger armed forces: 2.5 million personnel against 18,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is China bigger than Mongolia?
- China is larger by land area. China covers 9,596,960 km² while Mongolia covers 1,564,110 km², so China is 6.1 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, China or Mongolia?
- China has the larger population: 1.41 billion versus 3.57 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is China richer than Mongolia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, China is richer: $13,862 against $7,108. Total GDP tells the same story: $19.50T for China versus $25.37B for Mongolia.
- Who spends more on their military, China or Mongolia?
- China spends more: $313.66B versus $180.84M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).