Updated
Overview
China has 78 times the population of the Netherlands: 1.41 billion people against 18.09 million (2025).
China's economy is 15 times the size of the Netherlands', at $19.50T versus $1.33T.
Per person, the Netherlands is the wealthier of the two: $73,684 against $13,862 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | China | Netherlands | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $19.50T | $1.33T | 2025 | $18.74T / $1.23T |
| GDP per capita | $13,862 | Higher: $73,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.0% | 1.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.1% | 3.3% | 2025 | 0.2% / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | 4.6% | Lower: 3.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 84 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $807 | Higher: $6,402 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $268 | Higher: $2,538 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.91 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.41 billion | 18.09 million | 2025 | 1.41 billion / 17.83 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 41.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.02 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.0 yrs | Higher: 82.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 66% | 96% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 92% | Higher: 97% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,596,960 km² | 41,850 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 146.6/km² | 432.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | Lower: 115 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.7 t | Lower: 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $313.66B | $23.18B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.7% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 2.5 million | 41,000 | 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 1.8%.
The Netherlands runs the hotter price environment: 3.3% inflation versus 0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in China: a price level of 47 versus 84 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the Netherlands: $6,402 against $807 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 40.1 (China) and 41.5 (the Netherlands).
Life expectancy is 3.9 years longer in the Netherlands (82.0 vs 78.0).
The Netherlands is considerably more urbanized: 96% of people live in cities, against 66%.
Geography
By land area, China is 229 times the size of the Netherlands: 9,596,960 km² versus 41,850 km².
The Netherlands is far more densely settled: 432 people per km² against 147.
Military
China spends 14 times as much on defence as the Netherlands: $313.66B versus $23.18B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
China fields the larger armed forces: 2.5 million personnel against 41,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is China bigger than the Netherlands?
- China is larger by land area. China covers 9,596,960 km² while the Netherlands covers 41,850 km², so China is 229 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, China or the Netherlands?
- China has the larger population: 1.41 billion versus 18.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is China richer than the Netherlands?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the Netherlands is richer: $73,684 against $13,862. Total GDP tells a different story: $19.50T for China versus $1.33T for the Netherlands.
- Who spends more on their military, China or the Netherlands?
- China spends more: $313.66B versus $23.18B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).