Updated
Overview
China has 12 times the population of the Philippines: 1.41 billion people against 116.79 million (2025).
China's economy is 40 times the size of the Philippines', at $19.50T versus $487.09B.
Per person, China is the wealthier of the two: $13,862 against $4,171 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | China | Philippines | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $19.50T | $487.09B | 2025 | $18.74T / $461.62B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $13,862 | $4,171 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.0% | 4.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.1% | 1.7% | 2025 | 0.2% / 3.2% |
| Unemployment | 4.6% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 33 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $807 | $316 | 2022 / 2023 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $268 | $145 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.91 | $2.74 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.41 billion | 116.79 million | 2025 | 1.41 billion / 118.28 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 0.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 26.1 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.02 | 1.88 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 78.0 yrs | 69.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 66% | 56% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 92% | 67% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,596,960 km² | 342,353 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 146.6/km² | 341.1/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | Lower: 175 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.7 t | Lower: 1.5 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $313.66B | $6.12B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.7% | 1.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 2.5 million | 157,000 | 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 faster: 5.0% annual GDP growth versus 4.4%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.1% in China and 1.7% in the Philippines.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in the Philippines: a price level of 33 versus 47 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour China: $807 against $316 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The Philippines is the far younger society: median age 26.1 versus 40.1 years.
Life expectancy is 8.1 years longer in China (78.0 vs 69.9).
China is considerably more urbanized: 66% of people live in cities, against 56%.
Internet adoption is higher in China (92% vs 67% of the population).
Geography
By land area, China is 28 times the size of the Philippines: 9,596,960 km² versus 342,353 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
The Philippines is far more densely settled: 341 people per km² against 147.
Military
China spends 51 times as much on defence as the Philippines: $313.66B versus $6.12B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
China fields the larger armed forces: 2.5 million personnel against 157,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is China bigger than the Philippines?
- China is larger by land area. China covers 9,596,960 km² while the Philippines covers 342,353 km², so China is 28 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, China or the Philippines?
- China has the larger population: 1.41 billion versus 116.79 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is China richer than the Philippines?
- Measured by GDP per capita, China is richer: $13,862 against $4,171. Total GDP tells the same story: $19.50T for China versus $487.09B for the Philippines.
- Who spends more on their military, China or the Philippines?
- China spends more: $313.66B versus $6.12B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).