Updated
Overview
China has 230 times the population of Singapore: 1.41 billion people against 6.11 million (2025).
China's economy is 32 times the size of Singapore's, at $19.50T versus $603.87B.
Per person, Singapore is the wealthier of the two: $98,814 against $13,862 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | China | Singapore | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $19.50T | $603.87B | 2025 | $18.74T / $547.39B |
| GDP per capita | $13,862 | Higher: $98,814 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 5.0% | Higher: 5.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.1% | 0.9% | 2025 | 0.2% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | 4.6% | Lower: 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $807 | Higher: $3,483 | 2022 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $268 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.91 | $5.77 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.41 billion | 6.11 million | 2025 | 1.41 billion / 6.08 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 36.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.02 | 0.96 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.0 yrs | Higher: 83.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 66% | 100% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 92% | Higher: 94% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,596,960 km² | 719 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 146.6/km² | 8499.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | Lower: 54 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 8.7 t | 9.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $313.66B | $15.06B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.7% | 2.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 2.5 million | 59,000 | 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
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (5.0% for China, 5.0% for Singapore).
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.1% in China and 0.9% in Singapore.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in China: a price level of 47 versus 60 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Singapore: $3,483 against $807 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Singapore is the younger society: median age 36.2 versus 40.1 years.
Life expectancy is 5.3 years longer in Singapore (83.3 vs 78.0).
Singapore is considerably more urbanized: 100% of people live in cities, against 66%.
Geography
By land area, China is 13,348 times the size of Singapore: 9,596,960 km² versus 719 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Singapore is far more densely settled: 8500 people per km² against 147.
Military
China spends 21 times as much on defence as Singapore: $313.66B versus $15.06B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Singapore carries the heavier military burden: 2.8% of GDP versus 1.7%.
China fields the larger armed forces: 2.5 million personnel against 59,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is China bigger than Singapore?
- China is larger by land area. China covers 9,596,960 km² while Singapore covers 719 km², so China is 13,348 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, China or Singapore?
- China has the larger population: 1.41 billion versus 6.11 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is China richer than Singapore?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Singapore is richer: $98,814 against $13,862. Total GDP tells a different story: $19.50T for China versus $603.87B for Singapore.
- Who spends more on their military, China or Singapore?
- China spends more: $313.66B versus $15.06B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).