Updated
Overview
China has 4.1 times the population of the United States: 1.41 billion people against 341.78 million (2025).
The United States' economy is about 60% larger than China's, at $30.77T versus $19.50T.
Per person, the United States is the wealthier of the two: $90,027 against $13,862 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | China | United States | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $19.50T | Higher: $30.77T | 2025 | $18.74T / $29.18T |
| GDP per capita | $13,862 | Higher: $90,027 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.0% | 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.1% | 2.9% | 2025 / 2024 | 0.2% / — |
| Unemployment | 4.6% | Lower: 4.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 100 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $807 | Higher: $6,273 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $268 | Higher: $1,257 | 2024 / 2026 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.91 | $6.22 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.41 billion | 341.78 million | 2025 | 1.41 billion / 338.02 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 38.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.02 | 1.62 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.0 yrs | Higher: 78.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 66% | 80% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 92% | Higher: 95% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,596,960 km² | 9,833,517 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 146.6/km² | 34.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | Lower: 4,904 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 8.7 t | 14.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $313.66B | $997.31B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.7% | 3.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 2.5 million | 1.4 million | 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 2.2%.
The United States runs the hotter price environment: 2.9% inflation versus 0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in China: a price level of 47 versus 100 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United States: $6,273 against $807 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 40.1 (China) and 38.5 (the United States).
The United States is considerably more urbanized: 80% of people live in cities, against 66%.
Geography
By land area, China is almost exactly the same size as the United States: 9,596,960 km² versus 9,833,517 km².
China is far more densely settled: 147 people per km² against 35.
Military
The United States spends 3.2 times as much on defence as China: $997.31B versus $313.66B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United States carries the heavier military burden: 3.4% of GDP versus 1.7%.
China fields the larger armed forces: 2.5 million personnel against 1.4 million (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is China bigger than the United States?
- The two are almost exactly the same size. China covers 9,596,960 km² while the United States covers 9,833,517 km², a difference of under 2%.
- Which has more people, China or the United States?
- China has the larger population: 1.41 billion versus 341.78 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is China richer than the United States?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United States is richer: $90,027 against $13,862. Total GDP tells the same story: $19.50T for China versus $30.77T for the United States.
- Who spends more on their military, China or the United States?
- The United States spends more: $997.31B versus $313.66B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).