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Austria vs Czechia
China vs United States
Side-by-side comparison of China and United States from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
China
East Asia & Pacific · nation age 3,625 years
United States
North America · nation age 250 years
In short
United States scores 72.3 in the NationsTree Index (30th in the world) and China scores 69.8 (36th), a gap of 2.5 points. Their trees are 132 m and 115 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
China has 4.1 times the population of United States. China and United States have a similar land area. The economy of China is 34% larger than that of United States (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: China 1.4 billion and United States 341.8 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $90,027 in United States and $29,333 in China (2025, international dollars). People in United States live on average 0.9 years longer (78.9 vs 78.0 years).
Of 35 indicators reported by both countries, China ranks higher in the world on 15 and United States on 20. China is clearly stronger in main industries. United States is clearly stronger in military, environment & energy and institutions & safety.
As a nation, China is the older of the two (statehood since 1600 BC, 3,625 years), compared with United States (since 1776). Over the last five years China improved faster (direction score 42 vs 24 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between China and United States.
China
32.0
158th of 200
United Statesbetter
7.0
25th of 200
Voice & accountabilityInstitutions & safety
China
26.1
191st of 205
United Statesbetter
69.6
59th of 205
Homicide rateInstitutions & safety
Chinabetter
0.5
11th of 145
United States
5.8
100th of 145
Extreme povertySociety & health
Chinabetter
0.0%
1st of 108
United States
1.1%
52nd of 108
GDP growthEconomy
Chinabetter
5.0%
53rd of 210
United States
2.2%
139th of 210
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
United States overtook China in the NationsTree Index in 2025, the latest year with data.
United States overtook China in life expectancy in 2023 and has stayed ahead since.
China overtook United States in GDP (PPP) in 2014 and has stayed ahead since.
United States has been ahead of China in GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 1990.
China has been ahead of United States in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
ChinaUnited States All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | China | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 9,562,9104th/216 · 2024 | 9,831,5103rd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 9,388,2102nd/216 · 2024 | 9,147,4203rd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 1.4 bn2nd/217 · 2025 | 341.8 m3rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | -0.17%188th/217 · 2025 | 0.52%134th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 150.176th/216 · 2024 | 37.2166th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 66.3%101st/217 · 2025 | 80.2%57th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 15.4%174th/217 · 2025 | 17.1%152nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 14.9%68th/217 · 2025 | 18.4%45th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $19.50 trn2nd/210 · 2025 | $30.77 trn1st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $41.26 trn1st/199 · 2025 | $30.77 trn2nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $35.26 trn1st/199 · 2025 | $26.29 trn2nd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $13,86293rd/210 · 2025 | $90,02711th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $29,33381st/199 · 2025 | $90,02712th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $14,23078th/201 · 2025 | $88,8106th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 5.0%53rd/210 · 2025 | 2.2%139th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 0.1%14th/180 · 2025 | 2.9%87th/180 · 2024 |
| Unemployment % | 4.6%76th/187 · 2025 | 4.2%70th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 115.8%53rd/55 · 2024 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 98.6%166th/189 · 2025 | 124.4%179th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -7.9%179th/192 · 2025 | -7.1%173rd/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 6.7%95th/197 · 2025 | 0.9%172nd/197 · 2021 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 35.6%29th/200 · 2025 | 17.6%145th/200 · 2021 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 24.7%9th/192 · 2025 | 10.5%93rd/192 · 2021 |
| Services % of GDP | 57.7%100th/200 · 2025 | 76.3%16th/200 · 2021 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $4.11 trn1st/182 · 2025 | $3.22 trn2nd/182 · 2024 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $3.29 trn2nd/182 · 2025 | $4.11 trn1st/182 · 2024 |
| Exports % of GDP | 21.1%144th/183 · 2025 | 11.0%173rd/183 · 2024 |
| Imports % of GDP | 16.9%173rd/183 · 2025 | 14.0%179th/183 · 2024 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 38.0%165th/183 · 2025 | 25.0%180th/183 · 2024 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 1.4%111th/170 · 2025 | 17.3%38th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 90.5%4th/171 · 2025 | 54.9%63rd/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 2.3%150th/171 · 2025 | 9.0%118th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 1.6%115th/171 · 2025 | 3.0%87th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 26.3%20th/168 · 2024 | 24.3%23rd/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 3.7%44th/191 · 2025 | -3.8%127th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.4%163rd/196 · 2025 | 1.0%145th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 1.7%103rd/209 · 2021 | 1.3%110th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.31%62nd/197 · 2021 | 0.61%53rd/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.21%52nd/197 · 2021 | 0.36%43rd/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.61%12th/195 · 2021 | 0.17%25th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.51%55th/209 · 2021 | 0.10%70th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.07%122nd/209 · 2021 | 0.04%133rd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 11.6%88th/206 · 2024 | 16.6%65th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,992106th/183 · 2022 | 8,43754th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 30.4 m11th/194 · 2020 | 45.0 m4th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $27.76 bn2004 | $84.21 bn1st/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 4.6%2004 | 3.9%93rd/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 20.3 m12th/107 · 2020 | 60.5 m2nd/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 78.070th/217 · 2024 | 78.961st/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 5.747th/196 · 2024 | 6.553rd/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 3.1156th/174 · 2022 | 3.6839th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 5.619th/145 · 2023 | 2.767th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 97%29th/193 · 2024 | 94%66th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 72.4%80th/153 · 2020 | 96.6%21st/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 92.3%2012 | 97.5%72nd/173 · 2022 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 63.1%2013 | — |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 21.4%69th/217 · 2025 | 28.5%46th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 5.9%106th/193 · 2023 | 16.7%3rd/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 96.7%27th/98 · 2020 | — |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 76.9%36th/150 · 2024 | 79.4%29th/150 · 2022 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.79778th/193 · 2023 | 0.93817th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 36.065th/108 · 2022 | 41.891st/108 · 2024 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.0%1st/108 · 2022 | 1.1%52nd/108 · 2024 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 97.6%39th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 68.9%66th/144 · 2024 | 97.0%17th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 91.6%47th/186 · 2025 | 94.7%28th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 13254th/210 · 2024 | 113111th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 47.29th/208 · 2024 | 38.929th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 4.0014th/164 · 2022 | 3.9016th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 109,7672nd/82 · 2021 | 148,5531st/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 619.2 m2nd/161 · 2023 | 941.6 m1st/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 9.32182nd/203 · 2024 | 13.62189th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 15.2%122nd/212 · 2021 | 10.9%142nd/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 32.0158th/200 · 2023 | 7.025th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 24.0%122nd/214 · 2024 | 33.8%102nd/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 2,94737th/149 · 2024 | 6,45410th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 65.159th/205 · 2025 | 76.732nd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 49.589th/207 · 2025 | 65.544th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 51.6127th/207 · 2025 | 71.747th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 66.0115th/207 · 2025 | 60.3136th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 53.6104th/205 · 2025 | 72.831st/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 26.1191st/205 · 2025 | 69.659th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.511th/145 · 2020 | 5.8100th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $335.52 bn2nd/156 · 2025 | $954.39 bn1st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.7%78th/156 · 2025 | 3.1%27th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 5.1%79th/154 · 2025 | 8.3%37th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 2.5 m2nd/170 · 2020 | 1.4 m5th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.33%142nd/168 · 2020 | 0.84%84th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 207.0 m37th/163 · 2025 | 745.0 m13th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 880.0 m8th/65 · 2025 | 14.0 bn1st/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 2.58%15th/110 · 2023 | 3.45%5th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1.7 m1st/137 · 2024 | 270,2952nd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 932,7121st/197 · 2023 | 430,8432nd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, China or United States?
China has the larger population: 1.4 bn (2025) compared with 341.8 m for United States (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, China or United States?
United States is larger: 9,831,510 km² (2024) compared with 9,562,910 km² for China (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, China or United States?
China has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $41.26 trn intl. (2025) compared with $30.77 trn intl. for United States (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, China or United States?
United States has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $90,027 intl. (2025) compared with $29,333 intl. for China (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in China or United States?
United States has the higher life expectancy at birth: 78.9 years (2024) compared with 78.0 years for China (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, China or United States?
United States spends more on the military: $954.39 bn (2025) compared with $335.52 bn for China (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, China or United States?
United States: 72.3 points (30th in the world); China: 69.8 points (36th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Argentina
Australia
Canada
Indonesia
Italy
Mexico
South Africa
BermudaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). China vs United States — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/china-vs-united-states. Data as of 26 October 2026.