United States vs China
Every indicator for United States and China side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | United States | China | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 341,784,857 | 1,406,585,000 | −75.7% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 30,770 | 19,498 | +57.8% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 90,027 | 13,862 | +549.5% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.9 | 78.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 9,831,510 | 9,562,910 | +2.8% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 35 | 147 | −76.4% |
| Median age (years) | 38.3 | 39.6 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 94.7 | 91.6 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.2 | 4.6 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.9 | 0.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 80.2 | 66.3 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 997,309 | 313,658 | +218.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 3.42 | 1.71 | +100.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 9.11 | 5.06 | +80.0% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 2,918 | 223 | +1,208.5% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 1,395,000 | 2,535,000 | −45.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 4.1 | 1.8 | +126.5% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.84 | 0.33 | +154.5% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of United States relative to China; a positive value favors United States. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
United States is higher on 9 of the 12 indicators, while China leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in military expenditure per capita, about 13 times; they are closest on area.
Key differences
- Military expenditure per capita shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 2,918 against China's 223 — roughly 13 times as much.
- United States's gdp per capita (90,027) is about 6.5 times China's (13,862).
- China's population density (147) is about 4.2 times United States's (35).
- China's population (2025) (1,406,585,000) is about 4.1 times United States's (341,784,857).
- United States's military expenditure (2024) (997,309) is about 3.2 times China's (313,658).
Frequently asked questions
Where do United States and China differ most?
Where are United States and China most alike?
On how many indicators is United States ahead of China?
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving United States or China.
United States profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
China profile →
All statistics, series, and details.