Germany vs China
Every indicator for Germany and China side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Germany | China | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 83,491,249 | 1,406,585,000 | −94.1% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 5,051 | 19,498 | −74.1% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 60,496 | 13,862 | +336.4% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.8 | 78.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 357,680 | 9,562,910 | −96.3% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 233 | 147 | +58.7% |
| Median age (years) | 46.7 | 39.6 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 93.5 | 91.6 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.7 | 4.6 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.2 | 0.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 82.1 | 66.3 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 88,458 | 313,658 | −71.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.89 | 1.71 | +10.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 3.93 | 5.06 | −22.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,059 | 223 | +375.1% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 183,000 | 2,535,000 | −92.8% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.2 | 1.8 | +21.6% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.42 | 0.33 | +27.3% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Germany relative to China; a positive value favors Germany. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Neither side dominates: Germany is higher on 6 of 12 indicators, China on 6. The widest separation is in area (about 27×); they are closest on military expenditure as a share of gdp.
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 9,562,910 against Germany's 357,680 — roughly 27 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 1,406,585,000 against Germany's 83,491,249 — roughly 17 times as much.
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 2,535,000 against Germany's 183,000 — roughly 14 times as much.
- Germany's military expenditure per capita (1,059) is about 4.8 times China's (223).
- Germany's gdp per capita (60,496) is about 4.4 times China's (13,862).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Germany and China differ most?
In area. China records 9,562,910 against Germany's 357,680 — a ratio of roughly 27 to one.
Where are Germany and China most alike?
In military expenditure as a share of gdp, at 1.89 and 1.71 — a gap of only %11.
On how many indicators is Germany ahead of China?
Germany is higher on 6 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and China on 6. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
GermanyChina
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 Germany or China.
Germany profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
China profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI