Australia vs China
Every indicator for Australia and China side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Australia | China | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 27,614,411 | 1,406,585,000 | −98.0% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,799 | 19,498 | −90.8% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 65,130 | 13,862 | +369.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.1 | 78.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 7,741,220 | 9,562,910 | −19.0% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 4 | 147 | −97.6% |
| Median age (years) | 38.1 | 39.6 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 96.1 | 91.6 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.1 | 4.6 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.9 | 0.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 87.7 | 66.3 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 33,820 | 313,658 | −89.2% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.88 | 1.71 | +9.9% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.96 | 5.06 | −2.0% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,225 | 223 | +449.2% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 60,000 | 2,535,000 | −97.6% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.2 | 1.8 | +20.6% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.44 | 0.33 | +33.3% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Australia relative to China; a positive value favors Australia. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
China is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while Australia leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in population (2025), about 51 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of government spending.
Key differences
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 1,406,585,000 against Australia's 27,614,411 — roughly 51 times as much.
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 2,535,000 against Australia's 60,000 — roughly 42 times as much.
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 147 against Australia's 4 — roughly 41 times as much.
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 19,498 against Australia's 1,799 — roughly 11 times as much.
- China's military expenditure (2024) (313,658) is about 9.3 times Australia's (33,820).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Australia and China differ most?
Where are Australia and China most alike?
On how many indicators is Australia 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 Australia or China.
Australia profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
China profile →
All statistics, series, and details.