Brazil vs China
Every indicator for Brazil and China side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Brazil | China | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 212,812,405 | 1,406,585,000 | −84.9% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 2,280 | 19,498 | −88.3% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 10,713 | 13,862 | −22.7% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 76.0 | 78.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 8,510,420 | 9,562,910 | −11.0% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 25 | 147 | −83.0% |
| Median age (years) | 34.8 | 39.6 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 84.5 | 91.6 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 6.0 | 4.6 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 5.0 | 0.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 88.2 | 66.3 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 20,948 | 313,658 | −93.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 0.97 | 1.71 | −43.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 2.10 | 5.06 | −58.5% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 98 | 223 | −55.9% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 762,000 | 2,535,000 | −69.9% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 3.6 | 1.8 | +98.7% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.76 | 0.33 | +130.3% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Brazil relative to China; a positive value favors Brazil. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
China is higher on 10 of the 12 indicators, while Brazil leads on the remaining 2. The widest separation is in military expenditure (2024), about 15 times; they are closest on area.
Key differences
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 313,658 against Brazil's 20,948 — roughly 15 times as much.
- China's gdp (nominal) (19,498) is about 8.6 times Brazil's (2,280).
- China's population (2025) (1,406,585,000) is about 6.6 times Brazil's (212,812,405).
- China's population density (147) is about 5.9 times Brazil's (25).
- China's armed forces personnel (2020) (2,535,000) is about 3.3 times Brazil's (762,000).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Brazil and China differ most?
In military expenditure (2024). China records 313,658 against Brazil's 20,948 — a ratio of roughly 15 to one.
Where are Brazil and China most alike?
In area, at 9,562,910 and 8,510,420 — a gap of only %12.
On how many indicators is Brazil ahead of China?
Brazil is higher on 2 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and China on 10. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
BrazilChina
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 Brazil or China.
Brazil profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
China profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI