China vs Iraq
Every indicator for China and Iraq side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | China | Iraq | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 1,406,585,000 | 47,020,774 | +2,891.4% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 19,498 | 254 | +7,576.4% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 13,862 | 5,410 | +156.2% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.0 | 72.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 9,562,910 | 435,050 | +2,098.1% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 147 | 108 | +36.1% |
| Median age (years) | 39.6 | 21.5 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 91.6 | 81.5 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.6 | 15.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.1 | 0.3 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 66.3 | 69.9 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 313,658 | 6,179 | +4,976.2% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.71 | 2.36 | −27.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.06 | 4.87 | +3.9% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 223 | 131 | +69.7% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 2,535,000 | 459,000 | +452.3% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.8 | 9.8 | −81.5% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.33 | 4.40 | −92.5% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of China relative to Iraq; a positive value favors China. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
China is higher on 9 of the 12 indicators, while Iraq leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in gdp (nominal), about 77 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of government spending.
Key differences
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 19,498 against Iraq's 254 — roughly 77 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 313,658 against Iraq's 6,179 — roughly 51 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 1,406,585,000 against Iraq's 47,020,774 — roughly 30 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 9,562,910 against Iraq's 435,050 — roughly 22 times as much.
- Armed forces as a share of the labor force shows the widest gap of all: Iraq stands at 4.40 against China's 0.33 — roughly 13 times as much.
Frequently asked questions
Where do China and Iraq differ most?
Where are China and Iraq most alike?
On how many indicators is China ahead of Iraq?
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 China or Iraq.
China profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Iraq profile →
All statistics, series, and details.