China vs Spain
Every indicator for China and Spain side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | China | Spain | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 1,406,585,000 | 49,355,143 | +2,749.9% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 19,498 | 1,906 | +923.0% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 13,862 | 38,627 | −64.1% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.0 | 83.9 | — |
| Area (km²) | 9,562,910 | 505,976 | +1,790.0% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 147 | 98 | +50.8% |
| Median age (years) | 39.6 | 46.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 91.6 | 95.8 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.6 | 10.4 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.1 | 2.7 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 66.3 | 80.5 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 313,658 | 24,615 | +1,174.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.71 | 1.43 | +19.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.06 | 3.20 | +58.1% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 223 | 499 | −55.3% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 2,535,000 | 199,000 | +1,173.9% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.8 | 4.0 | −55.3% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.33 | 0.87 | −62.1% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of China relative to Spain; a positive value favors China. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
China is higher on 8 of the 12 indicators, while Spain leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in population (2025), about 28 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of gdp.
Key differences
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 1,406,585,000 against Spain's 49,355,143 — roughly 28 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 9,562,910 against Spain's 505,976 — roughly 19 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 313,658 against Spain's 24,615 — roughly 13 times as much.
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 2,535,000 against Spain's 199,000 — roughly 13 times as much.
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 19,498 against Spain's 1,906 — roughly 10 times as much.
Frequently asked questions
Where do China and Spain differ most?
In population (2025). China records 1,406,585,000 against Spain's 49,355,143 — a ratio of roughly 28 to one.
Where are China and Spain most alike?
In military expenditure as a share of gdp, at 1.71 and 1.43 — a gap of only %20.
On how many indicators is China ahead of Spain?
China is higher on 8 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Spain on 4. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
ChinaSpain
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 Spain.
China profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Spain profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI