China vs Nigeria
Every indicator for China and Nigeria side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | China | Nigeria | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 1,406,585,000 | 237,527,782 | +492.2% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 19,498 | 291 | +6,600.3% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 13,862 | 1,224 | +1,032.5% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.0 | 54.6 | — |
| Area (km²) | 9,562,910 | 923,770 | +935.2% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 147 | 257 | −42.8% |
| Median age (years) | 39.6 | 17.9 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 91.6 | 41.2 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.6 | 3.1 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.1 | 23.0 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 66.3 | 63.8 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 313,658 | 1,133 | +27,583.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.71 | 0.56 | +205.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.06 | 3.07 | +64.8% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 223 | 5 | +4,574.9% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 2,535,000 | 223,000 | +1,036.8% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.8 | 0.9 | +92.0% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.33 | 0.23 | +43.5% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of China relative to Nigeria; a positive value favors China. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
China is higher on 11 of the 12 indicators, while Nigeria leads on the remaining 1. The widest separation is in military expenditure (2024), about 277 times; they are closest on armed forces as a share of the labor force.
Key differences
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 313,658 against Nigeria's 1,133 — roughly 277 times as much.
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 19,498 against Nigeria's 291 — roughly 67 times as much.
- Military expenditure per capita shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 223 against Nigeria's 5 — roughly 47 times as much.
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 2,535,000 against Nigeria's 223,000 — roughly 11 times as much.
- GDP per capita shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 13,862 against Nigeria's 1,224 — roughly 11 times as much.
Frequently asked questions
Where do China and Nigeria differ most?
Where are China and Nigeria most alike?
On how many indicators is China ahead of Nigeria?
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
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China profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Nigeria profile →
All statistics, series, and details.