China vs Norway
Every indicator for China and Norway side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | China | Norway | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 1,406,585,000 | 5,610,870 | +24,968.9% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 19,498 | 531 | +3,571.9% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 13,862 | 94,594 | −85.3% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.0 | 83.2 | — |
| Area (km²) | 9,562,910 | 624,500 | +1,431.3% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 147 | 9 | +1,537.1% |
| Median age (years) | 39.6 | 40.2 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 91.6 | 99.0 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.6 | 4.6 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.1 | 3.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 66.3 | 83.6 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 313,658 | 10,435 | +2,905.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.71 | 2.09 | −18.2% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.06 | 4.53 | +11.7% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 223 | 1,860 | −88.0% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 2,535,000 | 25,000 | +10,040.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.8 | 4.5 | −59.6% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.33 | 0.85 | −61.2% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of China relative to Norway; a positive value favors China. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
China is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while Norway leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in population (2025), about 251 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 Norway's 5,610,870 — roughly 251 times as much.
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 2,535,000 against Norway's 25,000 — roughly 101 times as much.
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 19,498 against Norway's 531 — roughly 37 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 313,658 against Norway's 10,435 — roughly 30 times as much.
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 147 against Norway's 9 — roughly 16 times as much.
Frequently asked questions
Where do China and Norway differ most?
Where are China and Norway most alike?
On how many indicators is China ahead of Norway?
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 Norway.
China profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Norway profile →
All statistics, series, and details.