China vs Pakistan
Every indicator for China and Pakistan side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | China | Pakistan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 1,406,585,000 | 255,219,554 | +451.1% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 19,498 | 407 | +4,690.7% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 13,862 | 1,596 | +768.5% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.0 | 67.8 | — |
| Area (km²) | 9,562,910 | 796,100 | +1,101.2% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 147 | 321 | −54.1% |
| Median age (years) | 39.6 | 20.6 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 91.6 | 57.3 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.6 | 5.4 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.1 | 3.5 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 66.3 | 39.5 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 313,658 | 10,166 | +2,985.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.71 | 2.67 | −36.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.06 | 13.83 | −63.4% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 223 | 40 | +459.8% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 2,535,000 | 943,000 | +168.8% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.8 | 3.7 | −51.2% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.33 | 1.25 | −73.6% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of China relative to Pakistan; 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 Pakistan leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in gdp (nominal), about 48 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of gdp.
Key differences
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 19,498 against Pakistan's 407 — roughly 48 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 313,658 against Pakistan's 10,166 — roughly 31 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 9,562,910 against Pakistan's 796,100 — roughly 12 times as much.
- China's gdp per capita (13,862) is about 8.7 times Pakistan's (1,596).
- China's military expenditure per capita (223) is about 5.6 times Pakistan's (40).
Frequently asked questions
Where do China and Pakistan differ most?
Where are China and Pakistan most alike?
On how many indicators is China ahead of Pakistan?
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 Pakistan.
China profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Pakistan profile →
All statistics, series, and details.