China vs Russia
Every indicator for China and Russia side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | China | Russia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 1,406,585,000 | 143,513,328 | +880.1% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 19,498 | 2,561 | +661.3% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 13,862 | 17,547 | −21.0% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.0 | 73.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 9,562,910 | 17,125,190 | −44.2% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 147 | 8 | +1,655.2% |
| Median age (years) | 39.6 | 40.3 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 91.6 | 94.4 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.6 | 2.1 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.1 | 8.7 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 66.3 | 75.3 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 313,658 | 148,967 | +110.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.71 | 7.05 | −75.7% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.06 | 18.90 | −73.2% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 223 | 1,038 | −78.5% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 2,535,000 | 1,454,000 | +74.3% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.8 | 10.1 | −82.2% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.33 | 1.98 | −83.3% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of China relative to Russia; a positive value favors China. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Russia is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while China leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in population density, about 18 times; they are closest on gdp per capita.
Key differences
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: China stands at 147 against Russia's 8 — roughly 18 times as much.
- China's population (2025) (1,406,585,000) is about 9.8 times Russia's (143,513,328).
- China's gdp (nominal) (19,498) is about 7.6 times Russia's (2,561).
- Russia's armed forces as a share of the labor force (1.98) is about 6.0 times China's (0.33).
- Russia's armed forces per 1,000 people (10.1) is about 5.6 times China's (1.8).
Frequently asked questions
Where do China and Russia differ most?
In population density. China records 147 against Russia's 8 — a ratio of roughly 18 to one.
Where are China and Russia most alike?
In gdp per capita, at 17,547 and 13,862 — a gap of only %27.
On how many indicators is China ahead of Russia?
China is higher on 5 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Russia on 7. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
ChinaRussia
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 Russia.
China profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Russia profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI