At a glance
China vs United States: 28 indicators side by side
| Indicator |  China |  United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 👥 Population | |||
| Population people | 1,411,975,609 | 349,540,596 | China 4× |
| Population growth rate % per year | -0.2 | +0.5 | -0.7 pts |
| Population density people per km² | 147.72026 | 35.62026 | +112.1 |
| Surface area km² | 9,562,9102023 | 9,831,5102023 | United States 1× |
| Birth rate births per 1,000 people | 6.82024 | 10.62024 | -3.8 |
| Death rate deaths per 1,000 people | 7.82024 | 92024 | -1.2 |
| Net migration rate per 1,000 people per year | -0.2 | +3.4 | -3.6 |
| Urban population % of population | 66.32025 | 80.22025 | -13.8 pts |
| Sex ratio males per 100 females | 103.6 | 101 | +2.6 |
| ❤️ Demographics & Health | |||
| Life expectancy years | 782024 | 78.92024 | -0.9 |
| Fertility rate births per woman | 1.012024 | 1.632024 | -0.61 |
| Median age years | 40.6 | 38.7 | +1.9 |
| Infant mortality deaths per 1,000 live births | 5.4 | 4.7 | +0.7 |
| Population under 15 % of population | 15.42025 | 17.12025 | -1.7 pts |
| Population aged 65+ % of population | 14.92025 | 18.42025 | -3.5 pts |
| 💰 Economy | |||
| GDP current US$ | $19.50T2025 | $30.77T2025 | United States 1.6× |
| GDP per capita current US$ | $13,8622025 | $90,0272025 | United States 6.5× |
| Unemployment rate % of labor force | 4.62025 | 4.22025 | +0.4 pts |
| Inflation rate % annual, consumer prices | 0.12025 | 2.92024 | -2.9 pts |
| 🌱 Environment & Energy | |||
| CO₂ emissions Mt CO₂ per year | 13,1252024 | 4,632.22024 | China 2.8× |
| CO₂ emissions per capita tonnes per person | 9.322024 | 13.622024 | -4.31 |
| Energy use per capita kg of oil equivalent per person | 2,8512023 | 6,3612024 | United States 2.2× |
| Renewable energy share % of final energy | 15.22021 | 10.92021 | +4.3 pts |
| Forest area % of land area | 242023 | 33.92023 | -9.8 pts |
| Freshwater resources per capita m³ per person per year | 1,9922022 | 8,4372022 | United States 4.2× |
| Water stress % of resources withdrawn | 20.22022 | 15.82022 | +4.4 pts |
| 📶 Digital | |||
| Internet users % of population | 91.62025 | 94.72024 | -3.1 pts |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 131.82024 | 113.22024 | +18.6 |
▲ marks the higher value (for death rate, infant mortality, unemployment, inflation, CO₂ and water stress: the lower value). "Difference" is the ratio for absolute measures and China minus United States for rates and shares. Years in grey are the latest available for that country.
China compared with United States
China has a live population of about 1,411,975,609 (#2 in the world) and United States about 349,540,596 (#3), so China has 4 times as many people as United States. China is growing at -0.2% a year and United States at 0.5%.
By area United States is larger: 9,831,510 km² against 9,562,910 km², which gives population densities of 147.7 people per km² in China and 35.6 in United States.
China's economy is worth $19.50T (2025) and United States's $30.77T (2025); per person that is $13,862 in China versus $90,027 in United States, so the average United States resident produces 6.5 times as much.
Life expectancy is 78 years in China and 78.9 in United States; women have 1 children on average in China compared with 1.6 in United States; the median age is 40.6 versus 38.7 years.
66.3% of China's people live in cities against 80.2% in United States; 91.6% use the internet in China and 94.7% in United States; CO₂ emissions per person are 9.3 t in China and 13.6 t in United States.
Population over time
Life expectancy & fertility
Birth & death rates
Age structure
CO₂ emissions
Energy use & renewables
Forest area
Urban population
Water resources & stress
Economy
Unemployment & inflation
Internet & mobile
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, China or United States?
By population China is bigger: 1,411,975,609 people versus 349,540,596 (live estimates, October 2026). By area United States is larger (9,831,510 km² vs 9,562,910 km²).
Which has the larger economy, China or United States?
United States: GDP of $30,769,700,000,000 versus $19,498,039,388,043 in current US dollars (World Bank, 2025/2025).
Where do people live longer, China or United States?
Life expectancy at birth is 78 years in China and 78.9 years in United States, a difference of 0.9 years in favour of United States.
How are these comparisons calculated?
Live populations extrapolate the UN World Population Prospects baseline with each country's growth rate; every other figure is the latest value published by World Bank Open Data (or the UN for median age, infant mortality and migration). Each row shows the year of the figure, and the charts below overlay the full historical series of both countries.
Explore more
China vs India
China vs Indonesia
China vs Pakistan
China vs BangladeshChina vs IndiaChina vs IndonesiaChina vs Pakistan
United States vs Mexico
United States vs Canada
United States vs Guatemala
United States vs Haiti
United States vs NigeriaSources & method: live populations are linear extrapolations of the UN World Population Prospects estimates; all other indicators are the latest values from World Bank Open Data (UN WPP for median age, infant mortality, sex ratio and net migration). Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-19. More about our data.