United States vs China
Side-by-side economic and demographic comparison · 2026 data · Source: IMF & World Bank
The United States and China are the two largest economies in the world, together accounting for over 40% of global GDP. The US leads in nominal terms with an economy driven by technology, financial services, and consumer spending, while China — the world's manufacturing powerhouse — has closed the gap dramatically over the past three decades and surpasses the US in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms. The economic rivalry between these two nations shapes global trade policy, technology competition, and geopolitical alignment.
United States has a GDP of $31.82T compared to China's $20.65T, making it 1.5x larger. United States's population is 340.1M vs China's 1.41B. Across 12 key indicators, both countries are evenly matched in categories. All data sourced from the IMF World Economic Outlook and World Bank World Development Indicators.
| Indicator |  United States |  China |
|---|---|---|
| GDP (USD) | $31.82T✓ | $20.65T |
| GDP per Capita | $92,883✓ | $14,730 |
| GDP Growth (%) | 2.1% | 4.2%✓ |
| GDP per Capita (PPP) | $92,883✓ | $31,023 |
| Population | 340.1M | 1.41B✓ |
| Life Expectancy | 78.4 years✓ | 78.0 years |
| Inflation (%) | 2.4% | 0.7%✓ |
| Unemployment (%) | 4.1%✓ | 5.1% |
| Govt Debt (% GDP) | 128.7% | 102.3%✓ |
| Fertility Rate | 1.6✓ | 1 |
| Gini Index | 41.8 | 36✓ |
| CO₂ per Capita (t) | 13.6 | 9.3✓ |
Summary
United States has a GDP of $31.82T compared to China's $20.65T, making the former economy 1.5x larger. In terms of population, United States has 340.1M people while China has 1.41B. Across the 12 indicators compared, United States leads in 6 and China leads in 6.
United StatesChina