United States vs China
Head-to-head on World Bank economic and development indicators.
Comparing United States and China: the larger economy is United States ($28.75T vs $18.74T GDP), while the higher GDP per capita belongs to United States ($84,534 vs $13,303). Life expectancy is higher in United States (78.9 vs 78.0 years). The full side-by-side table is below. All figures are World Bank, latest available year.
Source: World Bank Open Data. Data as of June 2026.
United States vs China: side by side
| Indicator | United States | China | Leads |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP (current US$) | $28.75T | $18.74T | United States |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | $84,534 | $13,303 | United States |
| Population, total | 340,110,988 | 1,408,975,000 | China |
| Population growth (annual %) | 1.0% | -0.1% | United States |
| GDP growth (annual %) | 2.8% | 5.0% | China |
| Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) | 2.9% | 0.2% | China |
| Unemployment, total (% of labour force, modelled ILO) | 4.2% | 4.6% | United States |
| Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | 78.9 | 78.0 | United States |
| Individuals using the Internet (% of population) | 94.7% | 91.6% | United States |
| Urban population (% of total) | 80.1% | 65.9% | United States |
| CO2 emissions per capita (tonnes) | 13.62 | 9.32 | China |
Source: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0), retrieved June 2026. Values are each indicator's latest available year, which can differ between the two countries.
Who leads on what
- GDP (size of economy): United States
- GDP per capita (income): United States
- Life expectancy: United States
- Internet users: United States
- Lower inflation: China
- Lower unemployment: United States
Frequently asked questions
Is United States or China richer?
United States is richer on GDP per capita — United States at $84,534 versus $13,303 for China (World Bank). By total GDP, the larger economy is United States ($28.75T vs $18.74T).
Which has a bigger economy, United States or China?
United States has the larger economy: United States's GDP is $28.75T and China's is $18.74T in current US dollars (World Bank, latest available year).
Which is bigger by population, United States or China?
China is more populous: United States has about 340.1 million people and China about 1.41 billion.
Where do people live longer, United States or China?
Life expectancy is higher in United States: 78.9 years in United States versus 78.0 in China (World Bank).
Full profiles & more comparisons
Last updated: 2026-06-20