China's Economy vs United States Economy
The US economy leads in per-capita wealth and technological innovation with a $27.4 trillion nominal GDP and 39% higher GDP per capita, while China's $17.9 trillion economy ranks second globally but operates with different structural priorities and state-directed industrial policies.
China's Economy vs United States Economy — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
World's second-largest economy with rapid growth, manufacturing dominance, and massive foreign reserves.
World's largest economy with $28.7 trillion GDP and technology-driven growth model
Nominal GDP (2024). GDP Per Capita (2024). Manufacturing Output % of Global. Fortune 500 Companies. Foreign Direct Investment Inflow (2023). Top Technology Companies by Market Cap. Trade Surplus/Deficit (2024)
The United States economy dominates in absolute size, innovation capacity, and per-capita wealth, with stronger capital markets and higher foreign investment inflows. Choose the US model if prioritizing consumer wealth, technological leadership, and market-driven growth; choose China's model if focusing on manufacturing dominance, rapid infrastructure development, and state-directed industrial policy. Each excels in different dimensions: the US in innovation and living standards, China in production scale and trade surplus management.
China's Economy: ~$31.7 trillion | United States Economy: $30.0-30.5 trillion
China's Economy: 4.6-4.8% | United States Economy: 2.0-2.4%
China's Economy: 70% | United States Economy: 17%
China's Economy: 94% | United States Economy: ~6%
China's Economy: 35% | United States Economy: ~16%
China's Economy: ~4.1% | United States Economy: ~3.8-4.0%
Advanced Semiconductor Market Leadership
China's Economy: Limited by US export controls; dependent on SMIC/HiSilicon | United States Economy: Dominant (Intel, TSMC partnership, Samsung); controls cutting-edge nodes
China's Economy: $296.5 billion | United States Economy: N/A
China's Economy: 70% | United States Economy: ~20%
China's Economy: 80%+ | United States Economy: N/A
China's Economy: $6,177 billion | United States Economy: N/A
China's Economy: $17-18 trillion | United States Economy: $28.7 trillion
China's Economy: $45.78 trillion | United States Economy: $31.5 trillion
China's Economy: 4.6-4.8% | United States Economy: N/A
Government Education Spending Per Capita
China's Economy: €467 | United States Economy: N/A
China's Economy: 4.5-5.0% | United States Economy: 2.0-2.5%
China's Economy: €296.5 billion | United States Economy: $925.8
China's Economy: $620 billion (2023) | United States Economy: $4.18 trillion (2024)
China's Economy: 70% of global EVs | United States Economy: 25-30% of global EVs
China's Economy: 80%+ of global output | United States Economy: ~10%
China's Economy: Limited by US export controls | United States Economy: Global market leader
China's Economy: $400-800B potential loss | United States Economy: Lower exposure
China's Economy: 94% of global | United States Economy: ~6% of global
China's Economy: ~27-28 trillion | United States Economy: 30.0+
China's Economy: 80%+ | United States Economy: 8-10%
Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production
China's Economy: 94% | United States Economy: ~15%
China's Economy: Constrained by US export controls | United States Economy: N/A
China's Economy: $17.9 trillion | United States Economy: $27.4 trillion
China's Economy: $13,072 | United States Economy: $76,398
China's Economy: 28% | United States Economy: 12%
China's Economy: $4.3 trillion | United States Economy: $2.4 trillion
China's Economy: $163 billion (2023) | United States Economy: $285 billion (2023)
China's Economy: 5.2% | United States Economy: 2.1%
China's Economy: $23,482 | United States Economy: $80,412
China's Economy: 42.8% | United States Economy: 16.3%
China's Economy: 77.8% | United States Economy: 123%
China's Economy: $4.2 trillion | United States Economy: $12.8 trillion
China's Economy: $14.2 trillion | United States Economy: $119 trillion
China's Economy: $2.1T | United States Economy: $2.3T
China's Economy: 38.6 years | United States Economy: 38.5 years
China's Economy: 5.0% | United States Economy: 2.5%
China's Economy: 27% | United States Economy: 11.6%
China's Economy: $230 billion | United States Economy: $820 billion
China's Economy: 1,224,000 | United States Economy: 714,000
China's Economy: $12,720 | United States Economy: $81,500
China's Economy: $189 billion | United States Economy: $285 billion
China's Economy: +$632 billion surplus | United States Economy: -$73.1 billion
China's Economy: 2.1% | United States Economy: 3.5%
China's Economy: -1.6% (declining) | United States Economy: +0.4% (growing)
China's Economy: $17.9 trillion | United States Economy: $27.9 trillion
China's Economy: $3.3 trillion | United States Economy: $0.13 trillion
China's Economy: 28% | United States Economy: 11%
China's Economy: 280% | United States Economy: 123%
China's Economy: $11,000 | United States Economy: $68,420
China's Economy: 1.67 million | United States Economy: 0.38 million
China's Economy: $17.9 trillion | United States Economy: $28.7 trillion
China's Economy: 28.2% | United States Economy: 11.8%
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (2024)
China's Economy: $163 billion | United States Economy: $269 billion
China's Economy: $17.8 trillion | United States Economy: $27.4 trillion
China's Economy: $12,720 | United States Economy: N/A
China's Economy: 5.4% (2024 estimate) | United States Economy: 2.5%
China's Economy: 4.1% | United States Economy: 4.2%
China's Economy: 77% | United States Economy: 119%
China's Economy: $3.58 trillion | United States Economy: N/A
China's Economy: 27.3% | United States Economy: 18%
China's Economy: $163.5 billion | United States Economy: $370 billion
China's Economy: $631.8 billion surplus | United States Economy: -$73 billion deficit
China's Economy: 38.4 years | United States Economy: N/A
China's Economy: 1,426 million | United States Economy: 338M
China's Economy: 88 companies | United States Economy: 195 companies
China's Economy: 5.0% | United States Economy: 3.9%
China's Economy: 282% | United States Economy: 129%
China's Economy: 28% | United States Economy: 16%
China's Economy: 5.2% | United States Economy: 2.5%
China's Economy: $12,556 | United States Economy: $76,398
China's Economy: 5.1% | United States Economy: 4.1%
China's Economy: 143 companies | United States Economy: 136 companies
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 3.5%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 20-25%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: Global leader in design and manufacturing
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: Moderate exposure
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 2.2%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $925.8 billion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 0.3-0.5%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $4,175 billion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $4,481
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 6%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: Leading edge (3nm and below)
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: Minimal negative impact
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: Leading in design and manufacturing
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: Minimal (exporter advantage)
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 2.0-2.5%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: €925.8 billion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: ~4.0%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $310 billion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $4,175,432 million (2024)
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: €925,796.8 million
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $89,000
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $10,266.8
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: Minimal
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 0.4-0.6%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $89,000+
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 9%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 0.2-0.4pp
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 0.3-0.5% (from AI investment)
Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production Share
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 4%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 15%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 12%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $50-150B
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 2.1%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 1st
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $809 billion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: AI, semiconductors, cloud, fintech
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $35,000-45,000
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $94,430
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $11.1 trillion ahead
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: Data not available
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: ~25-26% of global GDP
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 1st (maintained)
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: ~1.8%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 26.2%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: Not specified
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $28.0 trillion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $85,000
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $27.4 trillion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: €10,217,935.3 million
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $3,981
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 44.5
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: ~2.8%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 1 EUR = 1.1797 USD
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 2.0%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $96,500+
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $11.53 trillion lead
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $27.23 trillion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 122.27%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 37.74%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 336 million
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 2.8%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 11.8%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 25.5%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 2.9%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $156 billion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 167 companies
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 11.2%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $27.4T
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $82,000
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $0.13T
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 4.1%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $15.2T (Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Nvidia, Tesla, Broadcom)
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 38.9 years
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $2.1 trillion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $82,500
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 123%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $62,400
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 339 million
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 65%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 340 million
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 21% of electricity
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $33.2 trillion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 11%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 80.1%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $285 billion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $31.2 trillion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: -$773 billion (deficit)
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 2.5%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 11.5%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 130%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 8.2%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 17%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 9.8%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $42.8 trillion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 16%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $7.1 trillion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 63.0%
Tech Sector Market Capitalization (Top 7 Companies)
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $14.2 trillion
Average Annual GDP Growth Rate (2010-2023)
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 2.4%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $28.2 trillion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 26% of world GDP
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 0.41
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 17.3%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: -$773 billion deficit
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 3.2%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 398,144
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 170 million workers
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $28.7 trillion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $12.4 trillion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 615,000
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 2.6%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $0.13 trillion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $76,398
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 415,000
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $120,000
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $76,500
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 680 GW
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 2.7%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 32.4%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 16.9%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 21.6%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $2.9 trillion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $12.5 trillion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $32 trillion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 80%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 26%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 31%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $189 billion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 3.4%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 82%
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 41.1
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $7.25
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $68.40
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $119 billion
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: $289B
Annual GDP Growth Rate (2020-2026 Average)
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 38.7
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 285,000
China's Economy: N/A | United States Economy: 18%
How to choose between China's Economy and United States Economy
Compare China's Economy vs United States Economy
China's Economy vs United States Economy — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for China's Economy vs United States Economy. Contains 278 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
China's Economy vs United States Economy — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for China's Economy vs United States Economy.
Is China's economy bigger than the US economy?
In nominal GDP terms, no—the US economy at $27.4 trillion is 53% larger than China's $17.9 trillion (2024). However, when adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP), China's economy rivals or slightly exceeds the US at approximately $34-36 trillion vs $32 trillion, meaning the comparison depends on methodology. Nominal GDP better reflects international trade and financial market size, while PPP better reflects domestic living standards and consumption capacity.
Why does China have a trade surplus while the US has a deficit?
China maintains a $632 billion trade surplus due to its dominance in manufacturing (28% of global output), lower labor costs, and state-directed industrial policy favoring exports. The US runs a $773 billion deficit because it imports manufactured goods while exporting services (finance, technology), capital investments, and agricultural products. The US consumer-driven economy also imports more than it exports, while China prioritizes production and capital accumulation through exports.
China's economy grew at approximately 5.3% in 2024, compared to the US at 2.5-2.7%. However, China is slowing from historical 8-10% annual rates due to an aging population (working-age population declining 1.6% annually) and property sector challenges. The US shows more stable, sustainable growth with positive demographic trends and technological innovation driving productivity gains.
Does China invest more in technology than the US?
The US invests more in R&D as a percentage of GDP (3.5% vs China's 2.1%), and dominates in venture capital funding (52% of global VC investment). However, China is rapidly catching up, investing heavily in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and green energy through state-directed industrial policies. The US leads in breakthrough innovation, while China excels in scaling and manufacturing technology deployment.
What are the biggest risks to each economy?
China faces demographic collapse with declining working-age population, property market instability (real estate comprises 30% of GDP), and potential semiconductor supply chain vulnerabilities. The US faces persistent trade deficits, rising debt-to-GDP ratio (123%), and geopolitical tensions affecting supply chains and investment flows. Both face inflationary pressures and potential recession risks if global demand weakens.
How to Choose Between China's Economy and United States Economy
Nominal GDP (2024): China's Economy has $17.9 trillion, while United States Economy has $27.4 trillion.
GDP Per Capita (2024): China's Economy has $12,720, while United States Economy has $20,380.
Consider: Manufacturing Output % of Global
Manufacturing Output % of Global: China's Economy has 28%, while United States Economy has 12%.
Fortune 500 Companies: China's Economy has 142 companies, while United States Economy has 144 companies.
Consider: Foreign Direct Investment Inflow (2023)
Foreign Direct Investment Inflow (2023): China's Economy has $189 billion, while United States Economy has $285 billion.
Consider: Top Technology Companies by Market Cap
Top Technology Companies by Market Cap: China's Economy has 3 in top 10 global, while United States Economy has 7 in top 10 global.
Trade Surplus/Deficit (2024): China's Economy has $632 billion surplus, while United States Economy has $-773 billion deficit.