The US economy leads in per-capita wealth and technological innovation with a $27.4 trillion GDP and $82,000 median household income, while China's economy is the world's second-largest at $17.9 trillion GDP but serves 1.4 billion people with $12,720 median household income. The US dominates in high-tech sectors and service industries, whereas China leads in manufacturing output and export volume.
China's Economy vs US Economy — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
World's largest advanced economy with innovation leadership and highest per capita wealth
World's second-largest economy, dominant in manufacturing and export-led growth serving 1.4 billion people.
Total GDP (2024). GDP Per Capita. Population. Unemployment Rate (2024). Manufacturing Output (% of GDP). Tech Sector Dominance (Fortune 500). Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (2023)
Choose the US economy if measuring wealth per person, innovation capacity, and service sector dominance—it leads globally in financial services, technology, and consumer spending. Choose China's economy if measuring manufacturing scale, export competitiveness, and rapid infrastructure growth—it drives global supply chains and has lifted 800 million people from poverty since 1980. Neither is 'better' overall; they represent different economic models with distinct strengths.
United States Economy: $30.0-30.5 trillion | China's Economy: ~$31.7 trillion
United States Economy: 17% | China's Economy: 70%
United States Economy: ~6% | China's Economy: 94%
United States Economy: ~16% | China's Economy: 35%
United States Economy: ~3.8-4.0% | China's Economy: ~4.1%
Advanced Semiconductor Market Leadership
United States Economy: Dominant (Intel, TSMC partnership, Samsung); controls cutting-edge nodes | China's Economy: Limited by US export controls; dependent on SMIC/HiSilicon
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: $4.18 trillion (2024) | China's Economy: $620 billion (2023)
United States Economy: 0.3-0.5% | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 30.0+ | China's Economy: ~27-28 trillion
United States Economy: $4,175 billion | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $4,481 | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: ~20% | China's Economy: 70%
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: ~10% | China's Economy: 80%+ of global output
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: 2.0-2.5% | China's Economy: 4.5-5.0%
United States Economy: 25-30% of global EVs | China's Economy: 70% of global EVs
United States Economy: 8-10% | China's Economy: 80%+
United States Economy: ~4.0% | 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: $925.8 | China's Economy: €296.5 billion
United States Economy: Global market leader | China's Economy: Limited by US export controls
United States Economy: Lower exposure | China's Economy: $400-800B potential loss
United States Economy: ~6% of global | China's Economy: 94% of global
United States Economy: Minimal | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 0.4-0.6% | China's Economy: N/A
Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production
United States Economy: ~15% | China's Economy: 94%
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) | China's Economy: N/A
Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production Share
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: $31.5 trillion | China's Economy: $45.78 trillion
United States Economy: 2.1% | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 1st | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 127% | China's Economy: 77%
United States Economy: 339 million | China's Economy: 1,426 million
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: 2.0-2.4% | China's Economy: 4.6-4.8%
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: 3.5% | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $81,500 | China's Economy: $12,720
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: 38.5 years | China's Economy: 38.6 years
United States Economy: $27.4 trillion | China's Economy: $17.8 trillion
United States Economy: 4.2% | China's Economy: 4.1%
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: $82,000 | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $27.4 trillion | China's Economy: $17.9 trillion
United States Economy: $76,398 | China's Economy: $12,720
United States Economy: 2.5% | China's Economy: 5.3%
United States Economy: $2.4 trillion | China's Economy: $4.3 trillion
United States Economy: $285 billion (2023) | China's Economy: $163 billion (2023)
United States Economy: $82,500 | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 4.1% | 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: 2.5% | China's Economy: 5.0%
United States Economy: $85,240 | China's Economy: $12,908
United States Economy: $0.13 trillion | China's Economy: $3.2 trillion
United States Economy: 12% | China's Economy: 27.3%
United States Economy: $2.1 trillion | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 3.5% | China's Economy: 2.1%
United States Economy: 2.1% | China's Economy: 5.2%
United States Economy: $80,412 | China's Economy: $23,482
United States Economy: 16.3% | China's Economy: 42.8%
United States Economy: 123% | China's Economy: 77.8%
United States Economy: $12.8 trillion | China's Economy: $4.2 trillion
United States Economy: 340 million | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 21% of electricity | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $28.7 trillion | China's Economy: $17.9 trillion
United States Economy: 135 companies | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $33.2 trillion | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 2.8% | China's Economy: 5.2%
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: 16% | China's Economy: 28%
United States Economy: -$73 billion deficit | China's Economy: $631.8 billion surplus
United States Economy: 12% | China's Economy: 28%
United States Economy: 4.1% | China's Economy: 5.2%
United States Economy: -$773 billion (deficit) | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $2.3T | China's Economy: $2.1T
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: $820 billion | China's Economy: $230 billion
United States Economy: 714,000 | China's Economy: 1,224,000
United States Economy: 8.2% | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: -$773 billion | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 2.5% | China's Economy: 5.4% (2024 estimate)
United States Economy: -$73.1 billion | China's Economy: +$632 billion surplus
United States Economy: +0.4% (growing) | China's Economy: -1.6% (declining)
United States Economy: $27.9 trillion | China's Economy: $17.9 trillion
United States Economy: 11% | China's Economy: 28%
United States Economy: 123% | China's Economy: 280%
United States Economy: $68,420 | China's Economy: $11,000
United States Economy: 0.38 million | China's Economy: 1.67 million
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: 11.8% | China's Economy: 28.2%
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (2024)
United States Economy: $269 billion | China's Economy: $163 billion
United States Economy: $27.7 trillion | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 63.0% | China's Economy: N/A
Tech Sector Market Capitalization (Top 7 Companies)
United States Economy: $14.2 trillion | China's Economy: N/A
Average Annual GDP Growth Rate (2010-2023)
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: $285 billion | China's Economy: $189 billion
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: 38.9 years | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 398,144 | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $370 billion | China's Economy: $163.5 billion
United States Economy: 209 million | 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: 11.2% | China's Economy: 27%
United States Economy: 415,000 | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $44.3 trillion | China's Economy: $12.5 trillion
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: $28.7 trillion | China's Economy: $17-18 trillion
United States Economy: 80% | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 25.4% | 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: 3.9% | China's Economy: 5.1%
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: $382 billion | China's Economy: N/A
Annual GDP Growth Rate (2020-2026 Average)
United States Economy: 195 companies | China's Economy: 88 companies
United States Economy: 285,000 | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 18% | China's Economy: N/A
United States Economy: N/A | China's Economy: $296.5 billion
United States Economy: N/A | China's Economy: 80%+
United States Economy: N/A | China's Economy: $6,177 billion
United States Economy: N/A | China's Economy: 4.6-4.8%
Government Education Spending Per Capita
United States Economy: N/A | China's Economy: €467
United States Economy: N/A | China's Economy: Constrained by US export controls
United States Economy: N/A | China's Economy: $12,720
United States Economy: N/A | China's Economy: $3.58 trillion
United States Economy: N/A | China's Economy: 38.4 years
How to choose between United States Economy and China's Economy
Compare United States Economy vs China's Economy
China's Economy vs US Economy — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for China's Economy vs US Economy. Contains 260 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
China's Economy vs US Economy — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for China's Economy vs US Economy.
Is China's economy actually bigger than the US economy?
No. The US economy is larger by total GDP at $27.4 trillion vs China's $17.9 trillion (2024 data). However, China's economy is the world's second-largest and growing faster—China's economy grew 5.3% in 2023 vs the US at 2.5%. Some economists argue that measuring by Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) shows China ahead at $32.1 trillion, accounting for lower costs of goods in China, but nominal GDP remains the standard international measure where the US leads.
Why is China's GDP per capita so much lower than the US?
China's GDP per capita is $12,720 compared to the US at $82,000 primarily because: (1) China has 4.2x more people (1.4 billion vs 339 million) spreading wealth across many more individuals, (2) China remains a middle-income country where many rural areas lag behind coastal industrial zones, and (3) average US wages are 6.4x higher due to advanced technology sectors and service industries. However, this gap is narrowing—China's per-capita income has grown 10x since 2000.
Who wins on manufacturing—China or the US?
China dominates manufacturing output, producing 28% of all global manufactured goods and serving as the 'factory of the world' for electronics, textiles, and consumer goods. The US manufactures only 11% of its GDP, focusing instead on advanced sectors like aerospace, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals. However, the US leads in high-value manufacturing—US industrial output per worker is 3.4x higher than China's, meaning US manufacturing is more automated and technology-intensive.
Which economy is more stable—US or China?
The US economy is generally considered more stable due to: transparent financial markets, rule of law, diversified sectors, and lower debt-to-GDP ratio (123% vs China's 280%). China's economy faces risks from high local government debt ($2+ trillion), property sector instability (real estate is 28% of GDP), and capital flight concerns. However, China's centralized government allows rapid policy implementation, while the US faces political gridlock. Both have distinct stability profiles—US is institutionally stable; China is operationally flexible but carries higher debt risks.
What are the future growth prospects—will China overtake the US?
China's nominal GDP is unlikely to surpass the US in the near term, though it could narrowly approach it by 2035 if current growth rates continue. China faces headwinds: aging population (median age 38 vs US 39 but with shrinking workforce), slowing growth (5-6% projected vs 2-2.5% US), and real estate debt crises. The US benefits from immigration (adding ~1 million workers annually), technological leadership in AI/semiconductors, and demographic stability. By PPP measures, China may maintain GDP leadership, but by nominal GDP (the standard measure), the US is projected to remain ahead through 2050.
How to Choose Between United States Economy and China's Economy
Total GDP (2024): United States Economy has $27.4 trillion, while China's Economy has $17.9 trillion.
GDP Per Capita: United States Economy has $82,000, while China's Economy has $12,720.
Population: United States Economy has 339 million, while China's Economy has 1,426 million.
Unemployment Rate (2024): United States Economy has 4.0%, while China's Economy has 5.1%.
Consider: Manufacturing Output (% of GDP)
Manufacturing Output (% of GDP): United States Economy has 11%, while China's Economy has 28%.
Consider: Tech Sector Dominance (Fortune 500)
Tech Sector Dominance (Fortune 500): United States Economy has 195 companies, while China's Economy has 88 companies.
Consider: Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (2023)
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (2023): United States Economy has $285 billion, while China's Economy has $163 billion.