China vs Developing Economies
type: Article
description: China is a middle-income country that has transitioned into upper-middle-income status with a $17.9 trillion GDP, while developing economies collectively represent 150+ nations with highly variable income levels, growth rates, and institutional maturity. China's distinction lies in its manufacturing dominance, technological advancement, and state-directed development model, whereas developing economies range from emerging tech hubs to resource-dependent nations.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-06-24T03:23:53.157Z
date created: 2026-06-24T03:23:53.157Z
date modified: 2026-06-24T03:23:53.780Z
content reference time: 2026-06-24T03:23:53.780Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: China
about: Developing Economies
abstract: China is a middle-income country that has transitioned into upper-middle-income status with a $17.9 trillion GDP, while developing economies collectively represent 150+ nations with highly variable income levels, growth rates, and institutional maturity. China's distinction lies in its manufacturing dominance, technological advancement, and state-directed development model, whereas developing economies range from emerging tech hubs to resource-dependent nations.
text: Nominal GDP (2024). GDP Per Capita. Manufacturing Output Share (Global). Patent Filings (Annual). Foreign Direct Investment Inflow (2023). Urban Population Percentage. State-Directed Economic Model
conclusion text: China stands apart from typical developing economies due to its advanced manufacturing infrastructure, technological capabilities (exemplified by 1.57M annual patents vs. 200-400K for peer developing nations), and higher GDP per capita of $12,720. Choose to study China if analyzing industrial policy, state capitalism, or technological advancement in emerging markets; choose to study developing economies broadly if examining income inequality, growth variability, dependency on commodity exports, or international development aid effectiveness. China represents an aspirational development model for some nations but operates under fundamentally different governance structures than most developing economies.
additional property: GDP
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $17.7 Trillion | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Military Budget
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $292 Billion | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Total GDP (2026 Projection)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $33-34 trillion | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: GDP Growth Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 4.6-4.8% | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Per Capita GDP
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $~12,000-13,000 | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Global Manufacturing Output
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 35% of global output | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Advanced Semiconductor Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: Limited by export controls | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Solar Panel Global Production
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 80%+ | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Tariff/Trade War Vulnerability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $400-800 billion potential loss | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Projected GDP Growth Rate 2026
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 4.6-4.8% | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Total GDP
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $20.6 trillion | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Global EV Production Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 70% | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Global Solar Panel Manufacturing Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 80%+ | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: LFP Battery Global Production Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 94% | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Potential Tariff Impact on Growth
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: -0.5 to -2.0% | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: AI Adoption Growth Contribution 2026
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 0.2-0.3% | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Annual GDP Growth Rate (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 4.6-4.8% | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Global EV Production Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 70% | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 94% | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Potential Tariff-Related GDP Impact
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: -0.5 to -2% ($400-800B reduction) | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: GDP (Nominal)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $17.9 trillion | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Active Military Personnel
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 2,300 thousand | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Main Battle Tanks
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 5,800 | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Foreign Exchange Reserves
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $3.2 trillion | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Government Type
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: One-party communist state | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Internet Freedom Score
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 88 (not free) | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Electric Vehicles Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 40% (global EV sales) | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: GDP Per Capita (2026 Projection)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $13,738 | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Nominal GDP (2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $17.9 trillion | Developing Economies: $45.2 trillion (collective)
  value reference: Developing Economies
additional property: Government Education Expenditure Per Capita
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $467 (2023) | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Total Government Expenditure (2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $6,177.1 billion | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Defence Expenditure (2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $296.5 billion | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Government Budget Deficit (2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $1,272.4 billion | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Population (Approximate 2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 1.4 billion | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Total GDP (Nominal 2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $17.9 | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Total Population
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 1.42 billion | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Defence Expenditure 2024
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: €296.5 billion | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Education Spending Per Capita
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: €467 | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Government Health Expenditure
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $620,062.8M | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Oil Import Cost Impact at $126 Brent
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 1.03% | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Population
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 1,425 million | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Life Expectancy at Birth
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 78.2 years | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Human Development Index
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 0.796 (Very High) | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Patent Filings Per Year
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 1,574,822 | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Government Debt-to-GDP Ratio
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 77% | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Manufacturing as % of GDP
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 28% | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Total GDP (Nominal)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $17.9 trillion | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Global Manufacturing Output Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 28% | Developing Economies: N/A
additional property: Foreign Direct Investment Inflow (2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $163 billion | Developing Economies: N/A
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/china
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/china
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/developing-economies
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/developing-economies
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/china-vs-developing-economies
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/china-vs-developing-economies
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/usa-vs-china
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/china-vs-united-states-gdp-comparison-2026)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/china-vs-developing-economies)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/china-vs-taiwan
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/us-vs-china-gdp-per-capita-2026
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/japan-vs-china-economic-comparison-2026
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/developed-vs-developing-economies
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/japan-vs-china
teaches: How to choose between China and Developing Economies
genre: Economy

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: China vs Developing Economies — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

China
type: Country
language: en-US
description: Upper-middle-income country with world's 2nd-largest economy and dominant manufacturing base.
image: ImageObject
  caption: China
subject of: China vs Developing Economies
image: ImageObject
  caption: China

Developing Economies
type: Thing
alternate name: DE
language: en-US
description: 150+ lower and lower-middle income nations with highly variable growth, governance, and development indicators.
subject of: China vs Developing Economies

China vs Developing Economies — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for China vs Developing Economies. Contains 123 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: GDP
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Economy
variable measured: Military Budget
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Military
variable measured: Total GDP (2026 Projection)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Economic Size
variable measured: GDP Growth Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Growth
variable measured: Per Capita GDP
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Living Standards
variable measured: Global Manufacturing Output
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Industrial Scale
variable measured: Advanced Semiconductor Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Technology Leadership
variable measured: Solar Panel Global Production
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Green Energy
variable measured: Tariff/Trade War Vulnerability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Economic Risk
variable measured: Projected GDP Growth Rate 2026
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Economic Growth
variable measured: Total GDP
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Economic Scale
variable measured: Global EV Production Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Manufacturing Leadership
variable measured: Global Solar Panel Manufacturing Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Clean Energy Leadership
variable measured: LFP Battery Global Production Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Manufacturing
variable measured: Potential Tariff Impact on Growth
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Risk
variable measured: AI Adoption Growth Contribution 2026
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Technology
variable measured: Annual GDP Growth Rate (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Economic Growth
variable measured: Global EV Production Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Technology & Innovation
variable measured: Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Energy Storage
variable measured: Potential Tariff-Related GDP Impact
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Trade Risk
variable measured: GDP (Nominal)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Economy
variable measured: Active Military Personnel
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Manpower
variable measured: Main Battle Tanks
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Military
variable measured: Foreign Exchange Reserves
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Financial Stability
variable measured: Government Type
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Governance
variable measured: Internet Freedom Score
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Freedoms
variable measured: Electric Vehicles Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Technology
variable measured: GDP Per Capita (2026 Projection)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Economic Output
variable measured: Nominal GDP (2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Economic Scale
variable measured: Government Education Expenditure Per Capita
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Government Spending
variable measured: Total Government Expenditure (2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Government Spending
variable measured: Defence Expenditure (2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Government Spending
variable measured: Government Budget Deficit (2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Government Finance
variable measured: Population (Approximate 2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Demographics
variable measured: Total GDP (Nominal 2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Economic Scale
variable measured: Total Population
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Demographics
variable measured: Defence Expenditure 2024
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Military Strength
variable measured: Education Spending Per Capita
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Human Capital Investment
variable measured: Government Health Expenditure
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Health Spending
variable measured: Oil Import Cost Impact at $126 Brent
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Energy Security Risk
variable measured: Population
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Demographics
variable measured: Life Expectancy at Birth
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Healthcare
variable measured: Human Development Index
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Development
variable measured: Patent Filings Per Year
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Innovation
variable measured: Government Debt-to-GDP Ratio
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Fiscal Health
variable measured: Manufacturing as % of GDP
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Economic Structure
variable measured: Total GDP (Nominal)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Economic Scale
variable measured: Global Manufacturing Output Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Industrial Capacity
variable measured: Foreign Direct Investment Inflow (2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Investment
variable measured: Global GDP Ranking
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Economic Scale
variable measured: Population Growth Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Demographics
variable measured: Projected GDP Growth Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Economy
variable measured: Per Capita GDP (PPP)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Living Standards
variable measured: High-Speed Rail Network
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Infrastructure
variable measured: Renewable Energy Capacity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Energy
variable measured: Annual Patent Filings
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Innovation
variable measured: Manufacturing Output (Global Share)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Production Capacity
variable measured: Median Age
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Demographics
variable measured: Urban Population
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Development
variable measured: Foreign Direct Investment Inflow (2023)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Capital Attraction
variable measured: Debt-to-GDP Ratio
variable measured: Nominal GDP
variable measured: GDP Per Capita
variable measured: Global Trade Rank
variable measured: Annual Tech Sector Revenue
variable measured: Semiconductor Market Share
variable measured: Foreign Direct Investment (Annual)
variable measured: PPP GDP (2026, intl. $)
variable measured: Nominal GDP world rank
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/china-vs-developing-economies

China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for China vs Developing Economies.
has defined term: Economy
has defined term: Military
has defined term: Economic Size
has defined term: Growth
has defined term: Living Standards
has defined term: Industrial Scale
has defined term: Technology Leadership
has defined term: Green Energy
has defined term: Economic Risk
has defined term: Economic Growth
has defined term: Economic Scale
has defined term: Manufacturing Leadership
has defined term: Clean Energy Leadership
has defined term: Manufacturing
has defined term: Risk
has defined term: Technology
has defined term: Technology & Innovation
has defined term: Energy Storage
has defined term: Trade Risk
has defined term: Manpower
has defined term: Financial Stability
has defined term: Governance
has defined term: Freedoms
has defined term: Economic Output
has defined term: Government Spending
has defined term: Government Finance
has defined term: Demographics
has defined term: Military Strength
has defined term: Human Capital Investment
has defined term: Health Spending
has defined term: Energy Security Risk
has defined term: Healthcare
has defined term: Development
has defined term: Innovation
has defined term: Fiscal Health
has defined term: Economic Structure
has defined term: Industrial Capacity
has defined term: Investment
has defined term: Infrastructure
has defined term: Energy
has defined term: Production Capacity
has defined term: Capital Attraction
has defined term: Financial Health
has defined term: Trade Power
has defined term: Technology Sector
has defined term: Capital Inflows
has defined term: Scale
has defined term: People
has defined term: Composition
has defined term: Global
has defined term: Health
has defined term: Corporate Power
has defined term: Growth Trajectory
has defined term: Employment
has defined term: Industry
has defined term: Trade
has defined term: Sectoral Strength
has defined term: Global Position
has defined term: Growth Metrics
has defined term: Sectoral Composition
has defined term: Capital Flows
has defined term: Digital Infrastructure
has defined term: Development Status
has defined term: Wealth & Living Standards
has defined term: Health & Development
has defined term: Education

Economy
type: DefinedTerm
term code: economy
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Military
type: DefinedTerm
term code: military
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Economic Size
type: DefinedTerm
term code: economic-size
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Growth
type: DefinedTerm
term code: growth
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Living Standards
type: DefinedTerm
term code: living-standards
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Industrial Scale
type: DefinedTerm
term code: industrial-scale
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Technology Leadership
type: DefinedTerm
term code: technology-leadership
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Green Energy
type: DefinedTerm
term code: green-energy
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Economic Risk
type: DefinedTerm
term code: economic-risk
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Economic Growth
type: DefinedTerm
term code: economic-growth
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Economic Scale
type: DefinedTerm
term code: economic-scale
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Manufacturing Leadership
type: DefinedTerm
term code: manufacturing-leadership
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Clean Energy Leadership
type: DefinedTerm
term code: clean-energy-leadership
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Manufacturing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: manufacturing
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Risk
type: DefinedTerm
term code: risk
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Technology
type: DefinedTerm
term code: technology
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Technology & Innovation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: technology-&-innovation
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Energy Storage
type: DefinedTerm
term code: energy-storage
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Trade Risk
type: DefinedTerm
term code: trade-risk
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Manpower
type: DefinedTerm
term code: manpower
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Financial Stability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: financial-stability
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Governance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: governance
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Freedoms
type: DefinedTerm
term code: freedoms
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Economic Output
type: DefinedTerm
term code: economic-output
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Government Spending
type: DefinedTerm
term code: government-spending
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Government Finance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: government-finance
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Demographics
type: DefinedTerm
term code: demographics
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Military Strength
type: DefinedTerm
term code: military-strength
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Human Capital Investment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: human-capital-investment
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Health Spending
type: DefinedTerm
term code: health-spending
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Energy Security Risk
type: DefinedTerm
term code: energy-security-risk
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Healthcare
type: DefinedTerm
term code: healthcare
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Development
type: DefinedTerm
term code: development
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Innovation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: innovation
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Fiscal Health
type: DefinedTerm
term code: fiscal-health
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Economic Structure
type: DefinedTerm
term code: economic-structure
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Industrial Capacity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: industrial-capacity
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Investment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: investment
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Infrastructure
type: DefinedTerm
term code: infrastructure
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Energy
type: DefinedTerm
term code: energy
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Production Capacity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: production-capacity
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Capital Attraction
type: DefinedTerm
term code: capital-attraction
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Financial Health
type: DefinedTerm
term code: financial-health
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Trade Power
type: DefinedTerm
term code: trade-power
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Technology Sector
type: DefinedTerm
term code: technology-sector
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Capital Inflows
type: DefinedTerm
term code: capital-inflows
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scale
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scale
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

People
type: DefinedTerm
term code: people
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Composition
type: DefinedTerm
term code: composition
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Global
type: DefinedTerm
term code: global
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Health
type: DefinedTerm
term code: health
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Corporate Power
type: DefinedTerm
term code: corporate-power
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Growth Trajectory
type: DefinedTerm
term code: growth-trajectory
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Employment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: employment
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Industry
type: DefinedTerm
term code: industry
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Trade
type: DefinedTerm
term code: trade
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Sectoral Strength
type: DefinedTerm
term code: sectoral-strength
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Global Position
type: DefinedTerm
term code: global-position
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Growth Metrics
type: DefinedTerm
term code: growth-metrics
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Sectoral Composition
type: DefinedTerm
term code: sectoral-composition
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Capital Flows
type: DefinedTerm
term code: capital-flows
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Digital Infrastructure
type: DefinedTerm
term code: digital-infrastructure
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Development Status
type: DefinedTerm
term code: development-status
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Wealth & Living Standards
type: DefinedTerm
term code: wealth-&-living-standards
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Health & Development
type: DefinedTerm
term code: health-&-development
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Education
type: DefinedTerm
term code: education
in defined term set: China vs Developing Economies — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-06-24T03:23:53.780Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: china-vs-developing-economies
main entity: Is China still considered a developing economy in 2024-2025?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: No. China is classified as an upper-middle-income country by the World Bank (since 2016) and is the world's 2nd largest economy by nominal GDP at $17.9 trillion. While it retains some development challenges (regional inequality, aging population), its per capita GDP of $12,720 and technological capabilities place it significantly above typical developing nations. The UN's Least Developed Countries (LDC) list excludes China; it is instead grouped with emerging markets and middle-income countries.
    language: en-US
main entity: Why do developing economies attract more FDI than China despite lower GDP?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Developing economies collectively received $650+ billion in FDI in 2023 vs. China's $163.1 billion due to: (1) supply chain diversification away from China-dependency post-COVID, (2) lower labor costs (60-75% below China), (3) access to fast-growing consumer markets in India, Southeast Asia, and Africa with 2.5B+ young populations, (4) reduced geopolitical risk perception, and (5) government incentives in countries like Vietnam, India, and Rwanda. However, China still receives more per-capita FDI and in higher-tech sectors.
    language: en-US
main entity: What is the key economic difference between China and developing economies?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: The core difference is development level and economic structure. China has: (1) $12,720 GDP per capita vs. $5,800 average for developing economies, (2) a diversified economy across manufacturing, services, tech, and finance vs. commodity/resource dependency in many developing nations, (3) 1.57M annual patents vs. 300K average per major developing economy, and (4) centralized state-directed development model vs. mixed governance models. Most developing economies remain dependent on commodity exports, agriculture, or basic manufacturing.
    language: en-US
main entity: How do developing economies differ from each other?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Developing economies are highly heterogeneous. India's IT sector rivals China's in some areas with 5.5M software engineers vs. lower-income Sub-Saharan African nations dependent 40-60% on agriculture. Ghana has 6.5% annual growth while others stagnate. Vietnam successfully attracting manufacturing relocation ($16.5B FDI in 2023) while many African nations struggle with debt servicing. Classification as 'developing' ranges from lower-income countries ($1,200-2,000 per capita) to upper-middle-income peers of China ($8,000-12,000 per capita), creating a 10x income spread within the category.
    language: en-US
main entity: What can developing economies learn from China's development model?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Proponents cite China's successes: (1) state investment in manufacturing infrastructure and SEZs (Special Economic Zones), (2) focus on education (gross tertiary enrollment 60% vs. 25% in low-income countries), (3) directed industrial policy toward high-value sectors, (4) infrastructure investment (500,000+ km of highways, 145,000 km of railways). However, critics note negative lessons: (1) environmental degradation requiring costly cleanup, (2) debt accumulation ($282% debt-to-GDP), (3) authoritarianism limiting innovation diversity, (4) demographic decline from one-child policy. Most developing economies are adopting selective elements (SEZs in Vietnam, Rwanda; tech hubs in Kenya) while avoiding full state-directed models.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between China and Developing Economies
type: HowTo
description: China is a middle-income country that has transitioned into upper-middle-income status with a $17.9 trillion GDP, while developing economies collectively represent 150+ nations with highly variable income levels, growth rates, and institutional maturity. China's distinction lies in its manufacturing dominance, technological advancement, and state-directed development model, whereas developing economies range from emerging tech hubs to resource-dependent nations.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Nominal GDP (2024)
step: Consider: GDP Per Capita
step: Consider: Manufacturing Output Share (Global)
step: Consider: Patent Filings (Annual)
step: Consider: Foreign Direct Investment Inflow (2023)
step: Consider: Urban Population Percentage
step: Consider: State-Directed Economic Model
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: China stands apart from typical developing economies due to its advanced manufacturing infrastructure, technological capabilities (exemplified by 1.57M annual patents vs. 200-400K for peer developing nations), and higher GDP per capita of $12,720. Choose to study China if analyzing industrial policy, state capitalism, or technological advancement in emerging markets; choose to study developing economies broadly if examining income inequality, growth variability, dependency on commodity exports, or international development aid effectiveness. China represents an aspirational development model for some nations but operates under fundamentally different governance structures than most developing economies.

Consider: Nominal GDP (2024)
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Nominal GDP (2024): China has $17.9 trillion, while Developing Economies has $45.2 trillion (collective).

Consider: GDP Per Capita
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: GDP Per Capita: China has $12,720 USD, while Developing Economies has $4,200-$8,500 USD (varies).

Consider: Manufacturing Output Share (Global)
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Manufacturing Output Share (Global): China has 28-30% of world manufacturing, while Developing Economies has 15-20% (collective).

Consider: Patent Filings (Annual)
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Patent Filings (Annual): China has 1.57 million (2023), while Developing Economies has 200,000-400,000 per major economy.

Consider: Foreign Direct Investment Inflow (2023)
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Foreign Direct Investment Inflow (2023): China has $163.1 billion, while Developing Economies has $650+ billion (collective).

Consider: Urban Population Percentage
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Urban Population Percentage: China has 65.5%, while Developing Economies has 45-55% (average).

Consider: State-Directed Economic Model
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: State-Directed Economic Model: China has Yes (centralized planning with market features), while Developing Economies has Mixed (varies by country).

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: China vs Developing Economies
review body: China is a middle-income country that has transitioned into upper-middle-income status with a $17.9 trillion GDP, while developing economies collectively represent 150+ nations with highly variable income levels, growth rates, and institutional maturity. China's distinction lies in its manufacturing dominance, technological advancement, and state-directed development model, whereas developing economies range from emerging tech hubs to resource-dependent nations.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: China vs Developing Economies

Global GDP Ranking
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 2nd | Developing Economies: N/A

Population Growth Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: China: -0.1% | Developing Economies: N/A

Projected GDP Growth Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 4.3% | Developing Economies: N/A

Per Capita GDP (PPP)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $23,800 | Developing Economies: N/A

High-Speed Rail Network
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 45,000 km | Developing Economies: N/A

Renewable Energy Capacity
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 1,576 GW | Developing Economies: N/A

Annual Patent Filings
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 1.57 million | Developing Economies: 200,000-400,000 per major economy
value reference: Developing Economies

Manufacturing Output (Global Share)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 28-30% | Developing Economies: 15-20%
value reference: China

Median Age
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 39 years | Developing Economies: 27-30 years
value reference: Developing Economies

Urban Population
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 65.5% | Developing Economies: 45-55%
value reference: China

Foreign Direct Investment Inflow (2023)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $163.1 billion | Developing Economies: $650+ billion (collective)
value reference: Developing Economies

Debt-to-GDP Ratio
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 282% | Developing Economies: 60-150% (varies widely)
value reference: Developing Economies

Nominal GDP
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $17.9 trillion | Developing Economies: N/A

GDP Per Capita
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $12,700 | Developing Economies: $4,200-$8,500 (avg $5,800)
value reference: China

Global Trade Rank
type: PropertyValue
value: China: #2 globally | Developing Economies: N/A

Annual Tech Sector Revenue
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $850 billion | Developing Economies: N/A

Semiconductor Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 12% (design & manufacturing) | Developing Economies: N/A

Foreign Direct Investment (Annual)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $163 billion (2024) | Developing Economies: N/A

PPP GDP (2026, intl. $)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $43.5T | Developing Economies: N/A

Nominal GDP world rank
type: PropertyValue
value: China: #2 | Developing Economies: N/A

PPP GDP world rank
type: PropertyValue
value: China: #1 | Developing Economies: N/A

Real GDP growth (2026, YoY)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 4.4% | Developing Economies: N/A

Real GDP growth (2024)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 5.0% | Developing Economies: N/A

Real GDP growth (2025)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 4.7% | Developing Economies: N/A

IMF avg growth (2026–2030)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 3.7% | Developing Economies: N/A

Cumulative real GDP growth (2022–2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 24.4% | Developing Economies: N/A

Projected 2030 nominal GDP
type: PropertyValue
value: China: ~$25.5T | Developing Economies: N/A

Per-capita nominal GDP
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $14,800 | Developing Economies: N/A

Per-capita PPP GDP
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $30,900 | Developing Economies: N/A

Services share of GDP
type: PropertyValue
value: China: ~55% | Developing Economies: N/A

Industry share of GDP
type: PropertyValue
value: China: ~38% | Developing Economies: N/A

Agriculture share of GDP
type: PropertyValue
value: China: ~7% | Developing Economies: N/A

Economy type
type: PropertyValue
value: China: World's factory (services rising) | Developing Economies: N/A

Manufacturing scale
type: PropertyValue
value: China: Largest — ~29% of global value-added | Developing Economies: N/A

Share of world nominal GDP (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: ~18% | Developing Economies: N/A

Share of world PPP GDP (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: ~22% | Developing Economies: N/A

Life Expectancy
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 78.5 years | Developing Economies: N/A

R&D Spending as % of GDP
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 2.1% | Developing Economies: N/A

Manufacturing Share of Global Output
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 28% | Developing Economies: N/A

Fortune 500 Companies
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 124 companies | Developing Economies: N/A

Internet Users
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 926 million | Developing Economies: N/A

Annual GDP Growth Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 5.0% | Developing Economies: N/A

Foreign Direct Investment Inflow
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $163 billion | Developing Economies: N/A

Years to Double GDP at Current Growth Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 14.6 years | Developing Economies: N/A

Real GDP Growth Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 4.5% | Developing Economies: N/A

Unemployment Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 5.1% | Developing Economies: N/A

Manufacturing Output
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 27% | Developing Economies: N/A

Merchandise Exports
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $1,830 billion | Developing Economies: N/A

Unicorn Tech Companies
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 305 | Developing Economies: N/A

Nominal GDP 2026
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $17.9 trillion | Developing Economies: N/A

PPP-Adjusted GDP 2026
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $33.8 trillion | Developing Economies: N/A

GDP Per Capita (Nominal)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $12,700 | Developing Economies: N/A

Manufacturing Sector Output
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $4.7 trillion | Developing Economies: N/A

Services Sector Share
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 55% | Developing Economies: N/A

Global GDP Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 16% (nominal) | Developing Economies: N/A

National Debt Level
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $13.5 trillion | Developing Economies: N/A

GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) 2026
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $35.2 trillion | Developing Economies: N/A

Annual Real GDP Growth Rate (2025-2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 4.8% | Developing Economies: N/A

Technology Sector as % of GDP
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 8.2% | Developing Economies: N/A

Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (2025)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $192 billion | Developing Economies: N/A

National Debt as % of GDP
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 74% | Developing Economies: N/A

Gross Domestic Product
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $17.9 trillion | Developing Economies: N/A

Income Per Capita (PPP)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $23,500 | Developing Economies: N/A

Manufacturing Output Share
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 28% | Developing Economies: N/A

R&D Spending
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 2.6% | Developing Economies: N/A

Broadband Penetration
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 73% | Developing Economies: N/A

Human Development Index (HDI) Score
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | Developing Economies: Below 0.800

GDP Per Capita
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | Developing Economies: $5,000 - $15,000

Economic Growth Rate 2026
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | Developing Economies: 4.2%

Life Expectancy at Birth
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | Developing Economies: 65-75

Electricity Access Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | Developing Economies: 75-95%

Adult Literacy Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | Developing Economies: 70-90%

Manufacturing Sector Size
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | Developing Economies: 25-35%

Political Stability Index
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | Developing Economies: -0.5 to +1.0

SpeakableSpecification
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css selector: #verdict
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China — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Developing Economies — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare China vs Developing Economies
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/china-vs-developing-economies
object: China
object: Developing Economies

Debt-to-GDP Ratio
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Financial Health

Nominal GDP
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Economic Size

GDP Per Capita
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Living Standards

Global Trade Rank
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Trade Power

Annual Tech Sector Revenue
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Technology

Semiconductor Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Technology Sector

Foreign Direct Investment (Annual)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Capital Inflows

PPP GDP (2026, intl. $)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scale

Nominal GDP world rank
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scale

PPP GDP world rank
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scale

Real GDP growth (2026, YoY)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Growth

Real GDP growth (2024)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Growth

Real GDP growth (2025)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Growth

IMF avg growth (2026–2030)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Growth

Cumulative real GDP growth (2022–2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Growth

Projected 2030 nominal GDP
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Growth

Per-capita nominal GDP
type: PropertyValue
value reference: People

Per-capita PPP GDP
type: PropertyValue
value reference: People

Services share of GDP
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Composition

Industry share of GDP
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Composition

Agriculture share of GDP
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Composition

Economy type
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Composition

Manufacturing scale
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Composition

Share of world nominal GDP (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Global

Share of world PPP GDP (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Global

Life Expectancy
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Health

R&D Spending as % of GDP
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Innovation

Manufacturing Share of Global Output
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Manufacturing

Fortune 500 Companies
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Corporate Power

Internet Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Technology

Annual GDP Growth Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Economic Growth

Foreign Direct Investment Inflow
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Investment

Years to Double GDP at Current Growth Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Growth Trajectory

Real GDP Growth Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Growth

Unemployment Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Employment

Manufacturing Output
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Industry

Merchandise Exports
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Trade

Unicorn Tech Companies
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Innovation

Nominal GDP 2026
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Economic Size

PPP-Adjusted GDP 2026
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Economic Size

GDP Per Capita (Nominal)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Living Standards

Manufacturing Sector Output
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Sectoral Strength

Services Sector Share
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Economic Structure

Global GDP Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Global Position

National Debt Level
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Fiscal Health

GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) 2026
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Economic Output

Annual Real GDP Growth Rate (2025-2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Growth Metrics

Technology Sector as % of GDP
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Sectoral Composition

Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (2025)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Capital Flows

National Debt as % of GDP
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Fiscal Health

Gross Domestic Product
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Economy

Income Per Capita (PPP)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Living Standards

Manufacturing Output Share
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Production Capacity

R&D Spending
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Innovation

Broadband Penetration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Digital Infrastructure

Human Development Index (HDI) Score
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Development Status

GDP Per Capita
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Wealth & Living Standards

Economic Growth Rate 2026
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Economic Growth

Life Expectancy at Birth
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Health & Development

Electricity Access Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Infrastructure

Adult Literacy Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Education

Manufacturing Sector Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Economic Structure

Political Stability Index
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Governance