China's economy is 1.5x larger by GDP ($17.9T vs $12.0T), but India is growing faster at 6.2% annually versus China's 4.5%, positioning India to potentially surpass China within 15-20 years. China leads in manufacturing and exports, while India leads in services and software.
China vs India Economy 2026 — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
World's 2nd largest economy and top exporter with mature manufacturing base and high per-capita income
World's 5th largest economy with fastest major-economy growth rate and expanding services sector
Total GDP (2026). Annual GDP Growth Rate. GDP Per Capita. Manufacturing Output Share (Global). IT Services & Software Exports. Foreign Direct Investment (2025). Debt-to-GDP Ratio
China currently leads globally with a significantly larger economy and manufacturing dominance, making it the world's second-largest economy after the US. However, India's faster growth rate and demographic advantages position it for long-term economic expansion. Choose China for analyzing current global manufacturing and export power; choose India for understanding future growth potential and emerging market opportunities.
China Economy: 4.2% | India Economy: 6.8%
China Economy: $12,800 | India Economy: $2,389
China Economy: $220 billion | India Economy: $245 billion
China Economy: $189 billion | India Economy: $85.2 billion
China Economy: $17-18 | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 5.0% | India Economy: 6.2%
China Economy: $12,720 | India Economy: $1,030
China Economy: ~80% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: Limited by US export controls, advancing in AI adoption | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: -0.5 to -2% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 4.5-5.0% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $296.5 billion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $620.1 billion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 0.5-2.0% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: Restricted to 7nm+ (export controls) | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $12,700 | India Economy: $2,813
China Economy: $620 billion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $525 | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $17.9 | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: -0.5 to -2.0% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: Limited by US export controls | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 4.6-4.8% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: €296.5 billion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: €467 | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 80%+ | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: ~5.2% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $13,500 | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $5,708.7 | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $296.5 | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 0.2-0.3% | India Economy: N/A
Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production
China Economy: 28.3% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $400-800B | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $17.7 trillion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 4.7% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $400-800B reduction | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 4.8% | India Economy: N/A
Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production Share
China Economy: 0.5-2.0pp | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $17.9 trillion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $18.7 trillion | India Economy: N/A
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (Annual)
China Economy: $163.5 billion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 38.4 years | India Economy: 27.3 years
China Economy: 28% (diversified) | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 4.9% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $12,700 | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $17.9 trillion | India Economy: $4.15 trillion
China Economy: $45.78 trillion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 6.0% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $680 billion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 14.3% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: ~5.5% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: EV manufacturing, 5G, solar, semiconductors | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $16,800 (119,800 yuan) | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 5.0% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $14,874 | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $11.1 trillion behind | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 6.1% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: ~16-17% of global GDP | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 0.9% CPI | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 5.1% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 3-4% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: Data not available | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $14,800+ | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 36% smaller than US | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $189 billion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 1,420 million | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 282% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $3.6 trillion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $652 billion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: +$631 billion (surplus) | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $17.9 trillion | India Economy: $13.6 trillion
China Economy: 28% | India Economy: 2.5%
China Economy: 142 companies | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $3.8 trillion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $10.8 trillion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 4.5% | India Economy: 6.2%
China Economy: 28.4% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 54.8% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $163 billion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $22.8 trillion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $3.2 trillion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $8.7 trillion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: +$632 billion (surplus) | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 1,480 GW | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $11,500 | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 1.426 billion | India Economy: 1.45 billion
China Economy: $28.3 trillion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 14.8% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 1,200 thousand | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $163.2 billion | India Economy: $85.1 billion
China Economy: $34.7 trillion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: +$631 billion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 687,231 | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 5.3% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $15.2 trillion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $6.8 trillion | India Economy: N/A
Tech Sector Market Capitalization (Top 7 Companies)
China Economy: $2.8 trillion | India Economy: N/A
Average Annual GDP Growth Rate (2010-2023)
China Economy: 6.8% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $31.6 trillion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 16% of world GDP | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $696 billion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $12,720 | India Economy: $885
China Economy: $4.2 trillion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 920 million | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $163 billion | India Economy: $85 billion
China Economy: $12,720 | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 1,820,000 | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 0.2% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 1,200,000 | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $38,000 | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 12.4% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $23.5 trillion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $27.4 trillion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 8.7% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 1,750,000 | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 38.8 years | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 2nd largest exporter (after USA) | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $3.6T | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 8-10% | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 30 million | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $4.7 trillion | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: 38.4 years | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: +$821 billion surplus | India Economy: N/A
China Economy: $17.9 trillion | India Economy: $12.0 trillion
China Economy: $1,370 billion | India Economy: $460 billion
China Economy: $12.3 trillion | India Economy: $2.5 trillion
China Economy: N/A | India Economy: 7.7%
China Economy: N/A | India Economy: 3.4%
China Economy: N/A | India Economy: 6.9%
How to choose between China Economy and India Economy
China vs India Economy 2026 — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for China vs India Economy 2026. Contains 182 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
China vs India Economy 2026 — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for China vs India Economy 2026.
At current growth rates (6.2% vs 4.5%), India could potentially surpass China in nominal GDP within 15-20 years, likely around 2040-2045. However, China maintains structural advantages in manufacturing infrastructure and capital stock that would need to be overcome. The exact timeline depends on exchange rates, commodity prices, and policy changes in both nations.
Why is China's economy larger if India is growing faster?
China began economic liberalization in 1978, giving it a 15-year head start on development. It also industrialized rapidly with massive infrastructure investment and manufacturing, reaching a mature economy stage. India started broader liberalization in 1991 and is still in rapid catch-up growth phase. Starting from a much larger base, even faster percentage growth takes time to close the gap.
China offers mature returns through established manufacturing and infrastructure sectors but faces demographic headwinds. India offers higher growth potential with younger demographics but carries higher execution risk due to infrastructure gaps. Short-term investors may prefer China's stability; long-term investors often favor India's growth runway.
How does China's manufacturing dominance compare to India?
China manufactures 28% of the world's goods versus India's 2.5%, reflecting decades of investment in factories, supply chains, and logistics. However, rising labor costs in China are driving production shifts to India, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. India is gradually increasing its share but would need 10+ years of sustained development to match China's scale.
Why is India's IT sector stronger than China's?
India has 4.5 million IT professionals (vs China's 3.8 million) and built its competitive advantage on English-language skills, global client relationships, and outsourcing models. India's software exports ($245B) are 11% higher than China's ($220B) because Indian firms like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro captured global outsourcing contracts. China focuses more on domestic tech companies and domestic consumption.
How to Choose Between China Economy and India Economy
Total GDP (2026): China Economy has $17.9 trillion, while India Economy has $12.0 trillion.
Annual GDP Growth Rate: China Economy has 4.5%, while India Economy has 6.2%.
GDP Per Capita: China Economy has $12,720, while India Economy has $885.
Consider: Manufacturing Output Share (Global)
Manufacturing Output Share (Global): China Economy has 28%, while India Economy has 2.5%.
Consider: IT Services & Software Exports
IT Services & Software Exports: China Economy has $220 billion, while India Economy has $245 billion.
Consider: Foreign Direct Investment (2025)
Foreign Direct Investment (2025): China Economy has $163 billion, while India Economy has $85 billion.
Debt-to-GDP Ratio: China Economy has 77%, while India Economy has 84%.