China's economy is 13x larger by nominal GDP ($17.9 trillion vs $1.3 trillion in 2024), but South Korea has higher GDP per capita ($32,250 vs $12,720), indicating greater individual wealth despite smaller overall size.
China vs South Korea Economy — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
World's largest economy by nominal GDP as of 2024, specializing in manufacturing, infrastructure, and tech exports.
Advanced $1.3 trillion economy specializing in semiconductors, electronics, and high-tech exports.
Nominal GDP (2024). GDP per Capita (2024). Population (2024). Manufacturing Output. Semiconductor Export Value (2023). Average Unemployment Rate (2024). Real GDP Growth Rate (2024)
China dominates in absolute economic scale, manufacturing capacity, and growth momentum, making it a critical global economic engine. Choose China for assessing worldwide supply chains and manufacturing hubs; choose South Korea for analyzing advanced technology, semiconductors, and high-income economies with superior living standards. South Korea represents a more developed, stable economy per capita, while China represents raw economic power and growth potential.
China Economy: 4.2% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $12,800 | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $220 billion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $189 billion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $17-18 | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 5.0% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $12,720 | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 70% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: ~80% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: Limited by US export controls, advancing in AI adoption | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: -0.5 to -2% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 4.5-5.0% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $296.5 billion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $620.1 billion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 0.5-2.0% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: Restricted to 7nm+ (export controls) | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $12,700 | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $620 billion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $525 | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $17.9 | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 82% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: -0.5 to -2.0% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: Limited by US export controls | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 4.6-4.8% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: €296.5 billion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: €467 | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 35% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 80%+ | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: ~5.2% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $13,500 | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $5,708.7 | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $296.5 | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $680 billion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 94% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 0.2-0.3% | South Korea Economy: N/A
Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production
China Economy: 28.3% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $400-800B | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $17.9 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 4.7% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 80% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $400-800B reduction | South Korea Economy: N/A
Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production Share
China Economy: 0.5-2.0pp | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $18.7 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (Annual)
China Economy: $163.5 billion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 37.9 | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 28% (diversified) | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $45.78 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 6.0% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 2nd | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 77% (government only) | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 14.3% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: ~5.5% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: EV manufacturing, 5G, solar, semiconductors | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $16,800 (119,800 yuan) | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $14,874 | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $11.1 trillion behind | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 6.1% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: ~16-17% of global GDP | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 0.9% CPI | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 5.1% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 3-4% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: Data not available | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $14,800+ | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 36% smaller than US | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 28% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 14% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 1,420 million | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $17.9T | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 5.2% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $12,500 | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $3.4T | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 5.3% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 31% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $4.8T (Alibaba, Tencent, Meituan weighted total) | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 37.4 years (projected 53 by 2050) | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $3.6 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 282% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $652 billion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: +$631 billion (surplus) | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $17.9T | South Korea Economy: $1.4T
China Economy: 142 companies | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $3.8 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $10.8 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 4.8% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 28.4% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 54.8% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $163 billion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $22.8 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $11.8 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 5.1% | South Korea Economy: 2.8%
China Economy: +$632 billion (surplus) | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 1,480 GW | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $11,500 | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $28.3 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 14.8% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 1,200 thousand | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $189B | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $35.5 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 687,231 | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $15.2 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $6.8 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
Tech Sector Market Capitalization (Top 7 Companies)
China Economy: $2.8 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
Average Annual GDP Growth Rate (2010-2023)
China Economy: 6.8% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $31.6 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 16% of world GDP | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $696 billion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $12,700 | South Korea Economy: $32,400
China Economy: 5.2% | South Korea Economy: 2.3%
China Economy: 77% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $4.2 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 920 million | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 1,820,000 | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 0.2% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $3.2 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $28.7 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 1,200,000 | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $38,000 | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 12.4% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $36.1 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 8.7% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 1,750,000 | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 38.8 years | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 2nd largest exporter (after USA) | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $3.6T | South Korea Economy: $680B
China Economy: 8-10% | South Korea Economy: 18-20%
China Economy: 30 million | South Korea Economy: 3.7 million
China Economy: $4.7 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 38.4 years | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: +$821 billion surplus | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 17% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $24 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $1,370 billion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $12.3 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $3.4 trillion | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 4.1% | South Korea Economy: 2.8%
China Economy: $17.9 trillion | South Korea Economy: $1.3 trillion
China Economy: $12,720 | South Korea Economy: $32,250
China Economy: 5.0% | South Korea Economy: 2.3%
China Economy: 20.6% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 2.1% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $28.7T | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $163B | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: $90 billion | South Korea Economy: $168 billion
China Economy: 2.1% | South Korea Economy: 4.6%
China Economy: 1,420 million | South Korea Economy: 52 million
Annual GDP Growth Rate (2020-2026 Average)
China Economy: 14.2% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 1.42B | South Korea Economy: 51.6 million
China Economy: 142,000 | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 60% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 2.4% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 32% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 18% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 29.4% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 1.59 million | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 15.8% | South Korea Economy: N/A
China Economy: 28% | South Korea Economy: 1.2%
China Economy: $369 billion | South Korea Economy: N/A
How to choose between China Economy and South Korea Economy
Compare China Economy vs South Korea Economy
China vs South Korea Economy — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for China vs South Korea Economy. Contains 216 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
China vs South Korea Economy — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for China vs South Korea Economy.
Is China or South Korea's economy larger?
China's economy is significantly larger in absolute terms with a nominal GDP of $17.9 trillion compared to South Korea's $1.3 trillion (2024). However, South Korea's economy is more advanced per capita with GDP per capita of $32,250 versus China's $12,720, indicating higher individual wealth and living standards.
Which country has stronger semiconductor dominance?
South Korea exports $168 billion in semiconductors annually (2023), compared to China's $90 billion, despite China's larger overall manufacturing base. South Korea's Samsung and SK Hynix control 44% of global DRAM and NAND flash memory markets, while China remains dependent on semiconductor imports and has faced US export restrictions on advanced chips.
China's economy is growing faster with 5.0% real GDP growth in 2024 compared to South Korea's 2.3%. However, China's growth is decelerating from historical 8-10% rates, while South Korea's lower but stable growth reflects a mature developed economy facing demographic headwinds.
What are the main economic challenges for each country?
China faces property market debt (real estate is 30% of GDP), an aging population (median age 38.8), and slowing growth momentum. South Korea struggles with the world's lowest fertility rate (0.72 children per woman), heavy export dependence (31% of GDP), and vulnerability to global trade disruptions affecting semiconductor demand.
Which economy is more stable for investment?
South Korea offers more stability with 2.8% unemployment, strong foreign reserves ($420 billion), and developed-market governance standards. China offers higher growth potential but carries greater political risk, property sector volatility, and regulatory uncertainty for foreign investors, particularly in tech sectors.
How to Choose Between China Economy and South Korea Economy
Nominal GDP (2024): China Economy has $17.9 trillion, while South Korea Economy has $1.3 trillion.
GDP per Capita (2024): China Economy has $12,720, while South Korea Economy has $32,250.
Population (2024): China Economy has 1.42 billion, while South Korea Economy has 52 million.
Manufacturing Output: China Economy has 28% of global manufacturing, while South Korea Economy has 1.2% of global manufacturing.
Consider: Semiconductor Export Value (2023)
Semiconductor Export Value (2023): China Economy has $90 billion, while South Korea Economy has $168 billion.
Consider: Average Unemployment Rate (2024)
Average Unemployment Rate (2024): China Economy has 5.1%, while South Korea Economy has 2.8%.
Real GDP Growth Rate (2024): China Economy has 5.0%, while South Korea Economy has 2.3%.