China vs United States
type: Article
description: The United States has a higher GDP per capita ($76,398 vs $12,720) and leads in technological innovation, while China has the world's largest population (1.4 billion) and is the largest manufacturing economy by output volume. The US emphasizes service and high-tech sectors, while China dominates in manufacturing and raw production capacity.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-03-30T09:00:32.791Z
date created: 2026-03-30T09:00:32.791Z
date modified: 2026-07-04T18:01:47.404Z
content reference time: 2026-07-04T18:01:47.404Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: China
about: United States
abstract: The United States has a higher GDP per capita ($76,398 vs $12,720) and leads in technological innovation, while China has the world's largest population (1.4 billion) and is the largest manufacturing economy by output volume. The US emphasizes service and high-tech sectors, while China dominates in manufacturing and raw production capacity.
text: GDP Per Capita. Total GDP (Nominal). Population. Manufacturing Output. R&D Investment as % of GDP. Number of Fortune 500 Companies. Life Expectancy
conclusion text: Choose China if you're analyzing global manufacturing capacity, population-based markets, or growth potential in emerging sectors. Choose the United States if you're evaluating individual wealth, technological innovation, corporate market dominance, or service-sector leadership. Both are essential economic powers with complementary strengths: the US leads in high-value sectors and per-capita wealth, while China leads in production scale and total economic output.
additional property: GDP
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $17.7 Trillion | United States: $25.5 Trillion
  value reference: United States
additional property: Military Budget
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $292 Billion | United States: $877 Billion
  value reference: United States
additional property: Total GDP (2026 Projection)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $33-34 trillion | United States: $30+ trillion
  value reference: China
additional property: GDP Growth Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 4.6-4.8% | United States: 2.0% (Q1 2026)
  value reference: China
additional property: Per Capita GDP
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $~12,000-13,000 | United States: $89,000+
  value reference: United States
additional property: Global Manufacturing Output
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 35% of global output | United States: ~18%
  value reference: China
additional property: Advanced Semiconductor Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: Limited by export controls | United States: Global leader (Intel, NVIDIA, TSMC partners)
additional property: Solar Panel Global Production
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 80%+ | United States: 5-10%
  value reference: China
additional property: Tariff/Trade War Vulnerability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $400-800 billion potential loss | United States: Lower exposure (potential beneficiary)
additional property: Projected GDP Growth Rate 2026
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 4.6-4.8% | United States: 2.0-2.2%
  value reference: China
additional property: Total GDP
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $20.6 trillion | United States: $27.4 trillion
  value reference: United States
additional property: Global EV Production Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 70% | United States: ~15%
  value reference: China
additional property: Global Solar Panel Manufacturing Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 80%+ | United States: 10%
  value reference: China
additional property: LFP Battery Global Production Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 94% | United States: <5%
  value reference: China
additional property: Potential Tariff Impact on Growth
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: -0.5 to -2.0% | United States: Potential +0.5% from policy
  value reference: China
additional property: AI Adoption Growth Contribution 2026
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 0.2-0.3% | United States: 0.5%+ (estimated)
  value reference: United States
additional property: Annual GDP Growth Rate (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 4.6-4.8% | United States: 2.0-2.5%
  value reference: China
additional property: Global EV Production Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 70% | United States: 20%
  value reference: China
additional property: Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 94% | United States: Minimal (<5%)
  value reference: China
additional property: Potential Tariff-Related GDP Impact
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: -0.5 to -2% ($400-800B reduction) | United States: Minimal exposure
additional property: GDP (Nominal)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $17.9 trillion | United States: N/A
additional property: Active Military Personnel
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 2,300 thousand | United States: N/A
additional property: Main Battle Tanks
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 5,800 | United States: N/A
additional property: Foreign Exchange Reserves
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $3.2 trillion | United States: N/A
additional property: Government Type
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: One-party communist state | United States: N/A
additional property: Internet Freedom Score
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 88 (not free) | United States: N/A
additional property: Electric Vehicles Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 40% (global EV sales) | United States: N/A
additional property: GDP Per Capita (2026 Projection)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $13,738 | United States: $76,398
  value reference: United States
additional property: Nominal GDP (2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $17.9 trillion | United States: $27.4 trillion
  value reference: United States
additional property: Government Education Expenditure Per Capita
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $467 (2023) | United States: $3,981 (2022)
  value reference: United States
additional property: Total Government Expenditure (2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $6,177.1 billion | United States: $11,109.2 billion
  value reference: China
additional property: Defence Expenditure (2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $296.5 billion | United States: $925.8 billion
  value reference: China
additional property: Government Budget Deficit (2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $1,272.4 billion | United States: $2,174.6 billion
  value reference: China
additional property: Population (Approximate 2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 1.4 billion | United States: 0.34 billion
additional property: Total GDP (Nominal 2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $17.9 | United States: N/A
additional property: Total Population
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 1.42 billion | United States: N/A
additional property: Defence Expenditure 2024
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: €296.5 billion | United States: N/A
additional property: Education Spending Per Capita
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: €467 | United States: N/A
additional property: Government Health Expenditure
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $620,062.8M | United States: N/A
additional property: Oil Import Cost Impact at $126 Brent
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 1.03% | United States: N/A
additional property: Population
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 1,425 million | United States: 0.339 billion
additional property: Life Expectancy at Birth
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 78.2 years | United States: N/A
additional property: Human Development Index
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 0.796 (Very High) | United States: N/A
additional property: Patent Filings Per Year
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 1,574,822 | United States: N/A
additional property: Government Debt-to-GDP Ratio
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 77% | United States: N/A
additional property: Manufacturing as % of GDP
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 28% | United States: N/A
additional property: Total GDP (Nominal)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $17.9 trillion | United States: N/A
additional property: Global Manufacturing Output Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: 28% | United States: 12%
  value reference: China
additional property: Foreign Direct Investment Inflow (2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: China: $163 billion | United States: 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/united-states
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/united-states
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/china-vs-us-economic-growth
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/china-vs-us-economic-growth
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/usa-vs-china
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/us-vs-china-gdp-per-capita-2026
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/us-vs-china-gdp-2026-latest-figures))
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/china-vs-united-states-gdp-comparison-2026)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/china-vs-taiwan
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/china-vs-developing-economies)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/japan-vs-china-economic-comparison-2026
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/current-china-vs-us-nominal-gdp-2026
teaches: How to choose between China and United States
genre: Countries

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: China vs United States — 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 United States
image: ImageObject
  caption: China

United States
type: Country
alternate name: US
language: en-US
description: Federal republic spanning North America with 345 million people, world's largest economy at $28.7 trillion, and diverse geography from coasts to mountains.
image: ImageObject
  caption: United States
subject of: China vs United States
image: ImageObject
  caption: United States

China vs United States — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for China vs United States. Contains 132 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-us-economic-growth

China vs United States — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for China vs United States.
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: Size & Scale
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: Economic Expansion
has defined term: Labor Market
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: Geography
has defined term: Wealth Distribution
has defined term: Economic Comparison
has defined term: Future Trajectory
has defined term: Sectoral Dominance
has defined term: Renewable Energy
has defined term: Battery Technology
has defined term: Technology Innovation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Size & Scale
type: DefinedTerm
term code: size-&-scale
in defined term set: China vs United States — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Economic Expansion
type: DefinedTerm
term code: economic-expansion
in defined term set: China vs United States — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Labor Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: labor-market
in defined term set: China vs United States — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Geography
type: DefinedTerm
term code: geography
in defined term set: China vs United States — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Wealth Distribution
type: DefinedTerm
term code: wealth-distribution
in defined term set: China vs United States — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Economic Comparison
type: DefinedTerm
term code: economic-comparison
in defined term set: China vs United States — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Future Trajectory
type: DefinedTerm
term code: future-trajectory
in defined term set: China vs United States — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Sectoral Dominance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: sectoral-dominance
in defined term set: China vs United States — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Renewable Energy
type: DefinedTerm
term code: renewable-energy
in defined term set: China vs United States — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Battery Technology
type: DefinedTerm
term code: battery-technology
in defined term set: China vs United States — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Technology Innovation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: technology-innovation
in defined term set: China vs United States — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-04T18:01:47.404Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: china-vs-us-economic-growth
main entity: Which country has the larger economy?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: By total nominal GDP, the United States leads at $27.9 trillion compared to China's $27.4 trillion as of 2026. However, China ranks second and the gap has narrowed significantly over the past two decades. By purchasing power parity (PPP), China's GDP is actually larger, reflecting lower domestic costs.
    language: en-US
main entity: Why is China's GDP per capita so much lower than the US?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: China's GDP per capita of $12,720 versus the US's $76,398 reflects that China's economy is divided among 1.42 billion people versus 339 million Americans. China has higher income inequality and a much larger rural population with lower incomes. The US has a more mature, service-based economy with higher productivity per worker.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which country is better for manufacturing?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: China dominates manufacturing by volume and scale, producing 28% of global manufactured goods and employing over 400 million manufacturing workers. However, the US excels in high-value, precision manufacturing (semiconductors, aerospace, pharmaceuticals). China is better for cost-efficient production; the US is better for specialized, high-margin manufacturing.
    language: en-US
main entity: Who leads in technology and innovation?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: The United States leads in innovation metrics: it invests 3.5% of GDP in R&D (vs China's 2.1%), hosts 346 Fortune 500 companies (vs 124), and dominates software, AI, and biotechnology. China leads in 5G deployment and EV manufacturing scale. The US innovates; China scales innovations rapidly.
    language: en-US
main entity: What are the main economic differences between the two countries?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: The US economy emphasizes services (finance, technology, healthcare, entertainment), producing high-value goods with smaller volumes. China's economy emphasizes manufacturing scale and raw production volume across diverse sectors. The US has higher wages and consumption; China has lower labor costs and higher production capacity. Together, they represent approximately 40% of global GDP.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between China and United States
type: HowTo
description: The United States has a higher GDP per capita ($76,398 vs $12,720) and leads in technological innovation, while China has the world's largest population (1.4 billion) and is the largest manufacturing economy by output volume. The US emphasizes service and high-tech sectors, while China dominates in manufacturing and raw production capacity.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: GDP Per Capita
step: Consider: Total GDP (Nominal)
step: Consider: Population
step: Consider: Manufacturing Output
step: Consider: R&D Investment as % of GDP
step: Consider: Number of Fortune 500 Companies
step: Consider: Life Expectancy
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose China if you're analyzing global manufacturing capacity, population-based markets, or growth potential in emerging sectors. Choose the United States if you're evaluating individual wealth, technological innovation, corporate market dominance, or service-sector leadership. Both are essential economic powers with complementary strengths: the US leads in high-value sectors and per-capita wealth, while China leads in production scale and total economic output.

Consider: GDP Per Capita
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: GDP Per Capita: China has $12,720 USD, while United States has $76,398 USD.

Consider: Total GDP (Nominal)
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Total GDP (Nominal): China has $17.9 trillion USD, while United States has $27.4 trillion USD.

Consider: Population
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Population: China has 1.42 billion, while United States has 339 million.

Consider: Manufacturing Output
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Manufacturing Output: China has 28% of global share, while United States has 16% of global share.

Consider: R&D Investment as % of GDP
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: R&D Investment as % of GDP: China has 2.1%, while United States has 3.5%.

Consider: Number of Fortune 500 Companies
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Number of Fortune 500 Companies: China has 124 companies, while United States has 346 companies.

Consider: Life Expectancy
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Life Expectancy: China has 78.2 years, while United States has 76.4 years.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: China vs United States
review body: The United States has a higher GDP per capita ($76,398 vs $12,720) and leads in technological innovation, while China has the world's largest population (1.4 billion) and is the largest manufacturing economy by output volume. The US emphasizes service and high-tech sectors, while China dominates in manufacturing and raw production capacity.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: China vs United States

Global GDP Ranking
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 2nd | United States: N/A

Population Growth Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: China: -0.1% | United States: N/A

Projected GDP Growth Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 4.3% | United States: N/A

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

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

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

Annual Patent Filings
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 1.57 million | United States: N/A

Manufacturing Output (Global Share)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 28-30% | United States: N/A

Median Age
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 39 years | United States: N/A

Urban Population
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 65.5% | United States: N/A

Foreign Direct Investment Inflow (2023)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $163.1 billion | United States: N/A

Debt-to-GDP Ratio
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 282% | United States: N/A

Nominal GDP
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $17.9 trillion | United States: $27.9 trillion
value reference: United States

GDP Per Capita
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $12,700 | United States: $76,398
value reference: United States

Global Trade Rank
type: PropertyValue
value: China: #2 globally | United States: N/A

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

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

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

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

Nominal GDP world rank
type: PropertyValue
value: China: #2 | United States: N/A

PPP GDP world rank
type: PropertyValue
value: China: #1 | United States: N/A

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Life Expectancy
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 78.5 years | United States: 76.4 years
value reference: China

R&D Spending as % of GDP
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 2.1% | United States: 3.5%
value reference: United States

Manufacturing Share of Global Output
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 28% | United States: 16%
value reference: China

Fortune 500 Companies
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 124 companies | United States: 346 companies
value reference: United States

Internet Users
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 926 million | United States: 312 million

Annual GDP Growth Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 5.0% | United States: 2.1%
value reference: China

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

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

Real GDP Growth Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 4.5% | United States: N/A

Unemployment Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 5.1% | United States: N/A

Manufacturing Output
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 27% | United States: N/A

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

Unicorn Tech Companies
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 305 | United States: N/A

Nominal GDP 2026
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $17.9 trillion | United States: $28.9 trillion
value reference: United States

PPP-Adjusted GDP 2026
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $33.8 trillion | United States: $28.7 trillion
value reference: China

GDP Per Capita (Nominal)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $12,700 | United States: $87,500
value reference: United States

Manufacturing Sector Output
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $4.7 trillion | United States: $2.1 trillion
value reference: China

Services Sector Share
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 55% | United States: 80%

Global GDP Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 16% (nominal) | United States: 26%
value reference: United States

National Debt Level
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $13.5 trillion | United States: $36 trillion
value reference: China

GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) 2026
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $35.2 trillion | United States: $26.9 trillion
value reference: China

Annual Real GDP Growth Rate (2025-2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 4.8% | United States: 2.1%
value reference: China

Technology Sector as % of GDP
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 8.2% | United States: 13.8%
value reference: United States

Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (2025)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $192 billion | United States: $285 billion
value reference: United States

National Debt as % of GDP
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 74% | United States: 119%
value reference: China

Gross Domestic Product
type: PropertyValue
value: China: $17.9 trillion | United States: N/A

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

Manufacturing Output Share
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 28% | United States: N/A

R&D Spending
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 2.6% | United States: N/A

Broadband Penetration
type: PropertyValue
value: China: 73% | United States: N/A

Nuclear Warheads
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | United States: 5,550

Land Area
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | United States: 9.8 Million

Total Land Area
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | United States: 3,794,100 sq mi

GDP Per Capita (2024)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | United States: $86,173

National Debt (% of GDP)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | United States: 122.27%

Government Expenditure (% of GDP)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | United States: 50.50%

Military Rank (Global)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | United States: Rank 1 (global superpower)

Renewable Energy (% of electricity)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | United States: 21%

Per Capita GDP 2026
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | United States: $96,500

Global Economic Rank
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | United States: 1st largest

GDP Gap vs Leader
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | United States: Reference (leader)

Years to Close GDP Gap (at current growth rates)
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | United States: N/A (declining relative position)

Manufacturing Output as % of Global
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | United States: ~15%

Global Solar Panel Production
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | United States: ~5%

LFP Battery Production Share
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | United States: ~3%

Potential Tariff/Sanction Impact on GDP
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | United States: Minimal direct impact

Semiconductor/AI Design Leadership
type: PropertyValue
value: China: N/A | United States: Global leader in chip design

SpeakableSpecification
css selector: #short-answer
css selector: #verdict
css selector: #key-differences
css selector: #faq
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China — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

United States — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare China vs United States
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/china-vs-us-economic-growth
object: China
object: United States

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

Nominal GDP
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Size & Scale

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: Capital Attraction

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

Real GDP Growth Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Economic Expansion

Unemployment Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Labor Market

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

Nuclear Warheads
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Military

Land Area
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Geography

Total Land Area
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Geography

GDP Per Capita (2024)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Living Standards

National Debt (% of GDP)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Economy

Government Expenditure (% of GDP)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Economy

Military Rank (Global)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Military

Renewable Energy (% of electricity)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Energy

Per Capita GDP 2026
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Wealth Distribution

Global Economic Rank
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Global Position

GDP Gap vs Leader
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Economic Comparison

Years to Close GDP Gap (at current growth rates)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Future Trajectory

Manufacturing Output as % of Global
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Sectoral Dominance

Global Solar Panel Production
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Renewable Energy

LFP Battery Production Share
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Battery Technology

Potential Tariff/Sanction Impact on GDP
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Economic Risk

Semiconductor/AI Design Leadership
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Technology Innovation