China vs United States - GDP Comparison 2026
The United States maintains the world's largest nominal GDP at approximately $28.7 trillion, while China's GDP stands at roughly $17.9 trillion in 2026. However, by purchasing power parity (PPP), China's economy exceeds the US at $35.2 trillion versus $31.4 trillion, reflecting lower costs and different economic structures.
China vs United States - GDP Comparison 2026 — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
World's largest economy driven by technology, finance, and services sectors
World's second-largest nominal economy with fastest growth and global manufacturing dominance
Nominal GDP (USD Trillions). GDP by Purchasing Power Parity. GDP Growth Rate (2026 YoY). Per Capita GDP (Nominal). Global Trade Exports. Manufacturing Output Share. Fortune 500 Companies
The United States leads in nominal GDP and per capita wealth, making it the wealthiest nation by traditional measures and offering higher living standards. China dominates in PPP-adjusted GDP and manufacturing output, reflecting its massive population and rapid economic growth trajectory. Choose the US for understanding global financial markets and consumer purchasing power; choose China for understanding future economic momentum and manufacturing dominance.
United States Economy: $30.0-30.5 trillion | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 17% | China Economy: 70%
United States Economy: ~6% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: ~16% | China Economy: 35%
United States Economy: ~3.8-4.0% | China Economy: N/A
Advanced Semiconductor Market Leadership
United States Economy: Dominant (Intel, TSMC partnership, Samsung); controls cutting-edge nodes | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 20-25% | China Economy: 70%
United States Economy: Global leader in design and manufacturing | China Economy: Limited by US export controls, advancing in AI adoption
United States Economy: Moderate exposure | China Economy: -0.5 to -2%
United States Economy: 2.2% | China Economy: 4.5-5.0%
United States Economy: $925.8 billion | China Economy: $296.5 billion
United States Economy: $4.18 trillion (2024) | China Economy: $620.1 billion
United States Economy: 0.3-0.5% | China Economy: 0.5-2.0%
United States Economy: 30.0+ | China Economy: $17.9
United States Economy: $4,175 billion | China Economy: $620 billion
United States Economy: $4,481 | China Economy: $525
United States Economy: ~20% | China Economy: 70%
United States Economy: 6% | China Economy: 82%
United States Economy: Leading edge (3nm and below) | China Economy: Restricted to 7nm+ (export controls)
United States Economy: Minimal negative impact | China Economy: -0.5 to -2.0%
United States Economy: ~10% | China Economy: ~80%
United States Economy: Leading in design and manufacturing | China Economy: Limited by US export controls
United States Economy: Minimal (exporter advantage) | China Economy: $400-800B reduction
United States Economy: 2.0-2.5% | China Economy: 4.6-4.8%
United States Economy: €925.8 billion | China Economy: €296.5 billion
United States Economy: 2.0-2.5% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 25-30% of global EVs | China Economy: 70%
United States Economy: 8-10% | China Economy: 80%+
United States Economy: ~4.0% | China Economy: ~5.2%
United States Economy: $4,175,432 million (2024) | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: €925,796.8 million | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $89,000 | China Economy: $13,500
United States Economy: $10,266.8 | China Economy: $5,708.7
United States Economy: $925.8 | China Economy: $296.5
United States Economy: Global market leader | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: Lower exposure | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: ~6% of global | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: €925.8 billion | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 2.0-2.5% | China Economy: 4.5-5.0%
United States Economy: 6% | China Economy: 94%
United States Economy: Minimal | China Economy: 0.5-2.0%
United States Economy: 0.4-0.6% | China Economy: 0.2-0.3%
Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production
United States Economy: ~15% | China Economy: 94%
United States Economy: $89,000+ | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 9% | China Economy: 82%
United States Economy: 0.2-0.4pp | China Economy: 0.5-2.0pp
United States Economy: 0.3-0.5% (from AI investment) | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 2.2% | China Economy: 4.8%
Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production Share
United States Economy: 4% | China Economy: 94%
United States Economy: 15% | China Economy: 70%
United States Economy: 12% | China Economy: 80%
United States Economy: $50-150B | China Economy: $400-800B
United States Economy: $31.5 trillion | China Economy: $45.78 trillion
United States Economy: 2.1% | China Economy: 6.0%
United States Economy: 1st | China Economy: 2nd
United States Economy: 123% | China Economy: 77%
United States Economy: 0.34 billion | China Economy: 1.42 billion
United States Economy: $809 billion | China Economy: $680 billion
United States Economy: ~4.0% | China Economy: ~5.5%
United States Economy: AI, semiconductors, cloud, fintech | China Economy: EV manufacturing, 5G, solar, semiconductors
United States Economy: $35,000-45,000 | China Economy: $16,800 (119,800 yuan)
United States Economy: $94,430 | China Economy: $14,874
United States Economy: $11.1 trillion ahead | China Economy: $11.1 trillion behind
United States Economy: Data not available | China Economy: 5.0%
United States Economy: Data not available | China Economy: 6.1%
United States Economy: ~25-26% of global GDP | China Economy: ~16-17% of global GDP
United States Economy: Data not available | China Economy: 0.9% CPI
United States Economy: 1st | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 1st (maintained) | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: ~1.8% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 26.2% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: Not specified | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $28.0 trillion | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $85,000 | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $27.4 trillion | China Economy: $18.7 trillion
United States Economy: €10,217,935.3 million | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $3,981 | China Economy: €467
United States Economy: 44.5 | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: ~2.8% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 1 EUR = 1.1797 USD | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 2.0-2.4% | China Economy: 3-4%
United States Economy: 2.0% | China Economy: Data not available
United States Economy: $96,500+ | China Economy: $14,800+
United States Economy: $11.53 trillion lead | China Economy: 36% smaller than US
United States Economy: $27.23 trillion | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 122.27% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 37.74% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $925.8 billion | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 3.5% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $81,500 | China Economy: $12,720
United States Economy: 336 million | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 2.8% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 11.8% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 26.3% | China Economy: 14.3%
United States Economy: 38.5 years | China Economy: 38.8 years
United States Economy: $27.4 trillion | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 4.2% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 2.9% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $156 billion | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 167 companies | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 11.2% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $82,000 | China Economy: $12,700
United States Economy: $27.4 trillion | China Economy: $17.9 trillion
United States Economy: $82,460 | China Economy: $12,720
United States Economy: 2.5% | China Economy: 5.3%
United States Economy: $2.4 trillion | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $285 billion (2023) | China Economy: $163.2 billion
United States Economy: $82,500 | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 4.1% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 123% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $62,400 | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 339 million | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 65% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 2.5% | China Economy: 5.0%
United States Economy: $87,500 | China Economy: $13,000
United States Economy: $0.13 trillion | China Economy: $3.2 trillion
United States Economy: 16% | China Economy: 28%
United States Economy: 123% | China Economy: 282%
United States Economy: $2.1 trillion | China Economy: $3.6 trillion
United States Economy: 3.5% | China Economy: $652 billion
United States Economy: 2.1% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $76,398 | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 16.3% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $12.8 trillion | China Economy: $4.2 trillion
United States Economy: 340 million | China Economy: 1,420 million
United States Economy: 21% of electricity | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $28.7 trillion | China Economy: $17.9 trillion
United States Economy: 135 companies | China Economy: 142 companies
United States Economy: $2.1 trillion | China Economy: $3.8 trillion
United States Economy: $33.2 trillion | China Economy: $10.8 trillion
United States Economy: 2.8% | China Economy: 4.5%
United States Economy: 11.2% | China Economy: 28.4%
United States Economy: 80.1% | China Economy: 54.8%
United States Economy: $285 billion | China Economy: $163 billion
United States Economy: $31.2 trillion | China Economy: $22.8 trillion
United States Economy: 12.5% | China Economy: 28.7%
United States Economy: -$73 billion deficit | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 12% | China Economy: 28%
United States Economy: 4.1% | China Economy: 5.1%
United States Economy: -$773 billion (deficit) | China Economy: +$632 billion (surplus)
United States Economy: $2.3T | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 2.5% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 11.5% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 124% | China Economy: 77%
United States Economy: $820 billion | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 625,000 | China Economy: 1,200 thousand
United States Economy: $27.4 trillion | China Economy: $28.3 trillion
United States Economy: 2.1% | China Economy: 4.8%
United States Economy: 8.2% | China Economy: 14.8%
United States Economy: $31.4 trillion | China Economy: $35.2 trillion
United States Economy: -$773 billion | China Economy: +$631 billion
United States Economy: $285 billion | China Economy: $189 billion
United States Economy: 2.5% | China Economy: 5.1%
United States Economy: -$73.1 billion | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: +0.4% (growing) | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $2.4 trillion | China Economy: $4.2 trillion
United States Economy: 130% | China Economy: 77%
United States Economy: $68,420 | China Economy: $11,500
United States Economy: 0.38 million | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $809 billion | China Economy: $696 billion
United States Economy: 17% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 9.8% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $42.8 trillion | China Economy: $15.2 trillion
United States Economy: 16% | China Economy: 28.3%
United States Economy: $7.1 trillion | China Economy: $6.8 trillion
United States Economy: $27.4 trillion | China Economy: $23.5 trillion
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (2024)
United States Economy: $269 billion | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $27.7 trillion | China Economy: $27.4 trillion
United States Economy: 63.0% | China Economy: N/A
Tech Sector Market Capitalization (Top 7 Companies)
United States Economy: $14.2 trillion | China Economy: $2.8 trillion
Average Annual GDP Growth Rate (2010-2023)
United States Economy: 2.4% | China Economy: 6.8%
United States Economy: $28.2 trillion | China Economy: $31.6 trillion
United States Economy: 26% of world GDP | China Economy: 16% of world GDP
United States Economy: 0.41 | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 17.3% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: -$773 billion deficit | China Economy: +$821 billion surplus
United States Economy: 3.4% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 38.9 years | China Economy: 38.4 years
United States Economy: 398,144 | China Economy: 687,231
United States Economy: 209 million | China Economy: 920 million
United States Economy: $12.4 trillion | China Economy: $3.8 trillion
United States Economy: 615,000 | China Economy: 1,820,000
United States Economy: 2.6% | China Economy: 0.2%
United States Economy: $76,398 | China Economy: $12,720
United States Economy: 11.2% | China Economy: 27%
United States Economy: 415,000 | China Economy: 1,200,000
United States Economy: $42 trillion | China Economy: $8.7 trillion
United States Economy: $120,000 | China Economy: $38,000
United States Economy: $76,500 | China Economy: $12,800
United States Economy: 680 GW | China Economy: 1,480 GW
United States Economy: 8.2% | China Economy: 12.4%
United States Economy: $27.4T | China Economy: $17-18
United States Economy: 2.7% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 12% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 32.4% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 16.9% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 21.6% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $2.9 trillion | China Economy: $4.7 trillion
United States Economy: 80% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 25.4% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 31% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 4.1% | China Economy: 4.9%
United States Economy: $189 billion | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: 4.2%
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: $220 billion
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: $189 billion
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: 4.6-4.8%
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: 80%+
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: $400-800B
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: $17.7 trillion
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: 4.7%
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: 80%
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: Limited by US export controls
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: $17.9 trillion
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (Annual)
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: $163.5 billion
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: 28% (diversified)
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: $12,700
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: 5.0%
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: 5.1%
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: 28%
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: 14%
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: 282%
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: +$631 billion (surplus)
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: 8.7%
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: 1,750,000
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: 2nd largest exporter (after USA)
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: $3.6T
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: 8-10%
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: 30 million
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: 38.4 years
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: $1,370 billion
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: $12.3 trillion
How to choose between United States Economy and China Economy
Compare United States Economy vs China Economy
China vs United States - GDP Comparison 2026 — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for China vs United States - GDP Comparison 2026. Contains 262 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
China vs United States - GDP Comparison 2026 — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for China vs United States - GDP Comparison 2026.
Is China's economy bigger than the US economy?
It depends on the measurement. By nominal GDP in USD terms, the US leads at $28.7 trillion versus China's $17.9 trillion. However, by purchasing power parity (which adjusts for cost of living differences), China's $35.2 trillion economy exceeds the US's $31.4 trillion. Most economists use nominal GDP for international comparisons, making the US the world's largest economy.
Why is China's PPP GDP higher than nominal GDP?
China's lower cost of living means money goes further—goods and services cost significantly less than in the US. PPP adjustments account for these price differences. A dollar spent in rural China buys more real goods and services than the same dollar in the US, so PPP GDP reflects this purchasing power difference, making China's actual economic output appear larger.
China's economy is growing significantly faster at 4.8% annually compared to the US's 2.1% growth rate. This reflects China's earlier stage of economic development and still-expanding middle class, while the US, as a mature economy, experiences more modest but stable growth. At these rates, China could theoretically catch the US in nominal GDP within 15-20 years if trends continue.
What accounts for the huge per capita income gap?
The US has a per capita GDP of $87,500 versus China's $13,000, primarily because the US's $28.7 trillion GDP is divided among 340 million people, while China's $17.9 trillion is divided among 1.42 billion people. This reflects not just economic size but wealth distribution—most Chinese citizens have much lower incomes than most Americans, though inequality exists in both countries.
Why does the US still lead in nominal GDP if China is growing faster?
The US maintains its lead because it started from a much higher nominal GDP base ($28.7T vs $17.9T). Although China grows faster percentage-wise, the US is adding more absolute dollars annually. Additionally, the US benefits from the strength of the dollar as the global reserve currency, which inflates its nominal GDP value in international comparisons. Over decades, however, China's faster growth rate could eventually allow it to surpass the US in nominal GDP.
How to Choose Between United States Economy and China Economy
Nominal GDP (USD Trillions): United States Economy has $28.7 trillion, while China Economy has $17.9 trillion.
Consider: GDP by Purchasing Power Parity
GDP by Purchasing Power Parity: United States Economy has $31.4 trillion, while China Economy has $35.2 trillion.
GDP Growth Rate (2026 YoY): United States Economy has 2.1%, while China Economy has 4.8%.
Per Capita GDP (Nominal): United States Economy has $87,500, while China Economy has $13,000.
Global Trade Exports: United States Economy has $2.1 trillion, while China Economy has $3.6 trillion.
Manufacturing Output Share: United States Economy has 12.5% of global, while China Economy has 28.7% of global.
Fortune 500 Companies: United States Economy has 135 companies, while China Economy has 142 companies.