The US economy leads in per-capita GDP ($76,398 vs $12,720), overall technological innovation, and currency stability, while China's economy is larger by nominal GDP ($17.9 trillion vs $28.3 trillion) and growing faster at 4.8% annually, but faces structural headwinds including aging population and property sector challenges.
US Economy vs China Economy 2026 — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
World's largest nominal economy with advanced tech sector and consumer-driven growth model
World's second-largest economy with fastest major-economy growth and dominant manufacturing base
Nominal GDP Size. GDP Per Capita. Real GDP Growth Rate (2026). Unemployment Rate. Foreign Exchange Reserves. Public Debt as % of GDP. Tech Patent Filings (2025)
The US economy demonstrates superior per-capita wealth, technological leadership, and institutional stability, making it stronger on a per-citizen basis with more diversified sectors and rule-of-law protections. China's economy is larger in absolute size and growing faster, but faces demographic decline, debt concerns in the property sector, and structural vulnerabilities that may constrain long-term growth. Choose the US for stability and innovation leadership; choose China for growth trajectory and manufacturing scale, but with higher macroeconomic risk.
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: $30+ | China Economy: $17-18
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: $89,000+ | China Economy: $12,556
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: 84%
United States Economy: 345 million | China Economy: 1,420 million
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: $31 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: $32.38 trillion | China Economy: $20.85 trillion
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: $82,144 | China Economy: $12,720
United States Economy: 337 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: N/A
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: $86,400 | China Economy: $12,700
United States Economy: 2.5% | China Economy: 5.0%
United States Economy: $2.4 trillion | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $285 billion (2023) | China Economy: $163 billion (2023)
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: 4.8%
United States Economy: $81,000 | China Economy: $12,720
United States Economy: $0.13 trillion | China Economy: $3.24 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: 123.5% | China Economy: 77%
United States Economy: $12.8 trillion | China Economy: $4.2 trillion
United States Economy: 340 million | China Economy: 1,420 million
United States Economy: 4.2% | China Economy: 5.1%
United States Economy: 31% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 21% of electricity | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 136 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: 2.1% | China Economy: 5.2%
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: 17% | China Economy: 28%
United States Economy: -$73 billion deficit | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 12% | China Economy: 28%
United States Economy: 4.0% | China Economy: 5.1%
United States Economy: -$773 billion (deficit) | China Economy: +$632 billion (surplus)
United States Economy: 130% | China Economy: 290% (including local/corporate)
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: 123% | 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: 2.7% | China Economy: 5.0%
United States Economy: 8.2% | China Economy: 14.8%
United States Economy: $27.4 trillion | China Economy: $34.7 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: 5.2%
United States Economy: -$773 billion deficit | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: +0.4% (growing) | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $2.4 trillion | China Economy: $4.8 trillion
United States Economy: 128% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $60,500 | 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: $7.1 trillion | China Economy: $6.8 trillion
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (2024)
United States Economy: $269 billion | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $27.9 trillion | China Economy: N/A
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: $48 trillion | China Economy: $11.2 trillion
United States Economy: -$773B | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 38.4 | China Economy: 38.8
United States Economy: 398,144 | China Economy: 687,231
United States Economy: 11.5% | China Economy: 27.4%
United States Economy: 209 million | China Economy: 920 million
United States Economy: $28.7 trillion | China Economy: $17.9 trillion
United States Economy: $12.4 trillion | China Economy: $3.8 trillion
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: 4.2%
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: $89 billion
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: $163.5 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: 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: $189 billion
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: 1,580 GW
How to choose between United States Economy and China Economy
US Economy vs China Economy 2026 — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for US Economy vs China Economy 2026. Contains 231 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
By nominal GDP in 2026, China's economy at $17.9 trillion is approximately 63% the size of the US economy at $28.3 trillion. However, measuring by purchasing power parity (PPP), China's economy is actually larger at $38.7 trillion vs the US at $31.2 trillion, as prices are lower in China. This means China produces more goods and services by volume, but Americans earn more per person.
Why is China growing faster than the US?
China grows faster (4.8% vs 2.1%) because it's a developing economy with lower per-capita income, more room for catch-up growth, and higher investment rates (32% vs 20% in the US). However, this growth is from a lower base and faces structural headwinds: aging population, property sector debt, and slowing productivity gains. The US growth is slower but more sustainable given mature markets and higher per-capita consumption.
The US economy is more institutionally stable due to rule-of-law protections, diversified sectors, and transparent financial markets. China's economy faces greater volatility risk from government policy changes, property sector instability ($5+ trillion in developer debt), and opaque corporate governance. The US has higher public debt (123% vs 77% of GDP), but its debt is denominated in its own currency with deep capital markets, reducing default risk.
How do trade tensions affect both economies?
US-China trade tensions directly impact both: the US faces 25% tariffs on $370 billion of Chinese imports, raising consumer prices 0.3-0.5%; China loses 2-3% of export demand, affecting manufacturing employment. China's tech sector is particularly vulnerable to US chip export restrictions, limiting semiconductor design capabilities. The US economy is more resilient due to diversified trade partners, while China remains heavily export-dependent (18% of GDP vs 10% for the US).
What is the outlook for both economies through 2030?
The US is projected to grow 2.3% annually with GDP reaching $31 trillion by 2030, driven by AI productivity gains and energy independence. China is expected to reach $24 trillion GDP with 3.5% average growth, but faces demographic drag from aging population, property sector restructuring costs, and potential geopolitical fragmentation. The US maintains structural advantages in innovation and finance, while China's growth story increasingly depends on successful economic reforms and property sector stabilization.
How to Choose Between United States Economy and China Economy
Nominal GDP Size: United States Economy has $28.3 trillion, while China Economy has $17.9 trillion.
GDP Per Capita: United States Economy has $76,398, while China Economy has $12,720.
Real GDP Growth Rate (2026): United States Economy has 2.1%, while China Economy has 4.8%.
Unemployment Rate: United States Economy has 4.2%, while China Economy has 5.1%.
Foreign Exchange Reserves: United States Economy has $130 billion, while China Economy has $3.24 trillion.
Public Debt as % of GDP: United States Economy has 123%, while China Economy has 77%.
Tech Patent Filings (2025): United States Economy has 398,144, while China Economy has 687,231.