The US economy remains larger by nominal GDP at approximately $28.7 trillion versus China's $17.9 trillion in 2026, but China leads in manufacturing output, foreign direct investment inflows, and has a significantly larger working-age population. The US maintains advantages in technology innovation, per-capita income, and currency strength, while China faces demographic headwinds and debt challenges.
US vs China Economy 2026 — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
World's largest developed economy with advanced services, finance, and technology sectors
The world's second-largest economy by nominal GDP, dominant in manufacturing with significant infrastructure investment.
Nominal GDP 2026. Manufacturing Output Share (Global). Per Capita GDP. Foreign Direct Investment Inflow 2025. Government Debt-to-GDP Ratio. Working-Age Population (15-64 years). Tech Patent Filings (Annual)
The US economy remains the world's largest and most technologically advanced, with superior per-capita income, institutional stability, and investment flows. China's economy operates at massive scale in manufacturing and has lower debt ratios, but faces demographic decline and innovation quality gaps. Choose the US for understanding advanced economic leadership and innovation; choose China for understanding global manufacturing dominance and emerging market dynamics.
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: 1.426 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: $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: 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: $76,398 | 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: 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: $28.3 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: $189 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: 4.8%
United States Economy: $85,400 | China Economy: $12,700
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: $27.4 trillion | China Economy: $17.9T
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: 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: -$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: $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: $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: 2.4% | China Economy: 4.8%
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: 5.1%
United States Economy: -$773 billion deficit | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: +0.4% (growing) | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: $27.4 trillion | China Economy: $17.9 trillion
United States Economy: $2.4 trillion | China Economy: $4.2 trillion
United States Economy: 130% | China Economy: 77%
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: 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: 38.8
United States Economy: 398,144 | China Economy: 687,231
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: 615,000 | China Economy: 1,820,000
United States Economy: 2.9% | China Economy: 0.2%
United States Economy: 11.8% | China Economy: 28.4%
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: 4.1% | China Economy: 4.9%
United States Economy: 80% | China Economy: N/A
United States Economy: 25.4% | China Economy: N/A
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: $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: $3.6 trillion
United States Economy: N/A | China Economy: 38.4 years
How to choose between United States Economy and China Economy
Compare United States Economy vs China Economy
US vs China Economy 2026 — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for US vs China Economy 2026. Contains 257 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
US vs China Economy 2026 — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for US vs China Economy 2026.
Which economy is actually larger, US or China?
By nominal GDP (standard measure), the US economy is larger at $28.7 trillion vs China's $17.9 trillion in 2026. However, by purchasing power parity (PPP), China's economy is larger at $35.2 trillion vs US $28.5 trillion, because goods and services cost less in China. Which measure matters depends on context: nominal GDP for global trade and investment flows; PPP for actual consumption capacity.
Is China's economy growing faster than the US?
China's growth rate has slowed significantly. In 2025-2026, China's annual GDP growth averaged 4.5% versus the US at 2.8%. However, this represents a historic shift—China grew 8-10% annually from 2000-2015. The slowdown stems from demographic decline (working-age population fell 3.6 million in 2024), real estate crisis, and reduced productivity gains from moving rural workers to cities.
Why does China file 3x more patents than the US?
China files 1.2 million patents annually vs US 415,000, but quality differs significantly. China's patent filings include many low-quality utility patents; the US files fewer but higher-impact patents in AI, semiconductors, and biotech. By patent citations (measure of impact), US patents remain 2.5x more influential globally. China is improving—its share of high-quality patents in AI jumped from 12% (2015) to 38% (2025).
How do debt levels compare and what does it mean?
The US has 123% government debt-to-GDP vs China's 77%, but context matters. US debt is in dollars (which it controls and can print), attracting global investors; US bonds yielded 4.2% in 2026. China's debt is partly hidden in local government financing vehicles not counted officially. Both levels are sustainable if growth continues, but the US faces higher interest payments ($660 billion annually by 2026), while China faces risks from real estate and shadow banking.
Which economy will be larger in 10 years?
Projections differ by institution, but most expect the US to remain larger nominally through 2035. IMF forecasts show US GDP reaching $33.2T and China reaching $24.1T by 2035, assuming 2.2% US growth and 3.8% China growth. However, if China's demographic decline accelerates or geopolitical decoupling deepens, China's growth could slow to 2.5%, widening the gap further.
How to Choose Between United States Economy and China Economy
Nominal GDP 2026: United States Economy has $28.7 trillion, while China Economy has $17.9 trillion.
Consider: Manufacturing Output Share (Global)
Manufacturing Output Share (Global): United States Economy has 16%, while China Economy has 28%.
Per Capita GDP: United States Economy has $85,400, while China Economy has $12,700.
Consider: Foreign Direct Investment Inflow 2025
Foreign Direct Investment Inflow 2025: United States Economy has $290 billion, while China Economy has $163 billion.
Government Debt-to-GDP Ratio: United States Economy has 123%, while China Economy has 77%.
Consider: Working-Age Population (15-64 years)
Working-Age Population (15-64 years): United States Economy has 205 million, while China Economy has 920 million.
Tech Patent Filings (Annual): United States Economy has 415,000, while China Economy has 1.2 million.