The USA has the world's largest economy ($25.5T GDP), highest military spending, and leads in technology innovation. China has the largest population (1.4B), second largest economy ($17.7T), and is the world's manufacturing hub.
USA vs China — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Federal republic spanning North America with 345 million people, world's largest economy at $28.7 trillion, and diverse geography from coasts to mountains.
Upper-middle-income country with world's 2nd-largest economy and dominant manufacturing base.
GDP. Population. Military Spending. GDP per Capita. Manufacturing Output
The USA leads in per-capita wealth, military, and tech. China leads in manufacturing, population, and growth rate. The rivalry defines the 21st century.
United States: $25.5 Trillion | China: $17.7 Trillion
United States: $877 Billion | China: $292 Billion
United States: 76.4 years | China: 78.5 years
United States: $30+ trillion | China: $33-34 trillion
United States: ~18% | China: 35% of global output
United States: Global leader (Intel, NVIDIA, TSMC partners) | China: Limited by export controls
United States: Lower exposure (potential beneficiary) | China: $400-800 billion potential loss
United States: Potential +0.5% from policy | China: -0.5 to -2.0%
United States: 0.5%+ (estimated) | China: 0.2-0.3%
Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production
United States: Minimal (<5%) | China: 94%
United States: Minimal exposure | China: -0.5 to -2% ($400-800B reduction)
United States: $27.4 trillion | China: $17.9 trillion
Government Education Expenditure Per Capita
United States: $11,109.2 billion | China: $6,177.1 billion
United States: $925.8 billion | China: $296.5 billion
United States: $2,174.6 billion | China: $1,272.4 billion
United States: 0.34 billion | China: 1.4 billion
United States: 3,794,100 sq mi | China: N/A
United States: $27.4 trillion | China: $20.6 trillion
United States: Rank 1 (global superpower) | China: N/A
United States: $28.9 trillion | China: $17.9 trillion
United States: Reference (leader) | China: N/A
Years to Close GDP Gap (at current growth rates)
United States: N/A (declining relative position) | China: N/A
United States: Minimal direct impact | China: N/A
United States: Global leader in chip design | China: N/A
United States: $27.9 trillion | China: $17.9 trillion
United States: 0.339 billion | China: 1,425 million
United States: 346 companies | China: 124 companies
United States: 312 million | China: 926 million
United States: $28.7 trillion | China: $33.8 trillion
United States: $2.1 trillion | China: $4.7 trillion
United States: 26% | China: 16% (nominal)
United States: $36 trillion | China: $13.5 trillion
United States: $26.9 trillion | China: $35.2 trillion
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (2025)
United States: $285 billion | China: $192 billion
United States: N/A | China: $17.9 trillion
United States: N/A | China: 2,300 thousand
United States: N/A | China: $3.2 trillion
United States: N/A | China: One-party communist state
United States: N/A | China: 88 (not free)
United States: N/A | China: 40% (global EV sales)
United States: N/A | China: 1.42 billion
United States: N/A | China: €296.5 billion
United States: N/A | China: 0.796 (Very High)
United States: N/A | China: $163 billion
United States: N/A | China: 1.57 million
United States: N/A | China: $163.1 billion
United States: N/A | China: $850 billion
United States: N/A | China: 12% (design & manufacturing)
United States: N/A | China: $163 billion (2024)
United States: N/A | China: World's factory (services rising)
United States: N/A | China: Largest — ~29% of global value-added
Years to Double GDP at Current Growth Rate
United States: N/A | China: $1,830 billion
How to choose between United States and China
USA vs China — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for USA vs China. Contains 132 attribute comparisons, 3 FAQ pairs.
USA vs China — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for USA vs China.
The USA has the larger nominal GDP at $25.5 trillion vs China's $17.7 trillion. However, by purchasing power parity (PPP), China may already be larger.
The USA has the world's most powerful military with $877 billion annual spending, 11 aircraft carriers, and global force projection capability.
Which country is better for business and investment opportunities?
The USA offers more developed financial markets, stronger legal protections for investors, and easier business formation, making it attractive for startups and established companies. China provides lower labor costs, massive manufacturing infrastructure, and rapid market growth, but presents regulatory challenges and intellectual property concerns. Your choice depends on your industry, risk tolerance, and business model.
How to Choose Between United States and China
GDP: United States has $25.5T, while China has $17.7T.
Population: United States has 333M, while China has 1.4B.
Military Spending: United States has $877B, while China has $292B.
GDP per Capita: United States has $76,300, while China has $12,500.
Manufacturing Output: United States has #2, while China has #1.