The US has the world's largest nominal GDP ($25.5T) and leads in technology, finance, and innovation. China ($17.7T) is the world's largest manufacturer and may surpass the US in total GDP by PPP. The US has 6x higher GDP per capita.
US Economy vs China Economy — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
The US leads in total GDP, per-capita wealth, and innovation. China leads in manufacturing and growth rate. The gap is narrowing.
World's largest economy ($27.4T nominal GDP) led by technology, finance, and consumer spending.
Second-largest nominal GDP with highest PPP adjustment, world's manufacturing hub with 1.4 billion population
US Economy vs China Economy — Comparison Data
Structured comparison data for US Economy vs China Economy with 274 attributes.
Government Education Spending Per Capita
Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production
Consumer Stock Market Confidence (Positive Outlook)
Stock Market Sentiment Drop (April 2026)
Global Stock Market Capitalization Share
Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production Share
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (Annual)
Tech Sector Market Capitalization (Top 7 Companies)
Average Annual GDP Growth Rate (2010-2023)
Annual GDP Growth Rate (2020-2026 Average)
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (2024)
US Economy vs China Economy — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for US Economy vs China Economy.
Is China's economy bigger than the US economy?
It depends on the measure. In nominal GDP, the US ($27.4 trillion) remains larger than China ($17.7 trillion) as of 2023. At purchasing power parity (PPP), China's economy surpassed the US around 2016 and is now the largest in the world by that measure.
When will China's economy overtake the US in nominal GDP?
Projections have been revised significantly. Prior to China's post-pandemic slowdown, many analysts expected China to surpass the US in nominal GDP by the early 2030s. More recent forecasts from Goldman Sachs and others suggest this could be delayed to 2035 or beyond, given demographic headwinds and property sector challenges.
What is the US dollar's role in the global economy?
The US dollar is the world's primary reserve currency, used in approximately 58% of global foreign exchange reserves and roughly 54% of international trade invoicing. This gives the US structural advantages including lower borrowing costs and greater financial sanction leverage.
How does Chinese manufacturing compare to the US?
China produces approximately 30% of global manufacturing output, far exceeding the US. China dominates in electronics, solar panels, EVs, steel, and consumer goods manufacturing. The US has retained leadership in aerospace, semiconductors, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
What is the US trade deficit with China?
The US goods trade deficit with China has fluctuated between $250-350 billion annually in recent years, with some reduction following tariffs introduced in 2018-2019. The US exports more services to China, but goods trade remains heavily imbalanced.