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
The USA leads in per-capita wealth, military, and tech. China leads in manufacturing, population, and growth rate. The rivalry defines the 21st century.
High-income developed economy with largest nominal GDP and highest per capita income globally
Upper-middle-income nation with world's 2nd-largest economy and dominant manufacturing base
Structured comparison data for USA vs China with 205 attributes.
Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production
Government Education Expenditure Per Capita
Years to Close GDP Gap (at current growth rates)
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (2025)
Annual GDP Per Capita Growth (2020-2026)
Years to Double Per Capita GDP at Current Growth
Years to Double GDP at Current Growth Rate
Industrial robots per 10,000 manufacturing workers
USA vs China — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for USA vs China.
Which country has the larger economy — the US or China?
It depends on the measure. By nominal GDP, the United States is larger at approximately $30.7 trillion (2025) vs China's $17.7 trillion. By purchasing power parity (PPP), which adjusts for domestic price levels, China has been the world's largest economy since around 2016.
How does US military power compare to China's?
The US has significantly greater global power projection, with 11 carrier strike groups, 750+ overseas bases, and a defense budget of ~$886 billion. China's PLA has more personnel (~2 million vs 1.3 million) and has developed area-denial capabilities (DF-21D/DF-26 missiles) designed to offset US advantages in the Western Pacific.
Is China's population larger than the US population?
Yes. China has approximately 1.4 billion people; the United States has approximately 340 million. However, China's population is now declining due to the legacy of the one-child policy, while the US population continues to grow modestly through immigration.
Who leads in artificial intelligence — the US or China?
The US leads in frontier AI model development and semiconductor design; China leads in AI deployment at scale (particularly in surveillance and manufacturing). US export controls on advanced chips since 2022 have constrained China's access to the most powerful hardware but have accelerated domestic chip investment.
How do the US and China differ politically?
The United States is a constitutional federal democracy with free elections, protected speech, and an independent judiciary. China is governed by the Chinese Communist Party as a one-party state, with the party controlling media, internet access, and civil society. Both systems have produced rapid economic development, but with fundamentally different approaches to individual rights and state power.