How much larger is China's economy than India's?

China's nominal GDP of $18.74 trillion is 4.4 times larger than India's $4.15 trillion (2024 data). However, this gap is narrowing as India grows faster at 6-7% annually versus China's 5.0-5.3%.

Why is China's GDP per capita so much higher than India's?

China's GDP per capita of $13,453 is 5.2 times higher than India's $2,592, reflecting China's advanced industrialization, higher average wages, and higher cost of living. India has a much larger population (1.4+ billion vs 1.4 billion) relative to total economic output, and more people living in rural areas with lower incomes.

Which country has faster economic growth?

India has faster GDP growth at 6.0-7.2% annually compared to China's 5.0-5.3%. At these rates, India's economy will double in approximately 10-12 years, while China's will take 13-14 years.

What is India's projected GDP by 2026?

According to the IMF, India's nominal GDP is projected around $4.5 trillion by 2026, maintaining its position as the world's 3rd-largest economy. Some estimates using PPP methodology project India's GDP at $20.24 trillion when accounting for purchasing power parity.

How do healthcare and defence spending compare?

China spends $620.1 billion on government health expenditure versus India's $47.5 billion—a 13:1 ratio. Similarly, China's defence spending of €299.6 billion is 3.8 times India's €78.9 billion, reflecting China's current military capabilities and geopolitical positioning.

China vs India GDP 2026

Updated May 6, 2026

People's Republic of China

World's 2nd-largest economy with $18.74 trillion nominal GDP and advanced industrial base

Investors analyzing current economic powerhouses, manufacturers with established supply chains, and those studying the world's 2nd-largest economy's economic policies

Republic of India

World's 3rd-largest economy with $4.15 trillion GDP and fastest growth among major economies

Investors seeking high-growth emerging markets, companies targeting massive consumer demographics, and those analyzing future economic potential and demographic dividends

Short Answer

China's nominal GDP of $18.7 trillion exceeds India's $4.2 trillion by 4.4x, but India is growing faster at 6-7% annually and ranks 3rd globally. China maintains higher GDP per capita at $13,453 versus India's $2,592, reflecting different development stages.

Our Verdict

China currently dominates as the world's 2nd-largest economy with 4.4x India's GDP and substantially higher living standards (GDP per capita 5.2x higher). However, India is closing the gap with faster growth rates (6-7% vs 5%) and a larger working-age population. Choose China for analyzing current economic scale, manufacturing dominance, and established infrastructure; choose India for understanding future growth potential and emerging market opportunities.

People's Republic of China7.5

7.5Republic of India

Choose People's Republic of China if

Investors analyzing current economic powerhouses, manufacturers with established supply chains, and those studying the world's 2nd-largest economy's economic policies

Key Differences at a Glance

💵

Nominal GDP (2024): People's Republic of China wins ($18.74 trillion vs $3.76 trillion)

💵

GDP Per Capita (2024): People's Republic of China wins ($13,453 vs $2,592)

💵

Annual GDP Growth Rate: Republic of India wins (6.0-7.2% vs 5.0-5.3%)

See all 7 differences

Key Facts & Figures

Metric	People's Republic of China	Republic of India	Diff
Nominal GDP 2026(USD Trillions)	$20.65 trillion	—	—
GDP by Purchasing Power Parity 2026(USD trillion)	$35.0+ trillion	—	—
GDP Growth Rate 2026(%)	4.7%	—	—
Global GDP Share (Nominal)(percent)	14.77%	—	—

Key Differences

People's Republic of China

Attribute

Republic of India

$18.74 trillion🏆

Nominal GDP (2024)

$3.76 trillion

$13,453🏆

GDP Per Capita (2024)

$2,592

5.0-5.3%

Annual GDP Growth Rate

6.0-7.2%🏆

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US vs China GDP Comparison 2026: Economic Superpowers Head-to-Head

In 2026, the United States and China remain the world's two largest economies, but their trajectories diverge significantly. While the US leads in GDP per capita and total economic output, China's massive population and growth rates present a different economic picture. Here's what the data shows.

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Last updated: May 6, 2026AI generated

Nominal GDP (2024)

People's Republic of China

$18.74 trillion🏆

Republic of India

$3.76 trillion

GDP Per Capita (2024)

People's Republic of China

$13,453🏆

Republic of India

$2,592

Annual GDP Growth Rate

People's Republic of China

5.0-5.3%

Republic of India

6.0-7.2%🏆

Government Expenditure ($M, 2024)

People's Republic of China

$6.24 trillion🏆

Republic of India

$1.10 trillion

Defence Expenditure (€M, 2024)

People's Republic of China

€299,621.7M🏆

Republic of India

€78,938.4M

Government Health Expenditure ($M, 2023)

People's Republic of China

$620,062.8M🏆

Republic of India

$47,526.0M

Global Economic Rank

People's Republic of China

2nd🏆

Republic of India

3rd

Full Comparison

Attribute	People's Republic of China	Republic of India

Nominal GDP 2026(USD Trillions)	$20.65 trillion	—
Total GDP (Nominal)(USD trillion)	$17.9 trillion	—
Nominal GDP (Current)(USD Trillion)	$18.74T	$4.15T

GDP by Purchasing Power Parity 2026(USD trillion)	$35.0+ trillion	—

GDP Growth Rate 2026(%)	4.7%	—

Global GDP Share (Nominal)(percent)	14.77%	—

Per Capita Income Multiplier (Nominal)(ratio)	1.0x (baseline)	—
GDP Per Capita Nominal(USD)	$15,000	—

EV Production Market Share(percent)	70%	—
Global EV Production Share(%)	70%	—

Global Manufacturing Output(%)	35%	—

Combined Global Economic Share (Nominal)(percent)	42.46% (combined US-China)	—

Per Capita GDP (Nominal)(USD)	$14,100	—

Global GDP Market Share(Percentage (%))	15.2%	—

Electric Vehicle Production Share(%)	70%	—

Solar Panel Production Share(percent)	80%+	—

Total GDP(USD Trillions)	$17.8+	—

Education Spending Per Capita(EUR)	€467	—

Lithium Battery Production Share(%)	94%	—

PPP-Adjusted GDP 2026(trillion USD)	$45.78 trillion	—

Projected GDP Growth Rate 2026(percent)	4.5-4.8%	—
Annual GDP Growth Rate (2026)(%)	4.6–4.8%	—
Annual GDP Growth Rate(%)	5.0-5.3%	6.0-7.2%

Global Manufacturing Output Share(%)	35%	—

Lithium-Ion Battery Production(percent)	94%	—

Global Solar Panel Manufacturing(%)	80%+	—

Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production(%)	94%	—

Forecast Unemployment Rate (2026)(%)	~4.0% (estimated)	—

GDP (Nominal)(USD Trillion)	$17.9 trillion	$3.7 trillion

GDP Growth Rate(% annual)	4.8%	6.2%

Population(millions)	1.42 billion	1.46 billion

Median Age(Years)	38.4 years	27.6 years

Defense Expenditure(Million Euros)	$313.7 billion	$86.1 billion
Defence Expenditure(EUR Million)	€299,621.7M	€78,938.4M

Education Expenditure Per Capita(Euros)	€469	€89

JPMorgan Growth Leadership Outlook (2026)(Ranking)	Secondary	Primary Leader

GDP Per Capita(USD)	$13,453	$2,592

Government Expenditure(USD Million)	$6,240,157.8M	$1,101,093.0M
Government Expenditure as % of GDP(%)	32.94%	29.28%

Government Health Expenditure(USD Million)	$620,062.8M	$47,526.0M

Debt Per Capita(EUR)	€11,242	€2,049

People's Republic of China

Republic of India

Nominal GDP 2026(USD Trillions)

$20.65 trillion

—

Total GDP (Nominal)(USD trillion)

$17.9 trillion

—

Nominal GDP (Current)(USD Trillion)

$18.74T

$4.15T

GDP by Purchasing Power Parity 2026(USD trillion)

$35.0+ trillion

—

GDP Growth Rate 2026(%)

4.7%

—

Global GDP Share (Nominal)(percent)

14.77%

—

Per Capita Income Multiplier (Nominal)(ratio)

1.0x (baseline)

—

GDP Per Capita Nominal(USD)

$15,000

—

EV Production Market Share(percent)

70%

—

Global EV Production Share(%)

70%

—

Global Manufacturing Output(%)

35%

—

Combined Global Economic Share (Nominal)(percent)

42.46% (combined US-China)

—

Per Capita GDP (Nominal)(USD)

$14,100

—

Global GDP Market Share(Percentage (%))

15.2%

—

Electric Vehicle Production Share(%)

70%

—

Solar Panel Production Share(percent)

80%+

—

Total GDP(USD Trillions)

$17.8+

—

Education Spending Per Capita(EUR)

€467

—

Lithium Battery Production Share(%)

94%

—

PPP-Adjusted GDP 2026(trillion USD)

$45.78 trillion

—

Projected GDP Growth Rate 2026(percent)

4.5-4.8%

—

Annual GDP Growth Rate (2026)(%)

4.6–4.8%

—

Annual GDP Growth Rate(%)

5.0-5.3%

6.0-7.2%

Global Manufacturing Output Share(%)

35%

—

Lithium-Ion Battery Production(percent)

94%

—

Global Solar Panel Manufacturing(%)

80%+

—

Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production(%)

94%

—

Forecast Unemployment Rate (2026)(%)

~4.0% (estimated)

—

GDP (Nominal)(USD Trillion)

$17.9 trillion

$3.7 trillion

GDP Growth Rate(% annual)

4.8%

6.2%

Population(millions)

1.42 billion

1.46 billion

Median Age(Years)

38.4 years

27.6 years

Defense Expenditure(Million Euros)

$313.7 billion

$86.1 billion

Defence Expenditure(EUR Million)

€299,621.7M

€78,938.4M

Education Expenditure Per Capita(Euros)

€469

€89

JPMorgan Growth Leadership Outlook (2026)(Ranking)

Secondary

Primary Leader

GDP Per Capita(USD)

$13,453

$2,592

Government Expenditure(USD Million)

$6,240,157.8M

$1,101,093.0M

Government Expenditure as % of GDP(%)

32.94%

29.28%

Government Health Expenditure(USD Million)

$620,062.8M

$47,526.0M

Debt Per Capita(EUR)

€11,242

€2,049

Full Comparison

Attribute	People's Republic of China	Republic of India

Nominal GDP 2026(USD Trillions)	$20.65 trillion	—
Total GDP (Nominal)(USD trillion)	$17.9 trillion	—
Nominal GDP (Current)(USD Trillion)	$18.74T	$4.15T

GDP by Purchasing Power Parity 2026(USD trillion)	$35.0+ trillion	—

GDP Growth Rate 2026(%)	4.7%	—

Global GDP Share (Nominal)(percent)	14.77%	—

Per Capita Income Multiplier (Nominal)(ratio)	1.0x (baseline)	—
GDP Per Capita Nominal(USD)	$15,000	—

EV Production Market Share(percent)	70%	—
Global EV Production Share(%)	70%	—

Global Manufacturing Output(%)	35%	—

Combined Global Economic Share (Nominal)(percent)	42.46% (combined US-China)	—

Per Capita GDP (Nominal)(USD)	$14,100	—

Global GDP Market Share(Percentage (%))	15.2%	—

Electric Vehicle Production Share(%)	70%	—

Solar Panel Production Share(percent)	80%+	—

Total GDP(USD Trillions)	$17.8+	—

Education Spending Per Capita(EUR)	€467	—

Lithium Battery Production Share(%)	94%	—

PPP-Adjusted GDP 2026(trillion USD)	$45.78 trillion	—

Projected GDP Growth Rate 2026(percent)	4.5-4.8%	—
Annual GDP Growth Rate (2026)(%)	4.6–4.8%	—
Annual GDP Growth Rate(%)	5.0-5.3%	6.0-7.2%

Global Manufacturing Output Share(%)	35%	—

Lithium-Ion Battery Production(percent)	94%	—

Global Solar Panel Manufacturing(%)	80%+	—

Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production(%)	94%	—

Forecast Unemployment Rate (2026)(%)	~4.0% (estimated)	—

GDP (Nominal)(USD Trillion)	$17.9 trillion	$3.7 trillion

GDP Growth Rate(% annual)	4.8%	6.2%

Population(millions)	1.42 billion	1.46 billion

Median Age(Years)	38.4 years	27.6 years

Defense Expenditure(Million Euros)	$313.7 billion	$86.1 billion
Defence Expenditure(EUR Million)	€299,621.7M	€78,938.4M

Education Expenditure Per Capita(Euros)	€469	€89

JPMorgan Growth Leadership Outlook (2026)(Ranking)	Secondary	Primary Leader

GDP Per Capita(USD)	$13,453	$2,592

Government Expenditure(USD Million)	$6,240,157.8M	$1,101,093.0M
Government Expenditure as % of GDP(%)	32.94%	29.28%

Government Health Expenditure(USD Million)	$620,062.8M	$47,526.0M

Debt Per Capita(EUR)	€11,242	€2,049

People's Republic of China

Republic of India

Nominal GDP 2026(USD Trillions)

$20.65 trillion

—

Total GDP (Nominal)(USD trillion)

$17.9 trillion

—

Nominal GDP (Current)(USD Trillion)

$18.74T

$4.15T

GDP by Purchasing Power Parity 2026(USD trillion)

$35.0+ trillion

—

GDP Growth Rate 2026(%)

4.7%

—

Global GDP Share (Nominal)(percent)

14.77%

—

Per Capita Income Multiplier (Nominal)(ratio)

1.0x (baseline)

—

GDP Per Capita Nominal(USD)

$15,000

—

EV Production Market Share(percent)

70%

—

Global EV Production Share(%)

70%

—

Global Manufacturing Output(%)

35%

—

Combined Global Economic Share (Nominal)(percent)

42.46% (combined US-China)

—

Per Capita GDP (Nominal)(USD)

$14,100

—

Global GDP Market Share(Percentage (%))

15.2%

—

Electric Vehicle Production Share(%)

70%

—

Solar Panel Production Share(percent)

80%+

—

Total GDP(USD Trillions)

$17.8+

—

Education Spending Per Capita(EUR)

€467

—

Lithium Battery Production Share(%)

94%

—

PPP-Adjusted GDP 2026(trillion USD)

$45.78 trillion

—

Projected GDP Growth Rate 2026(percent)

4.5-4.8%

—

Annual GDP Growth Rate (2026)(%)

4.6–4.8%

—

Annual GDP Growth Rate(%)

5.0-5.3%

6.0-7.2%

Global Manufacturing Output Share(%)

35%

—

Lithium-Ion Battery Production(percent)

94%

—

Global Solar Panel Manufacturing(%)

80%+

—

Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production(%)

94%

—

Forecast Unemployment Rate (2026)(%)

~4.0% (estimated)

—

GDP (Nominal)(USD Trillion)

$17.9 trillion

$3.7 trillion

GDP Growth Rate(% annual)

4.8%

6.2%

Population(millions)

1.42 billion

1.46 billion

Median Age(Years)

38.4 years

27.6 years

Defense Expenditure(Million Euros)

$313.7 billion

$86.1 billion

Defence Expenditure(EUR Million)

€299,621.7M

€78,938.4M

Education Expenditure Per Capita(Euros)

€469

€89

JPMorgan Growth Leadership Outlook (2026)(Ranking)

Secondary

Primary Leader

GDP Per Capita(USD)

$13,453

$2,592

Government Expenditure(USD Million)

$6,240,157.8M

$1,101,093.0M

Government Expenditure as % of GDP(%)

32.94%

29.28%

Government Health Expenditure(USD Million)

$620,062.8M

$47,526.0M

Debt Per Capita(EUR)

€11,242

€2,049

China vs India GDP 2026

People's Republic of China

Republic of India

Short Answer

Our Verdict

Key Differences at a Glance

Key Facts & Figures

Key Differences

Related Comparisons

Related Articles

Explore Entities

More Economy

People Also Compare

Full Comparison

Visual Comparison

Pros & Cons

People's Republic of China

Pros

Cons

Republic of India

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources & Learn More

Wikipedia

Videos

Full Comparison

Visual Comparison