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Geo Factbook

China vs United Kingdom: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 171 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā€” latest data through 2026.

China
chn
Leads on 78 of 171 metrics
United Kingdom
gbr
Leads on 84 of 171 metrics

Summary

China has 20.2 times as many people as United Kingdom (1.41 billion vs 69.96 million). China's economy is 5.1 times the size of United Kingdom's ($20.73 trillion vs $4.1 trillion GDP).

Comparing China and United Kingdom: United Kingdom leads on Refined Petroleum Products Imports (907,500) against China (1.16); China leads on Oil Exports (480,600) against United Kingdom (1.31); China leads on Irrigated Land (690,070) against United Kingdom (718). Across 171 compared metrics, China wins on 78 and United Kingdom wins on 84.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 65 metrics compared
  • Environment: 11 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 21 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 39 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 5 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration47.19 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…42.16 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)92 %95.47 %ā˜…
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)90.6 %96.3 %ā˜…
Internet Userspercent of population: 78% (2023 est.)percent of population: 96% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed47.19 Mbpsā˜…42.16 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score14.8 points78.89 pointsā˜…
Radios417ā˜…84.5
Televisions400ā˜…30.5
Waterways27,700ā˜…3,200

Economy

65 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country1.79T $ā˜…31.15B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars20.73T $ā˜…4.10T $
AI Investment (% of GDP)40.61 %ā˜…19.12 %
Apple Import Volume97.54M tonnes326.31M tonnesā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate89.38 %99.28 %ā˜…
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)2.25 %ā˜…0.25 %
Coal Revenue0.57ā˜…0
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)4.35 %4.38 %ā˜…
Corporate Tax Rate Trends25 %ā˜…19 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)5.4 % of GDP10 % of GDPā˜…
Ease of Doing Business Index77.993.8ā˜…
Electricity Consumption5.56309.2ā˜…
Electricity Exports18.91ā˜…2.15
Electricity from Fossil Fuels62ā˜…50
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants18ā˜…2
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels29ā˜…
Electricity from Other Renewables1839ā˜…
Electricity Imports6.1919.7ā˜…
Electricity Installed Capacity1.6597.06ā˜…
Electricity Production5.88318.2ā˜…
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)113.81 USD per capitaā˜…94.28 USD per capita
Female Labor Force Participation Rate69.58 %73.49 %ā˜…
Gini Index Coefficient35.7ā˜…32.4
Gross Fixed Investment45.9ā˜…13.9
Gross National Saving45.8ā˜…13.6
High-Tech Export Percentage60.47 %63.43 %ā˜…
Highest GDP per Capita Countries25,066.52 USD53,993.12 USDā˜…
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)5.3 %ā˜…-0.5 %
Inflation Rate0.06 %ā˜…3.88 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)0.2 %ā˜…3.3 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)1.5 % of GDP2.4 % of GDPā˜…
Natural Gas Consumption238.6ā˜…79.17
Natural Gas Exports3.3711.27ā˜…
Natural Gas Imports97.63ā˜…47
Natural Gas Production145.9ā˜…42.11
Natural Gas Proved Reserves5.44176ā˜…
Number of AI Patents Filed87,057 patentsā˜…478 patents
Oil Consumption9.19ā˜…1.62
Oil Exports480,600ā˜…1.31
Oil Imports4.75ā˜…1.45
Oil Production4.27ā˜…1.39
Oil Proved Reserves20.35ā˜…2.86
Population Below Poverty Line0 peopleā˜…18.6 people
Public Debt47ā˜…138.6
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)2.58 %2.68 %ā˜…
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)5 USDā˜…1.1 USD
Real Interest Rate Trends4.46 %ā˜…-1.08 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption12.47ā˜…1.58
Refined Petroleum Products Exports848,400ā˜…613,800
Refined Petroleum Products Imports1.16907,500ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Production11.51ā˜…1.29
Remittances0.2ā˜…0.1
Researchers in R&D per Million1,235.85 researchers4,472.69 researchersā˜…
Revenue from Forest Resources0.08ā˜…0.01
Robotics Research Funding2.58 USD2.68 USDā˜…
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)0ā˜…0.5
Tax Burden (% of GDP)7.02 %ā˜…26.89 %
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)7.02 % of GDP26.89 % of GDPā˜…
Taxes and Other Revenues7.627.4ā˜…
Top Exporting Countries3.75T USDā˜…1.14T USD
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)0.41 %1.91 %ā˜…
Total Number of Billionaires539ā˜…56
Unemployment Rate4.6 %4.2 %ā˜…
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate64.55 %61.37 %ā˜…
Youth Unemployment Rate15.8 %14.65 %ā˜…

Environment

11 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)117.03M5.08Mā˜…
Annual Forest Area Change Rate1.61M %ā˜…12,600 %
Average Annual Temperature8.21 Ā°C10.37 Ā°Cā˜…
Carbon Dioxide Emissions12.2ā˜…340.94
Global Precipitation Distribution833.24 mm962.53 mmā˜…
Population Distributionoverwhelming majority of the population is found in the eastern half of the country; the west, with its vast mountainous and desert areas, remains sparsely populated; though ranked first in the world in total population, overall density is less than that the core of the population lies in and around London, with significant clusters found in central Britain around Manchester and Liverpool, in the Scottish lowlands between Edinburgh and Glasgow, in southern Wales in and around Cardiff, and in far-eastern N
Protected Land Area for Adaptation15.6 sq km28.58 sq kmā˜…
Protected Land Area Percentage15.6 %28.4 %ā˜…
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country828.8 Cubic meters per yearā˜…9.8 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources2.84147ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species78 species4 speciesā˜…

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization6.74 %9.75 %ā˜…
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)64.72115ā˜…
Agricultural land5.19M sq. kmā˜…172,448.2 sq. km
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km9.39Mā˜…241,930
Coastline Length (km)14,500 kmā˜…12,429 km
Dam capacity per capita566.97 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…75.83 cubic meters per inhabitant
Irrigated Land690,070ā˜…718

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Rule of Law Index by Country59.71 %86.77 %ā˜…
Administrative Divisions23England: 24 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan districts, 59 unitary authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*) two-tier counties: Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, East Sussex, Ess
Corruption Perception Index43 indexā˜…71 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score43 index71 indexā˜…
Independence1no official date of independence: 927 (minor English kingdoms unite); 3 March 1284 (enactment of the Statute of Rhuddlan uniting England and Wales); 1536 (Act of Union incorporates England and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union unite England, Scotland, and
LGBT Rights Index Score1.9410.98ā˜…
Prison Population Rate119 per 100,000ā˜…137.66 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception43ā˜…71
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

21 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Average BMI for Adults24.2 kg/mĀ²27.3 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate95 %ā˜…89 %
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)11.9ā˜…7.4
Female Life Expectancy Leaders78.02 years81.39 yearsā˜…
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.47 per 1,000 births0.25 per 1,000 birthsā˜…
Health Care Spending per Capita1,906.71 USD7,011.86 USDā˜…
Health Coverage Index Score85 score88 scoreā˜…
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)5.4 % of GDP11.3 % of GDPā˜…
Highest Male Life Expectancy78.02 years81.39 yearsā˜…
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence RateNANA
Hospital Bed Density5 people/sq kmā˜…2.4 people/sq km
Hospital Beds per Capita5.38 beds per 1,000ā˜…2.42 beds per 1,000
Low Birth Weight Prevalence4.97 %ā˜…6.83 %
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)16 %8 %ā˜…
Nurses and Midwives Density3.67 per 1,000 people9.06 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)6.2 %ā˜…27.8 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending32.17 %14.63 %ā˜…
People Living With HIV/AIDSNANA
Public Health Spending (% of GDP)3.39 %8.74 %ā˜…
Total Number of Doctors3.113.14ā˜…
Underweight Children Under 52.40.6ā˜…

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Active Military Personnel2.04M personnelā˜…150,000 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)1.72 %ā˜…2.35 %
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)2.54Mā˜…153,000

People and Society

39 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Currently married (Percent)66.52 %ā˜…46.59 %
Human Capital Index0.670.79ā˜…
Life expectancy at birth81.19 years83.69 yearsā˜…
Median age of population40.64 yearsā˜…40.33 years
Population Change-4.42M persons377,688.2 personsā˜…
Population density147.29 per sq. kmā˜…288.63 per sq. km
Total population1.41B personsā˜…69.96M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.070.67ā˜…
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsAA-ACā˜…
Beer Consumption per Capita1.21 liters3.54 litersā˜…
Birth Rate (%)7.28 %10.76 %ā˜…
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate84.5 %ā˜…76.1 %
Crude Birth Rate6.77 per 1,000 people9.89 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Death Rate (%)7.97 %ā˜…9.25 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)4 % of GDP5.9 % of GDPā˜…
Female population of reproductive age308.96M personsā˜…15.28M persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)80.78 %93.5 %ā˜…
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate47.19 %ā˜…42.16 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth110.63 male/femaleā˜…105.42 male/female
Human Development Index0.260.78ā˜…
Labor Force Participation Rate773.88ā˜…35.36
Learning-adjusted years of school8.55 years11.65 yearsā˜…
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days0 days
Major Urban Areas Population29.21 peopleā˜…9.65 people
Mean Male Height (cm)171.83177.49ā˜…
Mean Years of Schooling8.99 years12.9 yearsā˜…
Military Service Age and Obligation18ā˜…16
Old-Age Dependency Ratio20.72 %ā˜…30.33 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization83.73 %86.48 %ā˜…
Physician Density3.11 people/sq km3.3 people/sq kmā˜…
Population Growth Rate-0.08 %0.4 %ā˜…
Population living in slums26.32 %ā˜…0.16 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio16.5915.13ā˜…
Total deaths12.15M persons675,626.2 personsā˜…
Total demand for family planning (Percent)70.06 %75.07 %ā˜…
Total fertility rate0.97 per woman1.53 per womanā˜…
Total net-migration-306,257.4 persons375,700.7 personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate7.94 per live births4.03 per live birthsā˜…
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate0.51 %ā˜…0.39 %

Transportation

5 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.462.25ā˜…
Airports5521,057ā˜…
Annual Human Space Visits (Total)00
Civil Air Travel284618ā˜…
Heliports120139ā˜…

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita39.75B USD84.55B USDā˜…

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡ØšŸ‡³ ChinašŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Current Bank Rate3 %3.75 %ā˜…

Frequently Asked Questions About China vs United Kingdom

Which has a larger population, China or United Kingdom?ā–¾

China. China has 20.2 times as many people as United Kingdom (1.41 billion vs 69.96 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, China or United Kingdom?ā–¾

China. China's economy is 5.1 times the size of United Kingdom's ($20.73 trillion vs $4.1 trillion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, China or United Kingdom?ā–¾

United Kingdom is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $58,622 in United Kingdom vs $14,673 in China (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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