China
Beijing · Asia
Population
1.41B
Area
9,706,961 km²
GDP
$18.74T
GDP Per Capita
$13,303.148
Life Expectancy
78.0 yrs
Capital
Beijing
China is a country located in Eastern Asia, with its capital in Beijing. As of 2025, it has a population of 1.41B and covers an area of 9,706,961 km². The economy of China has a gross domestic product (GDP) of $18.74T (World Bank, 2025), translating to a per-capita income of $13,303.148 with annual economic growth of 5.0%. Life expectancy in China stands at 78.0 years (World Bank, 2025), above the global average of 72 years. The official language is Chinese, and the currency is the Chinese yuan (¥). China shares land borders with 16 countries.
Population Growth — China
GDP Trend (USD)
How Large Is China's Economy?
China's GDP of $18.74T makes it a upper-middle-income economy by World Bank classification. GDP per capita of $13,303 is 19% above the regional average of 11,200 (World Bank, 2025). The economy has grown 88% over the past decade, from $9.74T in 2013 to $18.27T in 2023. The most recent annual growth rate of 5.0% is above the global median of 3.1% (World Bank, 2025). The unemployment rate of 4.6% is 10% above the regional average of 4.2 (World Bank, 2025). Inflation of 0.2% is within the 2-3% range considered stable by most central banks. China's official currency is the Chinese yuan (¥). As a UN member, China participates in multilateral trade frameworks.
GDP
$18.74T
GDP Per Capita
$13,303.148
GDP Growth
5.0%
Unemployment
4.6%
Inflation
0.2%
Currencies
CNY
What Are China's Demographics?
With 1.41B people, China is one of only 3 countries with over 1 billion people. At 145 people per km², the country is moderately populated. Population has grown at 0.3% annually over the past decade (World Bank, 2025). Life expectancy stands at 78.0 years, 6.0 years above the global average of 72 years. Infant mortality of 4.5 per 1,000 live births is 75% below the regional average of 18 (World Bank, 2025). The country's official language is Chinese. Over the past decade, China's population grew from 1.19B to 1.41B, adding 218.9M people.
Population
1.41B
Life Expectancy
78.0 yrs
Infant Mortality
4.5 per 1k
Literacy Rate
—
Languages
Chinese
CO₂ Per Capita
—
Where Is China Located?
China covers 9,706,961 km² (3,748,000 sq miles) and shares land borders with 16 countries. The country sits within the Asia region, Eastern Asia subregion, spanning Asia. Beijing serves as the seat of government and administrative capital of China. The country spans 1 time zone. Recognized internationally by ISO codes CN and CHN, China is an independent sovereign state and a full UN member. Its 1 currency (CNY) reflects its participation in multilateral trade and monetary frameworks.
Area
9,706,961 km²
Region
Asia
Subregion
Eastern Asia
Capital
Beijing
Timezones
UTC+08:00
Continents
Asia
Data sourced from World Bank Open Data. Last updated: March 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions about China
What is the population of China?
China has a population of 1.41B as of 2025, according to World Bank data. Life expectancy is 78.0 years.
What is the capital of China?
The capital of China is Beijing. It serves as the country's administrative and political center.
What is the GDP of China?
China's GDP is $18.74T as of 2025 (World Bank). GDP per capita is $13,303.148. The economy grew at 5.0% in 2025.
What is the life expectancy in China?
The average life expectancy in China is 78.0 years (World Bank, 2025), above the global average. The infant mortality rate is 4.5 per 1,000 live births.
What region is China in?
China is located in Asia, specifically in Eastern Asia. It is part of the continent of Asia.
What is the size of China?
China covers an area of 9,706,961 km² (3,747,877 square miles). The population density is approximately 145.1 people per km².
What currency does China use?
China uses the Chinese yuan (¥) with currency code CNY.
What language is spoken in China?
The official language of China is Chinese.
Is China a member of the United Nations?
Yes, China is a member of the United Nations.
What is China's GDP?
China's GDP is $18.74T (World Bank, 2025). This places it among Asia's economies by total output.
What is China's GDP per capita?
China's GDP per capita is $13,303, which is 19% above the regional average of 11,200 (World Bank, 2025).
What is China's inflation rate?
China's inflation rate is 0.2%, within the 2-3% range considered stable by most central banks (World Bank, 2025).
What is the population density of China?
China has a population density of 145 people per km², making it moderately populated.
What is the life expectancy in China?
Life expectancy in China is 78.0 years, 6.0 years above the global average of 72 years (World Bank, 2025).
What is the total area of China?
China has a total land area of 9,706,961 km² (3,748,000 sq miles). This measurement covers the country's total sovereign territory as recorded by international geographic databases.
How many countries does China border?
China shares land borders with 16 countries (identified by the ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 codes: AFG, BTN, MMR, HKG, IND, KAZ, NPL, PRK, KGZ, LAO, MAC, MNG, PAK, RUS, TJK, VNM). These borders define the country's overland connections to the wider region.
Historical Economic Trajectory
Between 1994 and 2023, China's GDP expanded by 3123% in nominal terms, rising from $566.9B to $18.27T over 29 years. This more-than-doubling of economic output reflects sustained structural growth across the period. Over the same reference period (1994 to 2023), China's population grew from 1.19B to 1.41B, a change of 18% (218.9M people) across 29 years. Steady population growth has driven demand for housing, education, and public services throughout the period. Taken together, the GDP and population trajectories from 1994 onward illustrate how China's economic output has evolved relative to its demographic base. Real GDP per capita has broadly improved over the span, as nominal output growth outpaced population growth by approximately 3105 percentage points.
Global Comparative Standing
China's GDP per capita of $13,303 is 19% above the regional average of 11,200 of $11,200 for the Asia region (World Bank, 2025). Life expectancy of 78.0 years is 5% above the regional average of 74.1 of 74.1 years for Asia (World Bank, 2025). With a population of 1.41B, China is one of only 3 countries with over 1 billion people. As a G20 member, China participates in the forum of major economies that collectively account for around 85% of global GDP and approximately two-thirds of the world's population.
Countries Similar in Population to China
Quick Facts
- Official Name
- China
- Capital
- Beijing
- Region
- Asia · Eastern Asia
- Languages
- Chinese
- Currency
- Chinese yuan (¥)
- UN Member
- Yes
- Independent
- Yes
- ISO Codes
- CN / CHN
More in Asia
Data sources: World Bank (2023), REST Countries API