China vs Italy
Population, economy and geography side by side
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China has 23.9 times as many people as Italy (1.40 billion vs 58.7 million in 2026). China is 31.7 times larger by land area. GDP per capita is higher in Italy ($43,309 vs $13,862). People live longer on average in Italy (84.0 vs 78.0 years).
| China | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2026) | 1,403,496,576 | 58,669,960 |
| Yearly population change | −0.22% | −0.42% |
| Population 2050 (projected) | 1.24 billion | 51.2 million |
| Land area | 9,388,210 km² | 295,720 km² |
| Density | 149/km² | 198/km² |
| GDP | $19.50 trillion (2025) | $2.55 trillion (2025) |
| GDP per capita | $13,862 (2025) | $43,309 (2025) |
| Life expectancy | 78.0 years | 84.0 years |
| Births per woman | 1.01 | 1.18 |
| Urban population | 66% | 70% |
| Capital | Beijing | Rome |
| Currency | renminbi (CNY) | euro (EUR) |
| Calling code | +86 | +39 |
Share of world population: China 16.94%, Italy 0.71%.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a bigger population, China or Italy?
China: about 1.40 billion people versus 58.7 million in Italy (2026).
Is China bigger than Italy?
By land area, China is larger: 9,388,210 km² versus 295,720 km².
Which economy is bigger, China or Italy?
China, with a GDP of $19.50 trillion versus $2.55 trillion (World Bank, current US$).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Retrieved 2026-10-22. GDP in current US dollars (World Bank, latest available year).