China vs Russia
Population, economy and geography side by side
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China has 9.8 times as many people as Russia (1.40 billion vs 143 million in 2026). Russia is 1.7 times larger by land area. GDP per capita is higher in Russia ($17,547 vs $13,862). People live longer on average in China (78.0 vs 73.4 years).
| China | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2026) | 1,403,496,576 | 143,292,448 |
| Yearly population change | −0.22% | −0.15% |
| Population 2050 (projected) | 1.24 billion | 137 million |
| Land area | 9,388,210 km² | 16,376,870 km² |
| Density | 149/km² | 9/km² |
| GDP | $19.50 trillion (2025) | $2.56 trillion (2025) |
| GDP per capita | $13,862 (2025) | $17,547 (2025) |
| Life expectancy | 78.0 years | 73.4 years |
| Births per woman | 1.01 | 1.42 |
| Urban population | 66% | 75% |
| Capital | Beijing | Moscow |
| Currency | renminbi (CNY) | Russian ruble (RUB) |
| Calling code | +86 | +7 |
Share of world population: China 16.94%, Russia 1.73%.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a bigger population, China or Russia?
China: about 1.40 billion people versus 143 million in Russia (2026).
Is China bigger than Russia?
By land area, Russia is larger: 16,376,870 km² versus 9,388,210 km².
Which economy is bigger, China or Russia?
China, with a GDP of $19.50 trillion versus $2.56 trillion (World Bank, current US$).
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).