Brazil vs China
Brazil leads on 0 of 6 metrics, China on 6. Here's the full side-by-side breakdown.
Brazil vs China: the verdict
China is the more populous of the two, home to 1.41 billion people — about 6.6× the population of Brazil (212.81 million).
On the economy, China has the larger nominal GDP at $19.5T. But measured per person, China comes out ahead on GDP per capita ($13,862), a better proxy for average living standards.
Geographically, China is the larger country, spanning 9,706,961 km².
China records the higher Human Development Index (0.797), reflecting stronger combined outcomes in health, education and income (source: UNDP).
Overall, China leads on more headline metrics in this comparison, though "which country is better" depends entirely on which measures matter to you.
Full breakdown
Brazil
BrazilBrazilGovernment & politics
BrazilBrazil
Brazil is a federal presidential republic modelled partly on the United States. The President is both head of state and head of government, directly elected and serving as commander of the armed forces. Power is divided among the executive, a bicameral National Congress and an independent judiciary led by the Supreme Federal Court. Brazil's many political parties mean presidents must build broad coalitions in Congress to govern.
China
China is a one-party state led by the Communist Party of China (CPC). Formal state institutions — the presidency, the Premier and the National People's Congress — operate under the direction of the Party. Ultimate power rests with the Party's General Secretary, who typically also holds the state presidency and chairs the Central Military Commission, concentrating Party, state and military authority in one person. The National People's Congress is the constitutional legislature but functions largely to ratify Party decisions rather than to check them.
Travel & practical
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Frequently asked questions
Which country has a higher GDP, Brazil or China?
China has the higher nominal GDP at $19.5T, compared with $2.28T for Brazil (World Bank).
Which country has a larger population, Brazil or China?
China has the larger population with 1,406,585,000 people, versus 212,812,405 for Brazil.
Which is larger in area, Brazil or China?
China is larger, covering 9,706,961 km² compared with 8,515,767 km² for Brazil.