China vs Pakistan
China leads on 5 of 6 metrics, Pakistan on 1. Here's the full side-by-side breakdown.
China vs Pakistan: the verdict
China is the more populous of the two, home to 1.41 billion people — about 5.5× the population of Pakistan (255.22 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
China
ChinaChinaGovernment & politics
ChinaChina
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.
Pakistan
Pakistan is a federal parliamentary republic in which the President is a ceremonial head of state and the Prime Minister — leader of the majority in the elected National Assembly — holds executive power. In practice, Pakistan's powerful military has repeatedly shaped politics, both directly through periods of military rule and indirectly, giving the armed forces an unusually strong role in national affairs compared with most parliamentary democracies.
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Frequently asked questions
Which country has a higher GDP, China or Pakistan?
China has the higher nominal GDP at $19.5T, compared with $407.31B for Pakistan (World Bank).
Which country has a larger population, China or Pakistan?
China has the larger population with 1,406,585,000 people, versus 255,219,554 for Pakistan.
Which is larger in area, China or Pakistan?
China is larger, covering 9,706,961 km² compared with 881,912 km² for Pakistan.