United States vs China — Country Comparison
United States
ChinaUnited States and China side by side: China is the larger country (9,706,961 km² vs 9,525,067 km²), while China has the bigger population (1.4 billion vs 340.1 million). The full comparison table below covers capitals, currencies, languages, dialling codes, timezones and more.
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
| Fact | United States | China |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Washington, D.C. | Beijing |
| Population | 340,110,988 | 1,408,280,000 |
| Area | 9,525,067 km² | 9,706,961 km² |
| Currency | United States dollar | Chinese yuan |
| Language | English | Chinese |
| Dialling code | +1 | +86 |
| Main timezone | UTC-05:00 | UTC+08:00 |
| Drives on the | Right | Right |
| Region | North America | Eastern Asia |
| Emergency number | 911 | 110 (police) / 120 (ambulance) / 119 (fire) |
Key differences: United States vs China
- China has about 4.1 times the population of United States.
- China is slightly larger by area.
- China is the more densely populated of the two.
- They use different currencies: USD and CNY.
- They do not share an official language.
- They do not share a land border.
- Their geographic centres are about 11,590 km apart.
- China is 13 hours ahead of United States (UTC-05:00 vs UTC+08:00), not accounting for daylight saving changes.
Want the full picture for each country? See United States and China, or compare their population pages: United States · China.
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United States vs China — FAQ
Which is bigger, United States or China?
China is bigger by area: 9,706,961 km² vs 9,525,067 km².
Is United States bigger than China?
No — China is larger at 9,706,961 km² vs 9,525,067 km² for United States.
Which has more people, United States or China?
China has the larger population: 1,408,280,000 (1.4 billion) vs 340,110,988 (340.1 million).
How does the size of United States compare to China?
China (9,706,961 km²) is larger than United States (9,525,067 km²).
Do United States and China use the same currency?
No — United States uses the United States dollar and China uses the Chinese yuan.
Are United States and China on the same continent?
No — United States is in North America and China is in Asia.
What is the time difference between United States and China?
China is 13 hours ahead of United States (UTC-05:00 vs UTC+08:00), not accounting for daylight saving changes.
Do United States and China share an official language?
No — United States and China do not share an official language.
Do United States and China share a border?
No — United States and China do not share a land border.
Which is more densely populated, United States or China?
China is more densely populated at roughly 145 people per km², compared to 36 for United States.
How far is United States from China?
The distance between the geographic centres of United States and China is roughly 11,590 km (7,200 miles) in a straight line. Actual travel distances between cities will differ.
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