China vs United States: Surface area
China
9.56 million sq. km
in 2023
United States
9.83 million sq. km
in 2023
China rank
4th
United States rank
3rd
Surface area over time
- China
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 9.83 million sq. km against 9.56 million sq. km in China, a difference of 268,600 sq. km.
Across all 63 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.
China ranks 4th and United States ranks 3rd of 215 countries.
United States has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.56 million sq. km | 9.63 million sq. km | 66,140 sq. km | United States |
| 1970s | 9.56 million sq. km | 9.63 million sq. km | 66,140 sq. km | United States |
| 1980s | 9.56 million sq. km | 9.63 million sq. km | 66,140 sq. km | United States |
| 1990s | 9.56 million sq. km | 9.63 million sq. km | 66,149 sq. km | United States |
| 2000s | 9.56 million sq. km | 9.67 million sq. km | 109,015 sq. km | United States |
| 2010s | 9.56 million sq. km | 9.83 million sq. km | 268,600 sq. km | United States |
| 2020s | 9.56 million sq. km | 9.83 million sq. km | 268,600 sq. km | United States |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher surface area, China or United States?
- United States, at 9.83 million sq. km against 9.56 million sq. km in China as of 2023.
- What is the difference in surface area between China and United States?
- 268,600 sq. km, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States?
- 63 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2023.
- How do China and United States rank globally for surface area?
- China ranks 4th and United States ranks 3rd of 215 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as Surface area (sq. km). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Surface area is a country's total area, including areas under inland bodies of water and some coastal waterways.