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 2024.

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?

64 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2024.

China vs United States: Surface area (sq. km)

China

9.56 million sq. km

in 2024

United States

9.83 million sq. km

in 2024

China rank

4th

United States rank

3rd

Surface area (sq. km) 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 64 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.

China ranks 4th and United States ranks 3rd of 216 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 2024.
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?: 64 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2024.
How do China and United States rank globally for surface area?: China ranks 4th and United States ranks 3rd of 216 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.

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China vs United States: Surface area. Statizoid, drawing on 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). Retrieved 12 November 2026, from https://agriculture.statizoid.com/compare/surface-area-sq-km/china/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator: Surface area (sq. km)
Unit: sq. km
Source: 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)
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 264 places, 16,669 data points, 1961–2024
Last refreshed: 12 November 2026

Surface area is a country's total area, including areas under inland bodies of water and some coastal waterways.