Quality of life comparison
If you lived in United States instead of China, you would:
Health
live 0.9 years longer
In China, the average life expectancy is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024. In United States, that number is 79 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024.
see 9.1 times more spent on your healthcare
China spends $1,487 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). United States spends $13,473 as of 2023.
have 18.3% more doctors per person
China has 31.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. United States has 36.8 as of 2022.
be 4.4 times more likely to be obese
In China, 9.3% of adults are obese as of 2024. In United States, that number is 41.0% of people as of 2024.
be 74.6% more likely to die by suicide
China has a suicide rate of 8.9 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In United States, it is 15.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Economy
make 6.5 times more money
China has a GDP per capita of $13,862 as of 2025, while in United States, the GDP per capita is $90,027 as of 2025.
Life
have 56.6% more children
In China, there are approximately 6.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In United States, there are 10.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
be 34.1% more likely to die during infancy
In China, approximately 4.1 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In United States, on the other hand, 5.5 children do as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 39.0% more on education
China spends 3.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. United States spends 5.4% of total GDP on education as of 2021.
spend 2.8 times more on healthcare
China spends 5.9% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In United States, that number is 16.7% of GDP as of 2023.
Geography
see 37.4% more coastline
China has a total of 14,500 km of coastline. In United States, that number is 19,924 km.
Safety
be 18.4% less likely to die in a road accident
In China, road accidents kill 17.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In United States, they kill 14.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.
be 11.5 times more likely to be murdered
China has a homicide rate of 0.5 per 100,000 people as of 2020. In United States, that number is 5.8 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 31.1% less likely to feel safe walking alone at night
In China, 91% of people feel safe walking alone at night as of 2020. In United States, that number is 63% as of 2021.
Infrastructure
live with 32.2% less strain on fresh water
China withdraws 42% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. United States withdraws 28% as of 2022.
use 96.8% more electricity
China uses 6,524 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. United States uses 12,839 kWh as of 2024.
find 17.7% less home broadband
China has 47.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. United States has 38.9 as of 2024.
Environment
be 78.1% less likely to die from air pollution
In China, air pollution causes 64.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In United States, it causes 14.0 as of 2019.
emit 46.1% more CO2
China emits 9.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. United States emits 13.6 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this
Compare further: China vs. United States
United States: At a glance
How big is United States compared to China? See an in-depth size comparison.