Comparing the US and China through 11 charts: Economy, military, technology
Hanna Duggal, Marium Ali
Ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing, Al Jazeera compares the US and China across 11 key areas: economy, military, energy, technology and natural resources. The analysis shows China has overtaken the US in trade exports and green energy investment, while the US still leads in military spending, AI investment and semiconductor dominance.
US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14-15, after weeks of delay caused by the US-Israel war with Iran. The talks are expected to focus on trade relations, marking the first visit by a US president to China in nearly a decade.
In recent decades, the US and China have emerged as the world's two dominant superpowers, often seen as competing for the top position in the global order. Twenty-five years ago, the US far surpassed China on most key indicators. Today, Beijing is regarded as the world's factory and is overtaking its Western rival in many areas.
Who is the world's leading trade power?
In 2001, the US was the world's largest exporter with $729 billion in goods, while China ranked fourth with $266 billion, roughly one-third of the US total. Today, China is the largest exporter, selling $3.59 trillion in goods annually, compared to the US’s $1.9 trillion. Currently, 145 economies trade more with China than with the US.
Who exports more?
In 2024, China posted a trade surplus of over $1 trillion, exceeding $1 trillion for the first time. Its main exports include machinery and electrical equipment ($1.68 trillion), metals ($286 billion) and textiles ($268 billion). The US, the second-largest exporter, ships mainly machinery ($447 billion), mineral products ($364 billion) and chemicals ($245 billion). President Trump has used the large US trade deficit—imports of $3.12 trillion versus exports of $1.9 trillion—to justify tariffs imposed since last year.
What do the US and China buy from each other?
The two countries exchanged more than $500 billion in goods in 2025, but trade has declined due to retaliatory tariffs. The average effective US tariff on Chinese goods is about 31.6%, while China applies tariffs on key US energy and agricultural products, ranging from 11% (propane) to 77% (beef). In 2024, the US bought $453 billion in Chinese goods (mainly machinery, toys, textiles), while China purchased $145 billion in US goods (machinery, oil, chemicals).
Who is more in debt?
US government debt stands at 115% of GDP, while China's is at 94% of GDP (though the figure is believed to be understated). US debt has exceeded $39 trillion, a historic high, surging from the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. China's debt has risen more steadily, from 22% of GDP in 2000 to about 34% in 2009, then climbing due to infrastructure investment and local government borrowing.
Who spends more on the military?
The US is the world's largest military spender, nearly three times that of China: $954 billion (3.1% of GDP) compared to China's estimated $336 billion (1.7% of GDP). Together, they account for more than half of global military spending. The US dominates in air power (three times more aircraft and support bases), but China has more naval vessels. The US still holds advantages in firepower, submarines and aircraft carriers.
Who consumes more energy?
China is the world's largest energy consumer, using 48,477 TWh in 2024, 80% from fossil fuels (mainly coal). The US ranks second with 26,349 TWh, 80% from fossil fuels (mainly oil). In green energy investment, China spent $290 billion, three times the US total of $97 billion.
Who leads in emerging technology?
The US leads in AI investment with $109 billion in 2024, nearly equal to the rest of the world combined, and has twice as many prominent AI models as China (OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Meta's Llama versus DeepSeek). It also dominates semiconductors thanks to Nvidia's CUDA platform. However, China is far ahead in electric vehicles: nearly 50% of new cars sold in China in 2024 were EVs, compared to 10% in the US, thanks to nearly $230 billion in government subsidies from 2009 to 2024.
Who has more rare earths?
China holds 44 million tons of rare earth reserves (more than half of the world's total) and dominates global processing. The US has only 1.9 million tons (less than 5% of China's total) and relies heavily on imports from Beijing. Rare earths are a flashpoint in trade talks: Last year, Trump threatened 100% tariffs on Chinese goods after Beijing restricted rare earth exports, before a six-month pause.
What global organizations do they belong to?
Both are members of the UN Security Council, WTO, IMF, G20, and APEC. China also participates in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The US is a member of NATO, OECD, G7, the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, and AUKUS with the UK and Australia.
How do their growth models differ?
China’s economy is state-led, with heavy investment in infrastructure and technology, relying on exports and long-term planning. Trump’s “America First” model uses tariffs (especially on China), tax cuts, deregulation, reduces reliance on China, and boosts domestic manufacturing.
