China vs Japan GDP, 1960 to 2025
China had $19,498.04 billion in GDP in 2025, versus $4,435.16 billion for Japan. Compare World Bank annual data.
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What the data shows
- China: $59.85B in 1960, $19,498.04B in 2025. Its low point was $47.31B in 1962.
- Japan: $48.42B in 1960, $4,435.16B in 2025 (92× higher). It peaked at $6,333.80B in 2012.
About this chart
2010 marks the latest change of leader in this annual GDP comparison: China moves ahead. By 2025, China records $19,498.04 billion, compared with $4,435.16 billion for Japan. The 2025 gap is $15,062.88 billion, and the larger total is about 4.40 times the smaller one. This compares the size of the two economies, not income per resident.
At the start of the common series in 1960, China recorded $59.85 billion and Japan recorded $48.42 billion. The World Bank reports these totals in current US dollars. Inflation and exchange rates can change this comparison, so a rising dollar total does not by itself establish real economic growth. A purchasing-power or per-person comparison would answer a different question.
The data
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD), GDP in current US$, current US$ billions. Retrieved November 5, 2026. Nominal GDP in current US dollars; not adjusted for inflation or differences in purchasing power.
| Date | 🇨🇳 China | 🇯🇵 Japan |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | $59.85B | $48.42B |
| 1961 | $50.16B | $58.47B |
| 1962 | $47.31B | $66.36B |
| 1963 | $50.81B | $75.95B |
| 1964 | $59.82B | $89.33B |
| 1965 | $70.57B | $99.39B |
| 1966 | $76.85B | $115.43B |
| 1967 | $73.01B | $135.27B |
| 1968 | $70.98B | $160.20B |
| 1969 | $79.85B | $188.18B |
| 1970 | $92.75B | $221.80B |
| 1971 | $99.96B | $250.53B |
| 1972 | $113.87B | $331.78B |
| 1973 | $138.76B | $450.76B |
| 1974 | $144.42B | $500.36B |
| 1975 | $163.69B | $544.08B |
| 1976 | $154.20B | $611.50B |
| 1977 | $175.23B | $752.59B |
| 1978 | $149.79B | $1,057.42B |
| 1979 | $178.57B | $1,100.61B |
| 1980 | $191.49B | $1,153.16B |
| 1981 | $196.22B | $1,271.44B |
| 1982 | $205.48B | $1,183.13B |
| 1983 | $231.13B | $1,297.62B |
| 1984 | $260.44B | $1,374.17B |
| 1985 | $310.06B | $1,457.07B |
| 1986 | $301.31B | $2,164.73B |
| 1987 | $273.46B | $2,635.09B |
| 1988 | $312.89B | $3,191.55B |
| 1989 | $348.38B | $3,174.93B |
| 1990 | $361.56B | $3,252.99B |
| 1991 | $384.51B | $3,724.89B |
| 1992 | $428.50B | $4,064.53B |
| 1993 | $446.56B | $4,632.48B |
| 1994 | $566.93B | $5,104.06B |
| 1995 | $738.19B | $5,639.65B |
| 1996 | $868.52B | $5,021.44B |
| 1997 | $967.75B | $4,579.78B |
| 1998 | $1,037.13B | $4,150.36B |
| 1999 | $1,103.84B | $4,688.98B |
| 2000 | $1,223.75B | $5,042.38B |
| 2001 | $1,355.04B | $4,438.79B |
| 2002 | $1,489.82B | $4,245.95B |
| 2003 | $1,683.90B | $4,573.41B |
| 2004 | $1,984.20B | $4,941.49B |
| 2005 | $2,317.55B | $4,875.65B |
| 2006 | $2,791.50B | $4,648.06B |
| 2007 | $3,604.06B | $4,624.67B |
| 2008 | $4,667.35B | $5,160.20B |
| 2009 | $5,189.58B | $5,336.77B |
| 2010 | $6,192.56B | $5,811.58B |
| 2011 | $7,671.76B | $6,279.42B |
| 2012 | $8,673.66B | $6,333.80B |
| 2013 | $9,743.12B | $5,272.30B |
| 2014 | $10,674.53B | $4,985.76B |
| 2015 | $11,280.81B | $4,534.44B |
| 2016 | $11,456.02B | $5,110.36B |
| 2017 | $12,537.56B | $5,038.23B |
| 2018 | $14,147.77B | $5,154.29B |
| 2019 | $14,560.17B | $5,245.76B |
| 2020 | $14,996.41B | $5,189.20B |
| 2021 | $18,201.70B | $5,225.93B |
| 2022 | $18,316.77B | $4,447.98B |
| 2023 | $18,270.36B | $4,384.85B |
| 2024 | $18,729.67B | $4,190.01B |
| 2025 | $19,498.04B | $4,435.16B |
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Frequently asked questions
Which economy is larger, China or Japan?
China has the larger GDP in 2025: $19,498.04 billion, compared with $4,435.16 billion for Japan. These are World Bank nominal GDP totals in current US dollars.
How large is the GDP gap?
The 2025 gap is about $15,062.88 billion. China has approximately 4.40 times the GDP of Japan, using the same year and currency basis.
When did China have its highest GDP in this series?
China reaches its highest current-dollar GDP in the displayed series in 2025, at $19,498.04 billion. This is a nominal dollar peak, not necessarily a peak in inflation-adjusted output.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank, World Development Indicators (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD), GDP in current US$, current US$ billions. Retrieved November 5, 2026. Nominal GDP in current US dollars; not adjusted for inflation or differences in purchasing power. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.
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