Skip to content

Economy of China vs Hungary compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

China has a GDP of $18.7T compared to $223B for Hungary, ranking 2/197 and 55/197 by economy size, respectively.

China has $16.6T in government debt (88.3% of GDP), compared to $164B (73.5% of GDP) in Hungary.

China vs Hungary GDP by year

China
Hungary
1x
Year GDP, current $
China Hungary
2024 $18,743,803,170,827 $222,722,738,926
2023 $18,270,356,654,533 $213,240,316,635
2022 $18,316,765,021,690 $177,002,580,544
2021 $18,201,698,719,564 $183,282,685,440
2020 $14,996,414,166,715 $158,468,487,754
2019 $14,560,167,101,283 $164,936,682,034
2018 $14,147,765,772,964 $161,184,691,014
2017 $12,537,559,062,283 $143,335,098,992
2016 $11,456,024,084,962 $128,983,560,865
2015 $11,280,814,787,469 $125,244,126,623
2014 $10,674,533,168,257 $141,128,696,412
2013 $9,743,124,247,267 $135,646,053,779
2012 $8,673,664,713,189 $128,470,269,690
2011 $7,671,757,207,851 $141,712,804,954
2010 $6,192,564,874,453 $131,898,737,241
2009 $5,189,577,094,998 $130,807,441,076
2008 $4,667,346,414,522 $158,228,265,916
2007 $3,604,055,822,572 $140,123,326,896
2006 $2,791,498,472,804 $115,604,111,412
2005 $2,317,551,298,052 $113,098,237,571
2004 $1,984,196,551,300 $104,015,363,080
2003 $1,683,903,309,844 $85,190,469,121
2002 $1,489,821,682,051 $67,636,468,625
2001 $1,355,036,590,252 $53,800,068,066
2000 $1,223,754,919,971 $47,275,954,429
1999 $1,103,843,203,576 $49,160,204,397
1998 $1,037,134,141,760 $48,784,412,624
1997 $967,753,570,435 $47,398,564,799
1996 $868,523,936,530 $46,833,767,124
1995 $738,190,896,228 $46,577,614,589
1994 $566,929,539,493 $43,307,949,890
1993 $446,557,291,212 $40,256,233,360
1992 $428,502,354,788 $38,857,339,125
1991 $384,510,452,962 $34,867,307,353
1990 $361,560,229,446 $34,478,360,679
1989 $348,380,566,802 $30,422,508,938
1988 $312,888,888,889 $29,799,838,597
1987 $273,455,156,951 $27,232,016,527
1986 $301,310,144,928 $24,778,163,812
1985 $310,064,625,850 $21,510,643,750
1984 $260,442,857,143 $21,242,726,264
1983 $231,130,268,199 $21,910,365,258
1982 $205,480,916,031 $24,141,667,188
1981 $196,218,253,968 $23,705,883,892
1980 $191,487,500,000 $23,116,977,148
1979 $178,573,913,043 $19,959,731,325
1978 $149,788,617,886 $17,286,744,154
1977 $175,226,595,860 $14,783,674,055
1976 $154,196,810,059 $13,235,612,079
1975 $163,687,619,736 $11,420,392,515
1974 $144,418,433,058 $10,016,338,179
1973 $138,764,340,892 $9,138,292,402
1972 $113,871,930,714 $7,379,313,742
1971 $99,959,013,880 $6,291,568,221
1970 $92,752,930,873 $5,780,929,203
1969 $79,847,786,729 $5,429,812,387
1968 $70,980,323,819 $4,886,222,555
1967 $73,011,350,596 -
1966 $76,854,053,259 -
1965 $70,565,994,356 -
1964 $59,821,862,703 -
1963 $50,812,227,919 -
1962 $47,310,737,754 -
1961 $50,162,299,350 -
1960 $59,846,235,025 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/china/hungary | CC BY

GDP per capita in China vs Hungary by year

China
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Hungary
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
China Hungary
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $13,303 $27,105 $23,292 $48,552
2023 $12,951 $25,179 $22,231 $46,592
2022 $12,971 $23,032 $18,428 $44,366
2021 $12,887 $20,843 $19,031 $38,887
2020 $10,627 $18,267 $16,387 $35,584
2019 $10,343 $17,601 $17,013 $35,627
2018 $10,086 $16,298 $16,605 $32,258
2017 $8,980 $15,022 $14,736 $29,728
2016 $8,255 $14,157 $13,216 $28,179
2015 $8,175 $13,463 $12,783 $26,938
2014 $7,781 $12,942 $14,353 $25,796
2013 $7,147 $12,228 $13,739 $24,592
2012 $6,405 $11,420 $12,950 $23,205
2011 $5,704 $10,457 $14,211 $22,992
2010 $4,629 $9,411 $13,190 $21,691
2009 $3,898 $8,448 $13,051 $20,691
2008 $3,523 $7,713 $15,763 $20,709
2007 $2,735 $6,935 $13,935 $19,089
2006 $2,129 $5,946 $11,478 $18,362
2005 $1,778 $5,148 $11,212 $17,091
2004 $1,531 $4,505 $10,291 $16,251
2003 $1,307 $4,007 $8,410 $15,460
2002 $1,164 $3,591 $6,658 $14,532
2001 $1,065 $3,258 $5,281 $13,223
2000 $969 $2,964 $4,630 $11,872
1999 $881 $2,690 $4,802 $10,892
1998 $835 $2,483 $4,752 $10,415
1997 $787 $2,297 $4,606 $9,846
1996 $713 $2,088 $4,542 $9,388
1995 $613 $1,884 $4,509 $9,222
1994 $476 $1,680 $4,187 $8,888
1993 $379 $1,471 $3,887 $8,441
1992 $368 $1,276 $3,747 $8,284
1991 $334 $1,105 $3,361 $8,352
1990 $319 $991 $3,324 $9,169
1989 $311 - $2,902 -
1988 $284 - $2,812 -
1987 $252.3 - $2,566 -
1986 $282.4 - $2,331 -
1985 $295 - $2,020 -
1984 $251.2 - $1,991 -
1983 $225.9 - $2,050 -
1982 $203.7 - $2,255 -
1981 $197.4 - $2,213 -
1980 $195.1 - $2,158 -
1979 $184.3 - $1,865 -
1978 $156.7 - $1,618 -
1977 $185.7 - $1,388 -
1976 $165.7 - $1,249 -
1975 $178.6 - $1,083 -
1974 $160.4 - $956 -
1973 $157.3 - $876 -
1972 $132.1 - $710 -
1971 $118.8 - $607 -
1970 $113.3 - $559 -
1969 $100.3 - $527 -
1968 $91.6 - $476 -
1967 $96.8 - - -
1966 $104.5 - - -
1965 $98.7 - - -
1964 $85.7 - - -
1963 $74.5 - - -
1962 $71.1 - - -
1961 $76 - - -
1960 $89.7 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/china/hungary | CC BY

China's GDP per capita is $13,303, ranking 76/197, compared to $23,292 in Hungary, ranking 55/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), China ranks 77th at $27,105, while Hungary ranks 48th at $48,552.

Economic indicators

China Hungary
Gross domestic product
$18.7T
2024
$223B
2024
GDP rank
2/197
2024
55/197
2024
GDP growth
4.98%
2023-2024
0.56%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$13,303
2024
$23,292
2024
GDP per capita rank
76/197
2024
55/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$27,105
2024
$48,552
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
77/197
2024
48/197
2024
Government debt
$16.6T
2024
$164B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
88.3%
2024
73.5%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,749
2024
$17,109
2024
Government debt per person rank
47/185
2024
37/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$9,826
2026
$16,996
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$11.8T
2024
$41.5B
2024
Number of millionaires
6,327,000
2025
24,692
2025
Number of billionaires
450
2025
4
2025
Income share by richest 10%
28.4%
2022
24.4%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2022
2.8%
2022
Government expenditure, % of GDP
32.9%
2024
46.9%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
0.2%
2023-2024
3.7%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
3.1%
2024
6.5%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.11%
2021
4.47%
2024
Population
1402578808
9475525

Spending and national debt comparison by year

China
Spending

Debt
Hungary
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
China Hungary
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 32.9% 88.3% 46.9% 73.5%
2023 32.7% 82% 49.2% 73%
2022 32.6% 75.5% 48.7% 73.9%
2021 31.9% 70.1% 48.1% 76.2%
2020 34.8% 69% 51% 78.7%
2019 33.6% 59.4% 45.8% 65%
2018 32.6% 55.6% 45.9% 68.8%
2017 32% 53.9% 46.6% 72%
2016 31.7% 49.7% 46.7% 74.6%
2015 31% 40.8% 50.4% 75.7%
2014 28.4% 39.3% 50% 76.5%
2013 28.1% 36.4% 50.1% 77.2%
2012 27.7% 33.8% 49.2% 78.4%
2011 26.6% 33.2% 49.1% 80.5%
2010 24.7% 33.3% 48.9% 80.2%
2009 25.2% 34% 50.7% 78.2%
2008 22.2% 26.7% 48.8% 71.8%
2007 17.9% 28.7% 49.9% 65.6%
2006 18.1% 25.2% 51.4% 64.5%
2005 18% 25.9% 49.4% 60.6%
2004 17.6% 26% 48.8% 58.9%
2003 18% 26.4% 49.2% 58.2%
2002 18.2% 25.6% 51% 55.6%
2001 17.2% 24.3% 47.2% 52.2%
2000 16.1% 22.7% 47.3% 55.6%
1999 14.9% 21.6% 48.9% 60.3%
1998 12.6% 20.4% 50.7% 60.4%
1997 11.5% 20.4% 49.5% 62.2%
1996 11% 21.2% 50.9% 71.2%
1995 11.1% 21.4% 55% 83.9%
1994 12.4% - - 86.2%
1993 13.4% - - 87.2%
1992 14.6% - - 76.5%
1991 16.5% - - 74.2%
1990 18.2% - - 63.7%
1989 18.6% - - 70.7%
1988 20.9% 4.46% - -
1987 23.4% 3.6% - -
1986 25.6% 3.24% - -
1985 25.8% 3.31% - -
1984 26.9% 0.97% - -
1983 28.3% - - -
1982 27.9% - - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1994, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/china/hungary | CC BY

In 2024, China's government spending was $6.18T, accounting for 32.9% of its GDP, while Hungary spent $104B, or 46.9% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 88.3% in China and 73.5% in Hungary, ranking 34/185 and 49/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
China

Hungary
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
China Hungary
2024 -7.34% -4.92%
2023 -6.71% -6.75%
2022 -7.32% -6.17%
2021 -5.9% -7.11%
2020 -9.56% -7.49%
2019 -6% -2.02%
2018 -4.2% -2.05%
2017 -3.34% -2.45%
2016 -3.33% -1.79%
2015 -2.5% -2%
2014 -0.67% -2.77%
2013 -0.82% -2.6%
2012 -0.3% -2.33%
2011 -0.1% -5.22%
2010 -0.36% -4.44%
2009 -1.72% -4.76%
2008 -0.02% -3.78%
2007 0.06% -5.09%
2006 -1.13% -9.27%
2005 -1.38% -7.79%
2004 -1.49% -6.6%
2003 -2.36% -7.19%
2002 -2.84% -8.79%
2001 -2.56% -4%
2000 -2.81% -3.04%
1999 -2.3% -5.27%
1998 -1.08% -7.41%
1997 -0.73% -5.54%
1996 -0.73% -4.36%
1995 -0.94% -8.57%
1994 -1.68% -
1993 -0.89% -
1992 -1.22% -
1991 -1.04% -
1990 -0.72% -
1989 -0.91% -
1988 -2.22% -
1987 -2.08% -
1986 -1.82% -
1985 -0.45% -
1984 -1.44% -
1983 -1.61% -
1982 -1.33% -
1981 - -
1980 - -
1979 - -
1978 - -
1977 - -
1976 - -
1975 - -
1974 - -
1973 - -
1972 - -
1971 - -
1970 - -
1969 - -
1968 - -
1967 - -
1966 - -
1965 - -
1964 - -
1963 - -
1962 - -
1961 - -
1960 - -
1959 - -
1958 - -
1957 - -
1956 - -
1955 - -
1954 - -
1953 - -
1952 - -
1951 - -
1950 - -
1949 - -
1948 - -
1947 - -
1946 - -
1945 - -
1944 - -
1943 - -0.17%
1942 - 0.31%
1941 - 0.2%
1940 - -0.07%
1939 - 0.19%
1938 - -0.11%
1937 - -0.01%
1936 - 0.08%
1935 - 0.03%
1934 - 0.04%
1933 - -0.03%
1932 - -0.22%
1931 - -0.32%
1930 - -0.26%
1929 - 0.02%
1928 - 0.12%
1927 - 0.15%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1927–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/china/hungary | CC BY

In 2024, China's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.38T, equivalent to 7.34% of GDP. This compares to Hungary's deficit of $10.9B, or 4.92% of GDP.

Over the past 30 years, China recorded a fiscal deficit in 29 of those years, while Hungary ran a deficit in 30 years. On average, China posted an annual deficit equal to 2.68% of GDP, compared to deficit of 5.05% of GDP for Hungary.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
China

Hungary
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
China Hungary
2024 0.2% 3.7%
2023 0.2% 17.1%
2022 2% 14.6%
2021 0.9% 5.11%
2020 2.5% 3.33%
2019 2.9% 3.34%
2018 2.1% 2.85%
2017 1.6% 2.35%
2016 2% 0.39%
2015 1.5% -0.06%
2014 2% -0.23%
2013 2.7% 1.73%
2012 2.6% 5.65%
2011 5.4% 3.93%
2010 3.3% 4.86%
2009 -0.7% 4.21%
2008 5.9% 6.04%
2007 4.7% 7.96%
2006 1.5% 3.93%
2005 1.8% 3.56%
2004 3.9% 6.74%
2003 1.1% 4.66%
2002 -0.8% 5.27%
2001 0.7% 9.12%
2000 0.4% 9.8%
1999 -1.4% 10%
1998 -0.8% 14.2%
1997 2.8% 18.3%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/china/hungary | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, China has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.82%, compared with 6.16% in Hungary. In 2024, inflation was 0.2% in China and 3.7% in Hungary.

Top exports between countries

China
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $8.32B
Miscellaneous $995M
Textiles & consumer goods $905M
Chemicals & pharma $579M
Metals $318M
Raw materials & minerals $151M
Wood & paper products $47.1M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $23M
Raw agricultural goods $17.6M
Precious metals & jewellery $17.3M
Hungary
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $1.29B
Chemicals & pharma $271M
Metals $154M
Transport & tourism services $147M
Raw materials & minerals $134M
Textiles & consumer goods $111M
Business & finance services $63.6M
Miscellaneous $57.7M
Manufacturing & construction services $32.5M
Animal & marine products $15.9M

Balance of trade

China Hungary
Current account balance
$424B
2024
$3.52B
2024
Current account balance ranking
1/190
2024
36/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+2.26%
2024
+1.58%
2024
Goods imports
$2.64T
2024
$130B
2024
Goods exports
$3.41T
2024
$129B
2024
Service imports
$613B
2024
$27.9B
2024
Service exports
$384B
2024
$38.9B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
17.2%
2024
71.1%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
20%
2024
75.4%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

China Hungary
Economic freedom 48.3 62.5
Economic freedom ranking 170/197 86/197
Property rights 40.9 67.3
Government integrity 42.3 44
Judicial effectiveness 38.6 61.9
Tax burden 69.3 85.1
Government spending 67.8 30.2
Fiscal health 4.4 32.7
Business freedom 68.7 70.8
Labor freedom 57.9 56.5
Monetary freedom 76.1 72.1
Trade freedom 73.4 79.4
Investment freedom 20 80
Financial freedom 20 70

Economic freedom comparison by year

China
Hungary
1x
Year Economic freedom index
China Hungary
2026 48.3 62.5
2025 49 61.4
2024 48.5 61.2
2023 48.3 64.1
2022 48 66.9
2021 58.4 67.2
2020 59.5 66.4
2019 58.4 65
2018 57.8 66.7
2017 57.4 65.8
2016 52 66
2015 52.7 66.8
2014 52.5 67
2013 51.9 67.3
2012 51.2 67.1
2011 52 66.6
2010 51 66.1
2009 53.2 66.8
2008 53.1 67.6
2007 52 64.8
2006 53.6 65
2005 53.7 63.5
2004 52.5 62.7
2003 52.6 63
2002 52.8 64.5
2001 52.6 65.6
2000 56.4 64.4
1999 54.8 59.6
1998 53.1 56.9
1997 51.7 55.3
1996 51.3 56.8
1995 52 55.2

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/china/hungary | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for China is 48.3, ranking 170/197, compared to 62.5 for Hungary, ranking 86/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

China Hungary
Services, % of GDP
56.7%
2024
59.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
36.5%
2024
23.7%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
6.78%
2024
2.71%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$19.3T
2024
$199B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$26,920
2024
$47,290
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.46T
2024
$46.4B
2024
Total reserves ranking
1/177
2024
42/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$154B
2024
-$15.8B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$18.6B
2024
-$62.2B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$172B
2024
-$78B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.89%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
0%
2020
12.1%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
40.6%
2024
23.5%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/china/hungary | CC BY

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1927–1994, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. TradeMap (2023–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.