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Economy of China vs Saudi Arabia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

China has a GDP of $18.7T compared to $1.24T for Saudi Arabia, ranking 2/197 and 18/197 by economy size, respectively.

China has $16.6T in government debt (88.3% of GDP), compared to $324B (26.2% of GDP) in Saudi Arabia.

China vs Saudi Arabia GDP by year

China
Saudi Arabia
1x
Year GDP, current $
China Saudi Arabia
2024 $18,743,803,170,827 $1,239,804,533,333
2023 $18,270,356,654,533 $1,218,584,533,333
2022 $18,316,765,021,690 $1,239,075,200,000
2021 $18,201,698,719,564 $982,661,066,667
2020 $14,996,414,166,715 $767,951,200,000
2019 $14,560,167,101,283 $888,890,133,333
2018 $14,147,765,772,964 $886,564,800,000
2017 $12,537,559,062,283 $741,266,133,333
2016 $11,456,024,084,962 $689,279,466,667
2015 $11,280,814,787,469 $693,414,400,000
2014 $10,674,533,168,257 $787,153,066,667
2013 $9,743,124,247,267 $769,755,733,333
2012 $8,673,664,713,189 $751,921,333,333
2011 $7,671,757,207,851 $680,660,800,000
2010 $6,192,564,874,453 $528,207,466,667
2009 $5,189,577,094,998 $429,097,866,667
2008 $4,667,346,414,522 $519,796,800,000
2007 $3,604,055,822,572 $415,964,509,673
2006 $2,791,498,472,804 $376,900,133,511
2005 $2,317,551,298,052 $328,459,608,764
2004 $1,984,196,551,300 $258,742,133,333
2003 $1,683,903,309,844 $215,807,733,333
2002 $1,489,821,682,051 $189,605,866,667
2001 $1,355,036,590,252 $184,137,600,000
2000 $1,223,754,919,971 $189,514,933,333
1999 $1,103,843,203,576 $161,717,066,667
1998 $1,037,134,141,760 $146,775,466,667
1997 $967,753,570,435 $165,963,684,913
1996 $868,523,936,530 $158,662,483,311
1995 $738,190,896,228 $143,343,124,166
1994 $566,929,539,493 $135,174,899,866
1993 $446,557,291,212 $132,967,957,276
1992 $428,502,354,788 $137,087,850,467
1991 $384,510,452,962 $132,223,230,975
1990 $361,560,229,446 $117,630,173,565
1989 $348,380,566,802 $95,344,459,279
1988 $312,888,888,889 $88,256,074,766
1987 $273,455,156,951 $85,695,861,148
1986 $301,310,144,928 $86,961,922,765
1985 $310,064,625,850 $103,897,846,494
1984 $260,442,857,143 $119,624,858,116
1983 $231,130,268,199 $129,171,635,311
1982 $205,480,916,031 $153,240,313,858
1981 $196,218,253,968 $184,291,360,139
1980 $191,487,500,000 $164,539,660,725
1979 $178,573,913,043 $111,858,444,786
1978 $149,788,617,886 $80,266,516,687
1977 $175,226,595,860 $74,188,986,586
1976 $154,196,810,059 $64,005,665,722
1975 $163,687,619,736 $46,773,208,643
1974 $144,418,433,058 $45,412,957,746
1973 $138,764,340,892 $14,947,435,499
1972 $113,871,930,714 $9,664,267,087
1971 $99,959,013,880 $7,184,806,909
1970 $92,752,930,873 $5,377,333,333
1969 $79,847,786,729 $4,485,777,644
1968 $70,980,323,819 $4,187,777,711
1967 $73,011,350,596 $3,257,022,223
1966 $76,854,053,259 $2,920,555,557
1965 $70,565,994,356 $2,647,955,558
1964 $59,821,862,703 $2,371,808,713
1963 $50,812,227,919 $2,207,393,172
1962 $47,310,737,754 $2,130,606,532
1961 $50,162,299,350 $1,920,811,284
1960 $59,846,235,025 $1,748,124,064

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

GeoRank.org/economy/china/saudi-arabia | CC BY

GDP per capita in China vs Saudi Arabia by year

China
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Saudi Arabia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
China Saudi Arabia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $13,303 $27,105 $35,122 $71,375
2023 $12,951 $25,179 $36,157 $71,565
2022 $12,971 $23,032 $38,510 $71,968
2021 $12,887 $20,843 $31,921 $62,690
2020 $10,627 $18,267 $24,339 $47,518
2019 $10,343 $17,601 $29,567 $59,560
2018 $10,086 $16,298 $29,360 $59,378
2017 $8,980 $15,022 $23,929 $53,120
2016 $8,255 $14,157 $22,268 $49,937
2015 $8,175 $13,463 $23,256 $53,931
2014 $7,781 $12,942 $27,805 $62,578
2013 $7,147 $12,228 $27,865 $62,203
2012 $6,405 $11,420 $28,733 $65,034
2011 $5,704 $10,457 $27,127 $64,125
2010 $4,629 $9,411 $22,028 $58,829
2009 $3,898 $8,448 $17,718 $54,787
2008 $3,523 $7,713 $22,320 $57,236
2007 $2,735 $6,935 $18,596 $55,030
2006 $2,129 $5,946 $17,564 $54,639
2005 $1,778 $5,148 $15,976 $53,548
2004 $1,531 $4,505 $13,154 $51,225
2003 $1,307 $4,007 $11,487 $48,078
2002 $1,164 $3,591 $10,586 $45,466
2001 $1,065 $3,258 $10,805 $47,381
2000 $969 $2,964 $11,715 $48,644
1999 $881 $2,690 $10,452 $47,495
1998 $835 $2,483 $9,836 $48,867
1997 $787 $2,297 $11,545 $48,796
1996 $713 $2,088 $11,472 $48,569
1995 $613 $1,884 $10,786 $48,052
1994 $476 $1,680 $10,602 $48,904
1993 $379 $1,471 $10,885 $49,503
1992 $368 $1,276 $11,730 $50,355
1991 $334 $1,105 $11,847 $49,295
1990 $319 $991 $11,055 $46,214
1989 $311 - $9,414 -
1988 $284 - $9,165 -
1987 $252.3 - $9,386 -
1986 $282.4 - $10,078 -
1985 $295 - $12,745 -
1984 $251.2 - $15,541 -
1983 $225.9 - $17,810 -
1982 $203.7 - $22,454 -
1981 $197.4 - $28,703 -
1980 $195.1 - $27,206 -
1979 $184.3 - $19,612 -
1978 $156.7 - $14,914 -
1977 $185.7 - $14,595 -
1976 $165.7 - $13,313 -
1975 $178.6 - $10,266 -
1974 $160.4 - $10,503 -
1973 $157.3 - $3,640 -
1972 $132.1 - $2,474 -
1971 $118.8 - $1,929 -
1970 $113.3 - $1,509 -
1969 $100.3 - $1,313 -
1968 $91.6 - $1,276 -
1967 $96.8 - $1,032 -
1966 $104.5 - $961 -
1965 $98.7 - $904 -
1964 $85.7 - $840 -
1963 $74.5 - $812 -
1962 $71.1 - $813 -
1961 $76 - $760 -
1960 $89.7 - $718 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/china/saudi-arabia | CC BY

China's GDP per capita is $13,303, ranking 76/197, compared to $35,122 in Saudi Arabia, ranking 33/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), China ranks 77th at $27,105, while Saudi Arabia ranks 24th at $71,375.

Economic indicators

China Saudi Arabia
Gross domestic product
$18.7T
2024
$1.24T
2024
GDP rank
2/197
2024
18/197
2024
GDP growth
4.98%
2023-2024
2%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$13,303
2024
$35,122
2024
GDP per capita rank
76/197
2024
33/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$27,105
2024
$71,375
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
77/197
2024
24/197
2024
Government debt
$16.6T
2024
$324B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
88.3%
2024
26.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,749
2024
$9,185
2024
Government debt per person rank
47/185
2024
58/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$9,826
2026
$23,076
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$11.8T
2024
$2.73T
2024
Number of millionaires
6,327,000
2025
351,855
2025
Number of billionaires
450
2025
15
2025
Income share by richest 10%
28.4%
2022
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2022
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
32.9%
2024
29.6%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
0.2%
2023-2024
1.69%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
3.1%
2024
4.25%
2025
Unemployment rate
5.11%
2021
3.52%
2024
Population
1402578808
36734925

Spending and national debt comparison by year

China
Spending

Debt
Saudi Arabia
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
China Saudi Arabia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 32.9% 88.3% 29.6% 26.2%
2023 32.7% 82% 28.3% 23%
2022 32.6% 75.5% 25.3% 21.3%
2021 31.9% 70.1% 28.2% 25.5%
2020 34.8% 69% 37.4% 29.7%
2019 33.6% 59.4% 31.8% 20.3%
2018 32.6% 55.6% 32.4% 16.8%
2017 32% 53.9% 30.9% 15.9%
2016 31.7% 49.7% 33.3% 12.2%
2015 31% 40.8% 38.5% 5.47%
2014 28.4% 39.3% 38.6% 1.5%
2013 28.1% 36.4% 34.5% 2.08%
2012 27.7% 33.8% 32.5% 2.97%
2011 26.6% 33.2% 32.4% 5.31%
2010 24.7% 33.3% 33% 8.43%
2009 25.2% 34% 37.1% 14%
2008 22.2% 26.7% 26.7% 12.1%
2007 17.9% 28.7% 29.5% 17.1%
2006 18.1% 25.2% 27.3% 25.8%
2005 18% 25.9% 28.2% 37.3%
2004 17.6% 26% 31.1% 62.9%
2003 18% 26.4% 33.1% 81.6%
2002 18.2% 25.6% 35.9% 96.4%
2001 17.2% 24.3% 36.9% 93.1%
2000 16.1% 22.7% 33.1% 86.7%
1999 14.9% 21.6% 30.3% 103%
1998 12.6% 20.4% 34.5% 101.5%
1997 11.5% 20.4% 35.6% 76.7%
1996 11% 21.2% 33.3% 75.2%
1995 11.1% 21.4% 32.4% 74.2%
1994 12.4% - 33.8% 67.9%
1993 13.4% - 37.7% 58.6%
1992 14.6% - 41.2% 47.8%
1991 16.5% - 34.9% 39.4%
1990 18.2% - 39.3% -
1989 18.6% - - -
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 (1982–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/china/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, China's government spending was $6.18T, accounting for 32.9% of its GDP, while Saudi Arabia spent $367B, or 29.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 88.3% in China and 26.2% in Saudi Arabia, ranking 34/185 and 163/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
China

Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
China Saudi Arabia
2024 -7.34% -2.49%
2023 -6.71% -1.77%
2022 -7.32% 2.24%
2021 -5.9% -1.99%
2020 -9.56% -10.2%
2019 -6% -3.96%
2018 -4.2% -5.21%
2017 -3.34% -8.57%
2016 -3.33% -13.2%
2015 -2.5% -14.9%
2014 -0.67% -3.4%
2013 -0.82% 5.47%
2012 -0.3% 11.7%
2011 -0.1% 11.4%
2010 -0.36% 4.39%
2009 -1.72% -5.38%
2008 -0.02% 29.8%
2007 0.06% 11.8%
2006 -1.13% 20.8%
2005 -1.38% 18%
2004 -1.49% 9.72%
2003 -2.36% 1.2%
2002 -2.84% -5.91%
2001 -2.56% -3.91%
2000 -2.81% 3.18%
1999 -2.3% -5.99%
1998 -1.08% -8.88%
1997 -0.73% -2.51%
1996 -0.73% -3.25%
1995 -0.94% -5.12%
1994 -1.68% -8.31%
1993 -0.89% -9.33%
1992 -1.22% -8.12%
1991 -1.04% -3.28%
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% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/china/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia's deficit of $30.9B, or 2.49% of GDP.

Over the past 34 years, China recorded a fiscal deficit in 33 of those years, while Saudi Arabia ran a deficit in 22 years. On average, China posted an annual deficit equal to 2.51% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.18% of GDP for Saudi Arabia.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
China

Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
China Saudi Arabia
2024 0.2% 1.69%
2023 0.2% 2.33%
2022 2% 2.47%
2021 0.9% 3.06%
2020 2.5% 3.37%
2019 2.9% -1.19%
2018 2.1% 2.47%
2017 1.6% -0.83%
2016 2% 2.05%
2015 1.5% 1.22%
2014 2% 2.24%
2013 2.7% 3.51%
2012 2.6% 2.87%
2011 5.4% 5.83%
2010 3.3% 5.34%
2009 -0.7% 5.06%
2008 5.9% 9.87%
2007 4.7% 4.17%
2006 1.5% 2.21%
2005 1.8% 0.48%
2004 3.9% 0.52%
2003 1.1% 0.61%
2002 -0.8% 0.25%
2001 0.7% -1.12%
2000 0.4% -1.12%
1999 -1.4% -1.33%
1998 -0.8% -0.37%
1997 2.8% 0.06%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, China has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.82%, compared with 1.99% in Saudi Arabia. In 2024, inflation was 0.2% in China and 1.69% in Saudi Arabia.

Top exports between countries

China
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $24B
Textiles & consumer goods $10.6B
Metals $6.52B
Chemicals & pharma $3.11B
Miscellaneous $2.3B
Raw materials & minerals $1.55B
Wood & paper products $1.07B
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $305M
Raw agricultural goods $234M
Precious metals & jewellery $157M
Saudi Arabia
Export category Export value
Raw materials & minerals $40.1B
Chemicals & pharma $5.21B
Machinery & equipment $690M
Metals $338M
Animal & marine products $75.1M
Textiles & consumer goods $73.2M
Precious metals & jewellery $13.8M
Raw agricultural goods $7.73M
Miscellaneous $4M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $2.28M

Balance of trade

China Saudi Arabia
Current account balance
$424B
2024
-$16.3B
2024
Current account balance ranking
1/190
2024
180/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+2.26%
2024
-1.31%
2024
Goods imports
$2.64T
2024
$214B
2024
Goods exports
$3.41T
2024
$306B
2024
Service imports
$613B
2024
$125B
2024
Service exports
$384B
2024
$62.8B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
17.2%
2024
25.6%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
20%
2024
29.1%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

China Saudi Arabia
Economic freedom 48.3 65.4
Economic freedom ranking 170/197 65/197
Property rights 40.9 51.4
Government integrity 42.3 52.7
Judicial effectiveness 38.6 38.2
Tax burden 69.3 99.2
Government spending 67.8 77
Fiscal health 4.4 97.9
Business freedom 68.7 71.2
Labor freedom 57.9 41.8
Monetary freedom 76.1 81.2
Trade freedom 73.4 73.8
Investment freedom 20 50
Financial freedom 20 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

China
Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Economic freedom index
China Saudi Arabia
2026 48.3 65.4
2025 49 64.4
2024 48.5 61.9
2023 48.3 58.3
2022 48 55.5
2021 58.4 66
2020 59.5 62.4
2019 58.4 60.7
2018 57.8 59.6
2017 57.4 64.4
2016 52 62.1
2015 52.7 62.1
2014 52.5 62.2
2013 51.9 60.6
2012 51.2 62.5
2011 52 66.2
2010 51 64.1
2009 53.2 64.3
2008 53.1 62.5
2007 52 60.9
2006 53.6 63
2005 53.7 63
2004 52.5 60.4
2003 52.6 63.2
2002 52.8 65.3
2001 52.6 62.2
2000 56.4 66.5
1999 54.8 65.5
1998 53.1 69.3
1997 51.7 68.7
1996 51.3 68.3
1995 52 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/china/saudi-arabia | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for China is 48.3, ranking 170/197, compared to 65.4 for Saudi Arabia, ranking 65/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

China Saudi Arabia
Services, % of GDP
56.7%
2024
47.1%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
36.5%
2024
44.9%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
6.78%
2024
2.54%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$19.3T
2024
$1.26T
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$26,920
2024
$71,730
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.46T
2024
$464B
2024
Total reserves ranking
1/177
2024
7/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$154B
2024
$6.27B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$18.6B
2024
$21.3B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$172B
2024
$27.6B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.89%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
0%
2020
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
40.6%
2024
30.2%
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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

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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. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. TradeMap (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.