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Economy of China vs Singapore compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

China has a GDP of $18.7T compared to $547B for Singapore, ranking 2/197 and 28/197 by economy size, respectively.

China has $16.6T in government debt (88.3% of GDP), compared to $950B (173.5% of GDP) in Singapore.

China vs Singapore GDP by year

China
Singapore
1x
Year GDP, current $
China Singapore
2024 $18,743,803,170,827 $547,386,645,892
2023 $18,270,356,654,533 $505,439,514,078
2022 $18,316,765,021,690 $509,017,841,147
2021 $18,201,698,719,564 $436,591,382,250
2020 $14,996,414,166,715 $349,165,858,545
2019 $14,560,167,101,283 $376,161,998,830
2018 $14,147,765,772,964 $377,123,710,561
2017 $12,537,559,062,283 $343,673,334,902
2016 $11,456,024,084,962 $319,646,468,521
2015 $11,280,814,787,469 $307,998,545,269
2014 $10,674,533,168,257 $314,863,580,758
2013 $9,743,124,247,267 $307,576,360,585
2012 $8,673,664,713,189 $295,092,888,077
2011 $7,671,757,207,851 $279,356,499,090
2010 $6,192,564,874,453 $239,807,980,591
2009 $5,189,577,094,998 $194,150,283,772
2008 $4,667,346,414,522 $193,617,323,539
2007 $3,604,055,822,572 $180,941,701,358
2006 $2,791,498,472,804 $148,627,286,361
2005 $2,317,551,298,052 $127,807,848,728
2004 $1,984,196,551,300 $115,033,593,101
2003 $1,683,903,309,844 $97,646,401,096
2002 $1,489,821,682,051 $92,538,372,870
2001 $1,355,036,590,252 $89,793,790,670
2000 $1,223,754,919,971 $96,076,539,926
1999 $1,103,843,203,576 $86,286,849,755
1998 $1,037,134,141,760 $85,728,207,782
1997 $967,753,570,435 $100,123,787,215
1996 $868,523,936,530 $96,293,086,513
1995 $738,190,896,228 $87,812,540,788
1994 $566,929,539,493 $73,688,724,431
1993 $446,557,291,212 $60,603,815,716
1992 $428,502,354,788 $52,131,320,033
1991 $384,510,452,962 $45,466,164,978
1990 $361,560,229,446 $36,144,336,769
1989 $348,380,566,802 $30,465,364,739
1988 $312,888,888,889 $25,371,462,488
1987 $273,455,156,951 $20,919,215,578
1986 $301,310,144,928 $18,586,746,057
1985 $310,064,625,850 $19,156,532,746
1984 $260,442,857,143 $19,749,361,098
1983 $231,130,268,199 $17,784,112,150
1982 $205,480,916,031 $16,084,252,378
1981 $196,218,253,968 $14,175,228,844
1980 $191,487,500,000 $11,896,256,783
1979 $178,573,913,043 $9,296,921,724
1978 $149,788,617,886 $7,517,176,355
1977 $175,226,595,860 $6,618,585,074
1976 $154,196,810,059 $6,327,077,974
1975 $163,687,619,736 $5,633,673,930
1974 $144,418,433,058 $5,221,534,956
1973 $138,764,340,892 $3,696,213,333
1972 $113,871,930,714 $2,721,440,981
1971 $99,959,013,880 $2,263,785,444
1970 $92,752,930,873 $1,920,574,150
1969 $79,847,786,729 $1,659,893,768
1968 $70,980,323,819 $1,425,706,091
1967 $73,011,350,596 $1,238,035,816
1966 $76,854,053,259 $1,096,425,608
1965 $70,565,994,356 $974,644,096
1964 $59,821,862,703 $894,153,311
1963 $50,812,227,919 $917,608,012
1962 $47,310,737,754 $826,239,212
1961 $50,162,299,350 $764,629,788
1960 $59,846,235,025 $704,751,700

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

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

GDP per capita in China vs Singapore by year

China
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Singapore
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
China Singapore
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $13,303 $27,105 $90,674 $150,689
2023 $12,951 $25,179 $85,412 $143,786
2022 $12,971 $23,032 $90,299 $143,095
2021 $12,887 $20,843 $80,056 $132,617
2020 $10,627 $18,267 $61,410 $101,518
2019 $10,343 $17,601 $65,952 $105,335
2018 $10,086 $16,298 $66,882 $103,963
2017 $8,980 $15,022 $61,236 $95,744
2016 $8,255 $14,157 $57,006 $89,902
2015 $8,175 $13,463 $55,646 $87,156
2014 $7,781 $12,942 $57,565 $84,555
2013 $7,147 $12,228 $56,967 $83,088
2012 $6,405 $11,420 $55,548 $82,108
2011 $5,704 $10,457 $53,891 $80,052
2010 $4,629 $9,411 $47,237 $75,401
2009 $3,898 $8,448 $38,927 $66,213
2008 $3,523 $7,713 $40,009 $67,735
2007 $2,735 $6,935 $39,433 $68,805
2006 $2,129 $5,946 $33,768 $64,061
2005 $1,778 $5,148 $29,961 $58,822
2004 $1,531 $4,505 $27,608 $54,384
2003 $1,307 $4,007 $23,730 $48,778
2002 $1,164 $3,591 $22,160 $45,083
2001 $1,065 $3,258 $21,700 $43,109
2000 $969 $2,964 $23,853 $43,781
1999 $881 $2,690 $21,797 $39,949
1998 $835 $2,483 $21,829 $37,560
1997 $787 $2,297 $26,376 $39,286
1996 $713 $2,088 $26,233 $36,873
1995 $613 $1,884 $24,915 $35,090
1994 $476 $1,680 $21,552 $33,058
1993 $379 $1,471 $18,290 $30,062
1992 $368 $1,276 $16,136 $27,022
1991 $334 $1,105 $14,502 $25,530
1990 $319 $991 $11,862 $23,815
1989 $311 - $10,395 -
1988 $284 - $8,914 -
1987 $252.3 - $7,539 -
1986 $282.4 - $6,800 -
1985 $295 - $7,002 -
1984 $251.2 - $7,228 -
1983 $225.9 - $6,633 -
1982 $203.7 - $6,078 -
1981 $197.4 - $5,597 -
1980 $195.1 - $4,928 -
1979 $184.3 - $3,901 -
1978 $156.7 - $3,194 -
1977 $185.7 - $2,846 -
1976 $165.7 - $2,759 -
1975 $178.6 - $2,490 -
1974 $160.4 - $2,342 -
1973 $157.3 - $1,685 -
1972 $132.1 - $1,264 -
1971 $118.8 - $1,071 -
1970 $113.3 - $926 -
1969 $100.3 - $813 -
1968 $91.6 - $709 -
1967 $96.8 - $626 -
1966 $104.5 - $567 -
1965 $98.7 - $517 -
1964 $85.7 - $486 -
1963 $74.5 - $511 -
1962 $71.1 - $472 -
1961 $76 - $449 -
1960 $89.7 - $428 -

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

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

China's GDP per capita is $13,303, ranking 76/197, compared to $90,674 in Singapore, ranking 7/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), China ranks 77th at $27,105, while Singapore ranks 2nd at $150,689.

Economic indicators

China Singapore
Gross domestic product
$18.7T
2024
$547B
2024
GDP rank
2/197
2024
28/197
2024
GDP growth
4.98%
2023-2024
4.39%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$13,303
2024
$90,674
2024
GDP per capita rank
76/197
2024
7/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$27,105
2024
$150,689
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
77/197
2024
2/197
2024
Government debt
$16.6T
2024
$950B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
88.3%
2024
173.5%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,749
2024
$157,326
2024
Government debt per person rank
47/185
2024
1/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$9,826
2026
$52,793
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$11.8T
2024
$638B
2024
Number of millionaires
6,327,000
2025
331,000
2025
Number of billionaires
450
2025
49
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
14.6%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
0.2%
2023-2024
2.39%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
3.1%
2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
5.11%
2021
2.74%
2024
Population
1402578808
6125852

Spending and national debt comparison by year

China
Spending

Debt
Singapore
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
China Singapore
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 32.9% 88.3% 14.6% 173.5%
2023 32.7% 82% 14.8% 172.8%
2022 32.6% 75.5% 15% 154.3%
2021 31.9% 70.1% 15.6% 141.7%
2020 34.8% 69% 24.1% 148.2%
2019 33.6% 59.4% 14% 127.9%
2018 32.6% 55.6% 13.9% 109.4%
2017 32% 53.9% 13.6% 107.6%
2016 31.7% 49.7% 15.3% 106.3%
2015 31% 40.8% 14.4% 102.2%
2014 28.4% 39.3% 12.6% 97.7%
2013 28.1% 36.4% 10.9% 98.2%
2012 27.7% 33.8% 9.83% 106.7%
2011 26.6% 33.2% 9.66% 103.1%
2010 24.7% 33.3% 10.2% 98.7%
2009 25.2% 34% 15.9% 101.7%
2008 22.2% 26.7% 14% 97.9%
2007 17.9% 28.7% 9.01% 87.8%
2006 18.1% 25.2% 12.3% 86.5%
2005 18% 25.9% 12.4% 92.7%
2004 17.6% 26% 14.1% 95.7%
2003 18% 26.4% 15.6% 99.1%
2002 18.2% 25.6% 15.9% 96.3%
2001 17.2% 24.3% 18.2% 94.5%
2000 16.1% 22.7% 16.1% 82.3%
1999 14.9% 21.6% 15.9% 85.3%
1998 12.6% 20.4% 18.1% 84.6%
1997 11.5% 20.4% 14.5% 70.8%
1996 11% 21.2% 18.1% 71.3%
1995 11.1% 21.4% 13.8% 69.8%
1994 12.4% - 11.7% 70.7%
1993 13.4% - 14.5% 71.2%
1992 14.6% - 14.5% 79%
1991 16.5% - 15.9% 76.4%
1990 18.2% - 15.1% 73.5%
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/singapore | CC BY

In 2024, China's government spending was $6.18T, accounting for 32.9% of its GDP, while Singapore spent $79.7B, or 14.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 88.3% in China and 173.5% in Singapore, ranking 34/185 and 4/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
China

Singapore
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
China Singapore
2024 -7.34% 4.44%
2023 -6.71% 3.47%
2022 -7.32% 1.21%
2021 -5.9% 1.13%
2020 -9.56% -6.73%
2019 -6% 3.77%
2018 -4.2% 3.68%
2017 -3.34% 5.24%
2016 -3.33% 3.25%
2015 -2.5% 2.86%
2014 -0.67% 4.6%
2013 -0.82% 5.96%
2012 -0.3% 7.34%
2011 -0.1% 7.96%
2010 -0.36% 5.68%
2009 -1.72% -0.09%
2008 -0.02% 3.59%
2007 0.06% 7.12%
2006 -1.13% 2.16%
2005 -1.38% 2.56%
2004 -1.49% 2.06%
2003 -2.36% 0.68%
2002 -2.84% 2.23%
2001 -2.56% 1.2%
2000 -2.81% 4.59%
1999 -2.3% 5.2%
1998 -1.08% 2.41%
1997 -0.73% 5.66%
1996 -0.73% 1.98%
1995 -0.94% 4.8%
1994 -1.68% 7.9%
1993 -0.89% 4.36%
1992 -1.22% 2.7%
1991 -1.04% 0.68%
1990 -0.72% 1.97%
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/singapore | 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 Singapore's surplus of $24.3B, or 4.44% of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, China recorded a fiscal deficit in 34 of those years, while Singapore ran a deficit in 2 years. On average, China posted an annual deficit equal to 2.46% of GDP, compared to surplus of 3.36% of GDP for Singapore.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
China

Singapore
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
China Singapore
2024 0.2% 2.39%
2023 0.2% 4.83%
2022 2% 6.13%
2021 0.9% 2.32%
2020 2.5% -0.17%
2019 2.9% 0.57%
2018 2.1% 0.44%
2017 1.6% 0.58%
2016 2% -0.53%
2015 1.5% -0.52%
2014 2% 1.03%
2013 2.7% 2.36%
2012 2.6% 4.58%
2011 5.4% 5.25%
2010 3.3% 2.83%
2009 -0.7% 0.59%
2008 5.9% 6.64%
2007 4.7% 2.11%
2006 1.5% 0.97%
2005 1.8% 0.43%
2004 3.9% 1.66%
2003 1.1% 0.51%
2002 -0.8% -0.39%
2001 0.7% 1%
2000 0.4% 1.36%
1999 -1.4% 0.02%
1998 -0.8% -0.27%
1997 2.8% 2%

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/singapore | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, China has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.82%, compared with 1.74% in Singapore. In 2024, inflation was 0.2% in China and 2.39% in Singapore.

Top exports between countries

China
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $37.2B
Textiles & consumer goods $14.1B
Raw materials & minerals $8.65B
Chemicals & pharma $7.15B
Metals $5.25B
Miscellaneous $3.16B
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1.23B
Precious metals & jewellery $1.09B
Wood & paper products $981M
Raw agricultural goods $319M
Singapore
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $48.1B
Chemicals & pharma $11.1B
Transport & tourism services $9.94B
Business & finance services $7.02B
Raw materials & minerals $4.59B
Precious metals & jewellery $3.4B
IT & IP services $2.18B
Miscellaneous $1.34B
Manufacturing & construction services $796M
Metals $731M

Balance of trade

China Singapore
Current account balance
$424B
2024
$96B
2024
Current account balance ranking
1/190
2024
8/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+2.26%
2024
+17.5%
2024
Goods imports
$2.64T
2024
$435B
2024
Goods exports
$3.41T
2024
$583B
2024
Service imports
$613B
2024
$351B
2024
Service exports
$384B
2024
$396B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
17.2%
2024
143.6%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
20%
2024
178.8%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

China Singapore
Economic freedom 48.3 84.4
Economic freedom ranking 170/197 1/197
Property rights 40.9 89.2
Government integrity 42.3 86.1
Judicial effectiveness 38.6 58.3
Tax burden 69.3 89.5
Government spending 67.8 93.4
Fiscal health 4.4 80
Business freedom 68.7 90.6
Labor freedom 57.9 77
Monetary freedom 76.1 83.5
Trade freedom 73.4 95
Investment freedom 20 90
Financial freedom 20 80

Economic freedom comparison by year

China
Singapore
1x
Year Economic freedom index
China Singapore
2026 48.3 84.4
2025 49 84.1
2024 48.5 83.5
2023 48.3 83.9
2022 48 84.4
2021 58.4 89.7
2020 59.5 89.4
2019 58.4 89.4
2018 57.8 88.8
2017 57.4 88.6
2016 52 87.8
2015 52.7 89.4
2014 52.5 89.4
2013 51.9 88
2012 51.2 87.5
2011 52 87.2
2010 51 86.1
2009 53.2 87.1
2008 53.1 87.3
2007 52 87.1
2006 53.6 88
2005 53.7 88.6
2004 52.5 88.9
2003 52.6 88.2
2002 52.8 87.4
2001 52.6 87.8
2000 56.4 87.7
1999 54.8 86.9
1998 53.1 87
1997 51.7 87.3
1996 51.3 86.5
1995 52 86.3

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for China is 48.3, ranking 170/197, compared to 84.4 for Singapore, ranking 1/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

China Singapore
Services, % of GDP
56.7%
2024
73%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
36.5%
2024
21.4%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
6.78%
2024
0.03%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$19.3T
2024
$451B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$26,920
2024
$126,190
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.46T
2024
$384B
2024
Total reserves ranking
1/177
2024
9/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$154B
2024
-$96.7B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$18.6B
2024
$152B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$172B
2024
$55.3B
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
22.2%
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/singapore | CC BY

Compare countries by 7 more topics

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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 (2021–2024, 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.