UCLA Center
for East Asian Studies
China and the United States Today
Population China 1,190,431,106 million U.S. 261 million annual growth rate: 1.08% annual growth rate: 0.99% life exp. 67.9 years 75.9 years infant mortality 52.1/1000 8.1/1000 birth rate 23/1000 15/1000 minorities 8.1% 16.6% urban 29% 76% density 409 people per sq. mile 68 people per sq. mile 30% < age 15 22% % > age 60 17%
Land Area
China 3,691,500 sq. miles
U.S. 3,618,764 sq. miles
cultivated 10%
20%
forest 14%
29%
pasture 31%
26%
Health Care
Japan 1 physician/724 people
U.S. 1 physician/404 people
1 hospital bed/ people
1 hospital bed/198 people
Indicators of Living Standards
China per capita GDP: $2,428
U.S. per capita GDP: $23,120
1 telephone/45.4 people
1 telephone/1.3 people
1 television/32.3 people
1 television/1.2 people
cars:
cars: 143 million
literacy: 80%
literacy: 95%
daily newspapers sold: 41.6/1000 people
daily newspapers sold: 255/1000 people
Economic Measures
China 1997 GDP $910 billion U.S. 1997 GDP: $8.1 trillion 1991-97 average annual growth rate: 11.2% 1991-97 average annual growth rate: 2.6% defense spending as a share of GDP 1.1-4.4% est. defense spending share of GDP: 3.1% defense share of gov't spending: 8.8% est. defense share of gov't spending: 15.9%
- China is the fourth largest trading partner of the U.S.
- China had a $39.5 billion trade surplus with the U.S. in 1996 and a $49.7 billion surplus in 1997.
Last Updated on 7/24/99
By Cathy Mach