China vs United States: Surface area

China

9.56 million sq. km

in 2023

United States

9.83 million sq. km

in 2023

China rank

4th

United States rank

3rd

Surface area over time

United States currently reports 9.83 million sq. km against 9.56 million sq. km in China, a difference of 268,600 sq. km.

Across all 63 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.

Globally, China ranks 4th and United States ranks 3rd of 216 countries.

Indicator: Surface area (sq. km)
Unit: sq. km
Source: FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 263 places, 16,395 data points, 1961–2023
Last refreshed: 06 August 2026

Surface area is a country's total area, including areas under inland bodies of water and some coastal waterways.