China vs United States: Land use over the long term
China
392.61 million
in 2025
United States
257.67 million
in 2025
China rank
1st
United States rank
3rd
Land use over the long term over time
- China
- United States
How they compare
China currently reports 392.61 million against 257.67 million in United States, a difference of 134.94 million.
That makes China's figure about 1.5 times United States's.
The two have swapped places 4 times across 108 shared years of data; in 1000 it was China ahead.
China ranks 1st and United States ranks 3rd of 202 countries.
Across the 40 decades both report, China averaged higher in 34 and United States in 6.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 13.08 million | 0 | 13.08 million | China |
| 1100s | 32.25 million | 0 | 32.25 million | China |
| 1200s | 36.86 million | 0 | 36.86 million | China |
| 1300s | 28.60 million | 0 | 28.60 million | China |
| 1400s | 25.48 million | 0 | 25.48 million | China |
| 1500s | 32.64 million | 0 | 32.64 million | China |
| 1600s | 35.07 million | 0 | 35.07 million | China |
| 1700s | 35.56 million | 3.66 million | 31.90 million | China |
| 1710s | 37.21 million | 4.26 million | 32.95 million | China |
| 1720s | 42.74 million | 4.92 million | 37.82 million | China |
| 1730s | 45.44 million | 5.65 million | 39.79 million | China |
| 1740s | 51.14 million | 6.70 million | 44.43 million | China |
| 1750s | 63.78 million | 7.65 million | 56.14 million | China |
| 1760s | 70.48 million | 9.84 million | 60.64 million | China |
| 1770s | 78.73 million | 11.21 million | 67.53 million | China |
| 1780s | 98.61 million | 12.90 million | 85.70 million | China |
| 1790s | 106.85 million | 15.14 million | 91.71 million | China |
| 1800s | 104.44 million | 18.44 million | 86.01 million | China |
| 1810s | 122.30 million | 20.55 million | 101.75 million | China |
| 1820s | 126.16 million | 22.94 million | 103.21 million | China |
| 1830s | 138.91 million | 25.66 million | 113.26 million | China |
| 1840s | 146.96 million | 28.88 million | 118.08 million | China |
| 1850s | 153.51 million | 32.98 million | 120.53 million | China |
| 1860s | 150.90 million | 44.46 million | 106.45 million | China |
| 1870s | 128.04 million | 39.90 million | 88.14 million | China |
| 1880s | 129.55 million | 74.31 million | 55.24 million | China |
| 1890s | 133.61 million | 83.11 million | 50.50 million | China |
| 1900s | 142.34 million | 145.20 million | 2.86 million | United States |
| 1910s | 150.53 million | 152.80 million | 2.27 million | United States |
| 1920s | 167.96 million | 162.00 million | 5.96 million | China |
| 1930s | 174.01 million | 185.60 million | 11.59 million | United States |
| 1940s | 185.34 million | 224.40 million | 39.06 million | United States |
| 1950s | 216.48 million | 255.65 million | 39.17 million | United States |
| 1960s | 250.20 million | 258.42 million | 8.22 million | United States |
| 1970s | 298.04 million | 242.79 million | 55.24 million | China |
| 1980s | 348.86 million | 240.06 million | 108.80 million | China |
| 1990s | 388.00 million | 236.95 million | 151.05 million | China |
| 2000s | 392.60 million | 240.51 million | 152.09 million | China |
| 2010s | 392.61 million | 255.81 million | 136.80 million | China |
| 2020s | 392.61 million | 257.67 million | 134.94 million | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher land use over the long term, China or United States?
- China, at 392.61 million against 257.67 million in United States as of 2025.
- What is the difference in land use over the long term between China and United States?
- 134.94 million, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States?
- 108 years are reported by both, from 1000 to 2025.
- How do China and United States rank globally for land use over the long term?
- China ranks 1st and United States ranks 3rd of 202 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Land use over the long term. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.