U.S.-China Barometer 2025: Key Comparisons and Data Insights
Explore the multidimensional representation of the U.S.-China relationship through important attributes like GDP per capita, unemployment rates, life expectancy, COVID deaths, and more. Dive into the comparison of these two influential economies based on objective metrics for insightful analysis and decision-making.
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Presentation Transcript
U.S.-China Barometer 2025 Long U.S.-China Institute University of California, Irvine The Barometer provides a multidimensional representation of the U.S.-China relationship based on a compilation of some of the most pertinent data. Political opinions are eschewed, as we would hope that objective metrics would influence political decisions rather than vice-versa. Our slides include detailed notes and linked datasets which users can access by right clicking graphs and selecting Edit Data. We encourage users in the public, private, academic, civic and other sectors to use these data for their own purposes, including education, research, presentations and the like. We expect and seek your criticism so that we might improve the Barometer in future years. Feel free to send comments to Ben Leffel at benjamin.leffel@gmail.com or John L. Graham at jgraham@uci.edu. To get an accurate picture of the world, you have to count we should follow the trend lines, not the headlines. Steven Pinker, 2019 We do appreciate that much of what has already transpired this year may be a horrible exception to Pinker s Rule. Ouch! Benjamin Leffel & John L. Graham, April 25, 2025 1
Comparisons The Barometer is divided into two sections, Comparisons and Interactions. This section, Comparisons, presents important attributes of both countries that are somewhat independent from their interaction, allowing for comparison. As both countries continue along their developmental paths, differences between them may subside, others may widen, and all offer important insight on the trajectories of the world s two largest economies. 2
GDP per capita, PPP (current international $) 90,000 80,000 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 United States China Source: World Bank 3
Unemployment rates (%) 12 10 8 6 4 2 United States China 0 Source: World Bank 4
Life expectancy at birth (years) 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 United States China Hong Kong SAR 5
COVID deaths per million, selected countries, 2019 to mid-2022 China 4 Kenya 103 Egypt 237 Japan 243 India 377 South Korea 480 Canada 1078 Israel 1168 Germany 1658 Iran 1662 Sweden 1868 France 2201 Mexico 2494 Russia 2546 United Kingdom 2622 Italy 2761 United States 3025 Brazil 3115 Bulgaria 5386 Peru 6391 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 Source: theglobaleconomy.com 6
Homicide rate (per 100,000) Homicide rate (per 100,000) 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 United States China Source: World Bank 7
Demographic demons 2025 Source: www.populationpyramid.net 8
Gender inequality index (United Nations, 0.0 = equality) 0.3 0.25 0.2 United States China 0.15 0.1 9
Internet users (%) 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 United States China Source: World Bank 10
Mobile Phone Subscriptions (% of population) 350 300 250 200 United States China Hong Kong 150 100 50 0 Source: World Bank 11
Percent share of fossil fuels vs. renewables in electricity generation 90 China 80 Percent of total electricity generation Fossil Fuels 70 USA 60 50 40 USA 30 Renewables 20 China 10 0 12
Environmental Performance Index 90 80 70 60 50 40 USA 30 China 20 Source: https://epi.yale.edu/ 13
Energy Consumption Electricity use per capita 16 14 12 MWh/capita 10 8 6 4 2 0 Total Electricity Use 10000 9000 China USA 8000 7000 MWh/capita 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 China USA Source: International Energy Agency 14
CO2 Emissions CO2 emissions per capita 25 20 MWh/capita 15 10 5 0 CO2 emissions per capita 14000 China USA 12000 10000 8000 Tons 6000 4000 2000 0 China USA Source: International Energy Agency 15
China urban GHG change by satellite GHG reductions (tons) Data source: Climate TRACE
USA urban GHG change by satellite Data source: Climate TRACE
US vs. China GHG emissions (by satellite) change - Sector 0.25 0.2 China USA % change, 2015-2022 0.15 0.1 0.05 0 -0.05 -0.1 -0.15
US vs. China GHG emissions (by satellite) change Sub-Sector 1 0.8 % Change GHGs, 2015-2022 China USA 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 -0.2 -0.4 -0.6 -0.8
Voice & accountability 100 90 80 70 60 50 China USA 40 30 20 10 0 Source: World Governance Indicators, World Bank 20
Government Consumption/Expendentures, Percentage of GDP 18 16 14 12 10 China USA 8 6 4 2 0 Source: World Bank 21
Military Spending (billions, current US$) 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 United States 100 China 0 Source: World Bank 22
Corruption Perception Index (higher = less corrupt) 90 80 70 60 United States 50 China 40 30 Hong Kong SAR 20 10 0 23
Piracy rates for computer software (% unlicensed use) 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 United States China Hong Kong SAR 24
Interactions The second group of slides, Interactions, presents relational measures of both countries, showing their various dimensions of direct interaction. As globalization more deeply connects the worlds nations, states, cities and peoples including those of the U.S. and China a relational understanding becomes more important. 25
Exports of goods ($ billion) 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 U.S. exports to China Chinese exports to U.S. 26
Total U.S.-China trade in goods and U.S. trade deficit in goods ($ billions) 800 600 400 Total trade 200 U.S. trade deficit 0 -200 -400 -600 27
Historical currency exchange rate (yuan per one dollar) 10 9 8 7 6 5 yuan/dollar 4 3 2 1 0 28
Exchange of direct investment (FDI flows) ($ billions, source: BEA.gov) 50 45 40 35 30 25 US to China 20 15 China to US 10 5 0 29
Chinese holdings of U.S. treasuries ($ billion) 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 30
Travel between countries (thousands of passengers) 3500 From United States 3000 From China 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 31
U.S. patents granted to invention teams that include both American and Chinese citizens 3500 U.S. patents granted 3000 PRC & California only, ~40% 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 32 32
WTO complaints filed 6 5 4 3 U.S. China 2 1 0 33
Educational exchange students 400,000 From United States From China 350,000 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 0 34
Chinese language training in higher education in U.S. (number of students) 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 U.S. students 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 35
Public opinion Americans ratings of China, % approving Chinese ratings of America, % approving 60 70 60 50 50 40 40 30 30 20 20 10 10 0 0 Source: Pew Research Center (2025) 36
