In 2024, the service sector of the economy in China grew by around 5.0 percent compared to the previous year. This year, the industrial sector in China has been growing at a higher pace than the service sector.

The statistic shows the distribution of the workforce across economic sectors in China from 2013 to 2023. In 2023, around 22.8 percent of the workforce were employed in the agricultural sector, 29.1 percent in the industrial sector and 48.1 percent in the service sector. This year, the share of agriculture increased for the first time in more than two decades, which highlights the difficult situation of the labor market due to the pandemic and economic downturn at the end of the year.

Distribution of the workforce in China

In 2012, China became the largest exporting country worldwide with an export value of about two trillion U.S. dollars. China’s economic system is largely based on growth and export, with the manufacturing sector being a crucial contributor to the country’s export competitiveness. Economic development was accompanied by a steady rise of labor costs, as well as a significant slowdown in labor force growth. These changes present a serious threat to the era of China as the world’s factory. The share of workforce in agriculture also steadily decreased in China until 2021, while the agricultural gross production value displayed continuous growth, amounting to approximately 7.8 trillion yuan in 2021.

Development of the service sector

Since 2011, the largest share of China’s labor force has been employed in the service sector. However, compared with developed countries, such as Japan or the United States, where 73 and 79 percent of the work force were active in services in 2021 respectively, the proportion of people working in the tertiary sector in China has been relatively low. The Chinese government aims to continue economic reform by moving from an emphasis on investment to consumption, among other measures. This might lead to a stronger service economy. Meanwhile, the size of the urban middle class in China is growing steadily. A growing number of affluent middle class consumers could promote consumption and help China move towards a balanced economy.

In 2024, the industrial sector generated around 30.1 percent of China's GDP. It was by far the largest contributor, followed by the wholesale and retail industry that was responsible for 10.2 percent and the financial sector that produced 7.3 percent of the country's economic output. Since China is the second-largest economy in the world, the industrial sector’s output alone exceeded the entire economy of Germany. China’s export and investment-driven economy China economic development of the early 2000s was mainly driven by investments and exports. A country's gross domestic product (GDP) consists of three parts: Consumption, investments, and net exports. Typically, emerging economies rely mainly on investments and exports for growing their economy and China was no exception. By the end of the 2010s, investments fueled more than 40 percent of China's GDP and exports were responsible for almost another 20 percent. In comparison to that, in most developed economies, investments make up only 20 percent of the economic output. Instead, the main economic driver is consumption. The economic structure in China created a huge industrial sector. For instance, China was the biggest steel exporter, the leading merchandise exporter, and exported more than a third of global household goods. Great push towards transformation In early 2018, the Chinese government proclaimed that the country's economy had reached a new development stage where consumption and services replaced investment and manufacturing as the main driver of economic growth. The fear of the middle-income trap and changing demographics were the main reasons for Beijing's emphasis on economic transformation. Although incomes in China had not stagnated, policymakers attempted to preempt “getting stuck” by steering the economy towards high-quality growth and consumption-focus. Furthermore, a society that was older and had a higher share of middle-class population had different requirements to the economy. In the case of a successful transformation, China's economy would become more similar to those of developed nations. For instance, the financial sector was the largest contributor to the United States economy. In the case of Germany, the service sector generates the largest share of gross domestic product.

GDP from Services in China increased to 765582.50 CNY Hundred Million in the fourth quarter of 2024 from 561501.80 CNY Hundred Million in the third quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - China Gdp From Services- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2023, the distribution of the gross domestic product (GDP) across economic sectors in different regions of China still revealed a heavy reliance on the primary and secondary sectors in most parts of the country. While the primary and secondary sectors accounted for only 0.2 and 14.9 percent, respectively, of the gross regional product of Beijing, they accounted for 11.1 and 47.5 percent, respectively, in Inner Mongolia.

The statistic shows the distribution of the workforce across economic sectors in China from 2013 to 2023. In 2023, around 356.39 million people were employed in the service sector.

China GDP: % of Manufacturing: Medium and High Tech Industry data was reported at 41.451 % in 2019. This stayed constant from the previous number of 41.451 % for 2018. China GDP: % of Manufacturing: Medium and High Tech Industry data is updated yearly, averaging 41.451 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2019, with 30 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 43.881 % in 2002 and a record low of 35.226 % in 1993. China GDP: % of Manufacturing: Medium and High Tech Industry data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s China – Table CN.World Bank.WDI: Gross Domestic Product: Share of GDP. The proportion of medium and high-tech industry value added in total value added of manufacturing; ; United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Competitive Industrial Performance (CIP) database; ;

China Fabricated Metal Product: Value Added of Industry data was reported at 301,041.000 RMB mn in 2007. This records an increase from the previous number of 222,594.000 RMB mn for 2006. China Fabricated Metal Product: Value Added of Industry data is updated yearly, averaging 46,547.000 RMB mn from Dec 1985 (Median) to 2007, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 301,041.000 RMB mn in 2007 and a record low of 7,555.000 RMB mn in 1985. China Fabricated Metal Product: Value Added of Industry data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s China – Table CN.BHV: Fabricated Metal Product.

In 2024, the service sector contributed around 78.2 percent to the gross domestic product (GDP) of Shanghai municipality in China. The share of the tertiary sector increased by around ten percentage points over the last decade.

CN: VAI: YoY: ytd(Real): Mfg: Computer, Communication & Other Electronic Equipment data was reported at 13.400 % in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 13.200 % for Sep 2018. CN: VAI: YoY: ytd(Real): Mfg: Computer, Communication & Other Electronic Equipment data is updated monthly, averaging 12.800 % from Feb 2006 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 141 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 27.400 % in Mar 2006 and a record low of -9.400 % in Feb 2009. CN: VAI: YoY: ytd(Real): Mfg: Computer, Communication & Other Electronic Equipment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Industrial Sector – Table CN.BE: Value Added of Industry: By Industry.

The grey relational grades of China’s digital economy with the sports industry and other major economic sectors.

CN: GDP: Primary Industry: Gansu: Longnan data was reported at 11.110 RMB bn in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 11.597 RMB bn for 2023. CN: GDP: Primary Industry: Gansu: Longnan data is updated yearly, averaging 5.394 RMB bn from Dec 1999 (Median) to 2024, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.597 RMB bn in 2023 and a record low of 1.483 RMB bn in 1999. CN: GDP: Primary Industry: Gansu: Longnan data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Longnan Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s National Accounts – Table CN.AE: Gross Domestic Product: Prefecture Level City: Primary Industry.

In 2023, the service sector contributed around 62.3 percent to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the city of Shenzhen in China, whereas 0.1 percent of the economic value originated from agriculture and 37.6 percent from industry. Shenzhen was one of the first Special Economic Zones to be established by Deng Xiaoping. Today, it is home of some Chinese tech giants such as Huawei, DJI and Tencent.

Graph and download economic data for Total Credit to Private Non-Financial Sector, Adjusted for Breaks, for China (QCNPAM770A) from Q4 1985 to Q3 2024 about adjusted, credits, nonfinancial, China, sector, and private.

China Water Consumption: Industry data was reported at 97,020.000 Cub m mn in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 96,840.000 Cub m mn for 2022. China Water Consumption: Industry data is updated yearly, averaging 127,700.000 Cub m mn from Dec 1999 (Median) to 2023, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 146,180.000 Cub m mn in 2011 and a record low of 96,840.000 Cub m mn in 2022. China Water Consumption: Industry data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Water Resources. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Land and Resources – Table CN.NLM: Water Resource.

China Value Added of Industry: Food Manufacturing data was reported at 186,156.000 RMB mn in 2007. This records an increase from the previous number of 146,725.000 RMB mn for 2006. China Value Added of Industry: Food Manufacturing data is updated yearly, averaging 38,418.000 RMB mn from Dec 1993 (Median) to 2007, with 14 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 186,156.000 RMB mn in 2007 and a record low of 18,737.000 RMB mn in 1993. China Value Added of Industry: Food Manufacturing data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Industrial Sector – Table CN.BE: Value Added of Industry: By Industry.

The Chinese iron ore and steel sectors face economic challenges with declining property investment and fluctuating prices, amid efforts by Beijing to stimulate growth.

GDP: Tertiary Industry: Yunnan: Xishuangbanna data was reported at 41.125 RMB bn in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 36.601 RMB bn for 2022. GDP: Tertiary Industry: Yunnan: Xishuangbanna data is updated yearly, averaging 12.595 RMB bn from Dec 2005 (Median) to 2023, with 19 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 41.125 RMB bn in 2023 and a record low of 3.220 RMB bn in 2005. GDP: Tertiary Industry: Yunnan: Xishuangbanna data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Xishuangbanna Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s National Accounts – Table CN.AH: Gross Domestic Product: Tertiary Industry: Prefecture Level Region.

Sun, Xu et al. China sports industry and digital economy statistics

According to preliminary figures, the growth of real gross domestic product (GDP) in China amounted to 5.0 percent in 2024. For 2025, the IMF expects a GDP growth rate of around 4.6 percent. Real GDP growth The current gross domestic product is an important indicator of the economic strength of a country. It refers to the total market value of all goods and services that are produced within a country per year. When analyzing year-on-year changes, the current GDP is adjusted for inflation, thus making it constant. Real GDP growth is regarded as a key indicator for economic growth as it incorporates constant GDP figures. As of 2023, China was among the leading countries with the largest gross domestic product worldwide, second only to the United States which had a GDP volume of almost 27.5 trillion U.S. dollars. The Chinese GDP has shown remarkable growth over the past years. Upon closer examination of the distribution of GDP across economic sectors, a gradual shift from an economy heavily based on industrial production towards an economy focused on services becomes visible, with the service industry outpacing the manufacturing sector in terms of GDP contribution. Key indicator balance of trade Another important indicator for economic assessment is the balance of trade, which measures the relationship between imports and exports of a nation. As an economy heavily reliant on manufacturing and industrial production, China has reached a trade surplus over the last decade, with a total trade balance of around 823 billion U.S. dollars in 2023.