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 4.8 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 2024, 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 29.2 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 992 billion U.S. dollars in 2024.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in China expanded 1.10 percent in the third quarter of 2025 over the previous quarter. This dataset provides - China GDP Growth Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2024, the gross domestic product (GDP) of China amounted to around 18.7 trillion U.S. dollars. In comparison to the GDP of the other BRIC countries India, Russia and Brazil, China came first that year and second in the world GDP ranking. The stagnation of China's GDP in U.S. dollar terms in 2022 and 2023 was mainly due to the appreciation of the U.S. dollar. China's real GDP growth was 5.4 percent in 2023 and 5.0 percent in 2024. In 2024, per capita GDP in China reached around 13,300 U.S. dollars. Economic performance in China Gross domestic product (GDP) is a primary economic indicator. It measures the total value of all goods and services produced in an economy over a certain time period. China's economy used to grow quickly in the past, but the growth rate of China’s real GDP gradually slowed down in recent years, and year-on-year GDP growth is forecasted to range at only around four percent in the years after 2024. Since 2010, China has been the world’s second-largest economy, surpassing Japan.China’s emergence in the world’s economy has a lot to do with its status as the ‘world’s factory’. Since 2013, China is the largest export country in the world. Some argue that it is partly due to the undervalued Chinese currency. The Big Mac Index, a simplified and informal way to measure the purchasing power parity between different currencies, indicates that the Chinese currency yuan was roughly undervalued by 38 percent in 2024. GDP development Although the impressive economic development in China has led millions of people out of poverty, China is still not in the league of industrialized countries on the per capita basis. To name one example, the U.S. per capita economic output was more than six times as large as in China in 2024. Meanwhile, the Chinese society faces increased income disparities. The Gini coefficient of China, a widely used indicator of economic inequality, has been larger than 0.45 over the last decade, whereas 0.40 is the warning level for social unrest.

Full Year GDP Growth in China decreased to 5 percent in 2024 from 5.40 percent in 2023. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for China Full Year GDP Growth.

China GDP: Growth data was reported at 5.678 % in 2026. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.253 % for 2025. China GDP: Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 10.520 % from Dec 1993 (Median) to 2026, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 36.342 % in 1994 and a record low of 2.742 % in 2020. China GDP: Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s China – Table CN.OECD.EO: GDP: Growth and Contribution to Growth: Forecast: Non OECD Member: Annual. GDP_ANNPCT - Gross domestic product, nominal value, growthExpenditure approach. Percentage change compared to the previous period. Quarterly growth expressed at annual rate.

According to a median projection in October 2025, China's GDP was expected to grow by *** percent in 2025. In the first quarter of 2020, the second-largest economy recorded the first contraction in decades due to the epidemic.  A root-to-branch shutdown of factories To curb the spread of the virus, the Chinese government imposed a lockdown in Wuhan, the epicenter, and other cities in Hubei province on January 23, 2020. A strict nationwide lockdown soon followed. Many factories remained closed in February, resulting in a plunge in manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI). The shutdown of the “world’s factory” had severely disrupted global supply chains, especially automobile production. In March 2020, very few industrial sectors reported positive production growth.  The pharmaceuticals sector recorded a production increase, which was mainly driven by the global demand for vital medical supplies. China had exported over seven billion yuan worth of face masks. Ripple effects on global tourism Apart from the manufacturing industry, the prolonged closures of business had caused significant losses in various sectors in China. The travel and tourism sector was massively affected by a drastic decline in flight ticket sales  and hotel occupancy rates. The domestic tourism market expects a loss of 20 percent in revenues for 2020. Industry experts predicted that the global travel and tourism industry could lose about *** trillion U.S. dollars in that year. 

Key information about China Nominal GDP Growth

• China Nominal GDP Growth was reported at 3.728 % in Sep 2025.
• This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.935 % for Jun 2025.
• China Nominal GDP Growth data is updated quarterly, averaging 6.741 % from Mar 1993 to Sep 2025, with 131 observations.
• The data reached an all-time high of 37.449 % in Jun 1994 and a record low of -5.321 % in Mar 2020.
• China Nominal GDP Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by CEIC Data.
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Global Economic Monitor – Table: Nominal GDP: Y-o-Y Growth: Quarterly.

The latest data from show economic growth of 4.8 percent, which is a decrease from the rate of growth of 5.2 percent in the previous quarter and
an increase compared to the growth rate of 4.6 percent in the same quarter last year. The economic growth time series for China cover the period from...

In the second quarter of 2025, the growth of the real gross domestic product (GDP) in China ranged at *** percent compared to the same quarter of the previous year. IT services displayed the highest sectoral growth reaching **** percent compared to **** percent in the construction sector.

The graph shows per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in China until 2024, with forecasts until 2030. In 2024, per capita GDP reached around 13,300 U.S. dollars in China. That year, the overall GDP of China had amounted to 18.7 trillion U.S. dollars. Per capita GDP in China Gross domestic product is a commonly-used economic indicator for measuring the state of a country's economy. GDP is the total market value of goods and services produced in a country within a given period of time, usually a year. Per capita GDP is defined as the GDP divided by the total number of people in the country. This indicator is generally used to compare the economic prosperity of countries with varying population sizes.In 2010, China overtook Japan and became the world’s second-largest economy. As of 2024, it was the largest exporter and the second largest importer in the world. However, one reason behind its economic strength lies within its population size. China has to distribute its wealth among 1.4 billion people. By 2023, China's per capita GDP was only about one fourth as large as that of main industrialized countries. When compared to other emerging markets, China ranked second among BRIC countries in terms of GDP per capita. Future development According to projections by the IMF, per capita GDP in China will escalate from around 13,300 U.S. dollars in 2024 to 18,600 U.S. dollars in 2030. Major reasons for this are comparatively high economic growth rates combined with negative population growth. China's economic structure is also undergoing changes. A major trend lies in the shift from an industry-based to a service-based economy.

View quarterly updates and historical trends for China GDP YoY. Source: National Bureau of Statistics of China. Track economic data with YCharts analytics.

The graph shows China's share in global gross domestic product adjusted for purchasing-power-parity until 2024, with a forecast until 2030. In 2024, China's share was about 19.3 percent. China's global GDP share Due to the introduction of capitalist market principles in 1978, China's economic market began to show immense change and growth. China's real GDP growth ranged at 5.0 percent in 2024. China's per capita GDP is also expected to continue to grow, reaching 13,300 U.S. dollars in 2024. Comparatively, Luxembourg and Switzerland have some of the world’s largest GDP per capita with 141,100 U.S. dollars and 111,700 U.S. dollars, respectively, expected for 2025.China is the largest exporter and second largest importer of goods in the world and is also among the largest manufacturing economies. The country also ranges among the world's largest agricultural producers and consumers. It relies heavily on intensive agricultural practices and is the world's largest producer of pigs, chickens, and eggs. Livestock production has been heavily emphasized since the mid-1970s. China’s chemical industry has also seen growth with a heavy focus on fertilizers, plastics, and synthetic fibers. China's use of chemical fertilizers amounted to approximately 50.2 million metric tons in 2023. GDP composition in China Industry and construction account for less than 40 percent of China's GDP. Some of the major industries include mining and ore processing, food processing, coal, machinery, textiles and apparel, and consumer products. Almost half of China's output is dedicated to investment purposes. However, as the country tends to support gross output, innovation, technological advancement, and even quality are often lacking.

How the Chinese Economy Works

The Chinese economy is the second largest in the world, after the United States. It is a mixed economy, with elements of both capitalism and socialism. The government plays a significant role in the economy, but there is also a growing private sector.

Agriculture

Agriculture is a major sector of the Chinese economy, employing about 25% of the workforce. China is a major producer of rice, wheat, corn, soybeans, and cotton. The country is also a leading producer of fruits, vegetables, and livestock.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is the largest sector of the Chinese economy, accounting for about 40% of GDP. China is a major producer of a wide range of goods, including electronics, textiles, apparel, and machinery. The country is also a major exporter of manufactured goods.

Services

Services are the third largest sector of the Chinese economy, accounting for about 45% of GDP. This sector includes a wide range of activities, such as finance, transportation, real estate, and tourism.

Government

The government plays a significant role in the Chinese economy. The government owns and operates many state-owned enterprises, which are important players in the economy. The government also regulates the economy through a variety of policies, such as tariffs, subsidies, and taxes.

Private Sector

The private sector is growing in importance in the Chinese economy. Private companies are playing an increasing role in manufacturing, services, and other sectors. The government is encouraging the growth of the private sector by reducing regulations and providing support for small businesses.

Challenges

The Chinese economy faces a number of challenges, including:

Inequality: The gap between the rich and the poor is growing in China. Environmental degradation: China is facing serious environmental problems, such as air pollution and water pollution. Political stability: The Chinese government is facing increasing challenges to its authority. Outlook

The Chinese economy is expected to continue to grow in the coming years. However, the growth is likely to slow down as the country faces the challenges mentioned above.

Conclusion

The Chinese economy is a complex and dynamic system. It is a mix of capitalism and socialism, with a significant role for the government. The economy is growing rapidly, but it also faces a number of challenges.

China Contribution to Growth in Real GDP: Net Exports data was reported at 0.005 % in 2026. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.011 % for 2025. China Contribution to Growth in Real GDP: Net Exports data is updated yearly, averaging 0.003 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2026, with 35 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.025 % in 2006 and a record low of -0.035 % in 2009. China Contribution to Growth in Real GDP: Net Exports data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s China – Table CN.OECD.EO: GDP: Growth and Contribution to Growth: Forecast: Non OECD Member: Annual. CQ_FBGSV-Net exports, contribution to growth in real GDP

Economic growth, quarterly in China, September, 2025 The most recent value is 1.1 percent as of Q3 2025, an increase compared to the previous value of 1 percent. Historically, the average for China from Q1 2011 to Q3 2025 is 1.55 percent. The minimum of -10.5 percent was recorded in Q1 2020, while the maximum of 12.8 percent was reached in Q2 2020. | TheGlobalEconomy.com

View quarterly updates and historical trends for China Real GDP QoQ. Source: National Bureau of Statistics of China. Track economic data with YCharts anal…

Historical dataset showing China economic growth by year from 1960 to 2023.

The Gross Domestic Product per capita in China was last recorded at 23845.62 US dollars in 2024, when adjusted by purchasing power parity (PPP). The GDP per Capita, in China, when adjusted by Purchasing Power Parity is equivalent to 134 percent of the world's average. This dataset provides - China GDP per capita PPP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

China GDP: Growth: Volume: Total Domestic Expenditure data was reported at 4.255 % in 2026. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.787 % for 2025. China GDP: Growth: Volume: Total Domestic Expenditure data is updated yearly, averaging 8.444 % from Dec 1993 (Median) to 2026, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.359 % in 1993 and a record low of 2.062 % in 2020. China GDP: Growth: Volume: Total Domestic Expenditure data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s China – Table CN.OECD.EO: GDP: Growth and Contribution to Growth: Forecast: Non OECD Member: Annual. TDDV_ANNPCT - Total domestic expenditure, volume, growth . Percentage change compared to the previous period. Quarterly growth expressed at annual rate.

This study performs a meta-analysis of research that estimates the relationship between FDI and Chinese economic growth. Our sample includes 37 studies and a total of 280 estimates. We include both English- and Chinese-language studies. Our initial “raw” finding is that FDI has had a substantial, positive impact on Chinese economic growth. Furthermore, our results suggest that the effect is not inflated by endogeneity, nor impacted by publication bias. However, the positive effect is found to be smaller for more recent and better designed studies. When we adjust for preferred study and sample characteristics, we find that the estimated economic effect of FDI on Chinese economic growth is much smaller than indicated by the overall literature, and statistically insignificant. This suggests that the cause(s) of the Chinese “economic miracle” likely lie elsewhere.