China Economy — GDP, Growth & Key Data

IMF World Economic Outlook and World Bank readings. Each measure below retains its own reference year, source and unit.

Nominal GDP
$20.85T
Reference year 2026
current US dollars
International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook)
Series and history →
Unrounded value

20851593000000 current US dollars

Real GDP growth
4.4%
Reference year 2026
annual percent change in real GDP
International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook)
Series and history →
Unrounded value

4.4 annual percent change in real GDP

Inflation (annual-average CPI)
1.2%
Reference year 2026
annual percent change in average consumer prices
International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook)
Series and history →
Unrounded value

1.2 annual percent change in average consumer prices

Unemployment
5.1%
Reference year 2026
percent of labor force
International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook)
Series and history →
Unrounded value

5.1 percent of labor force

GDP per person
$14,874
Reference year 2026
current US dollars per person
International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook)
Series and history →
Unrounded value

14873.569 current US dollars per person

Population
1.41B
Reference year 2025
people
World Bank (World Development Indicators)
Series and history →
Unrounded value

1406585000 people

General government gross debt
106.9%
Reference year 2026
percent of GDP
International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook)
Series and history →
Unrounded value

106.9 percent of GDP

Life expectancy at birth
78.0 years
Reference year 2024
years
World Bank (World Development Indicators)
Series and history →
Unrounded value

78.017 years

Nominal GDP: Rank 2 among 188 covered IMF economies for reference year 2026.

Ranks compare positive nominal GDP readings from the same IMF indicator and reference-year label among covered economies. They exclude older readings and aggregates. They do not establish a share of world GDP.

IMF readings may include estimates or projections; the stored data do not identify each observation's release vintage or actual-versus-estimate status. Reference-year labels can follow country-specific fiscal conventions and do not establish identical calendar periods. Population follows the World Bank's midyear-estimate definition.

Dollar values are at current prices. Nominal GDP is converted from the stored billions of US dollars to US dollars; GDP per person is already stored in dollars per person. Missing values remain unreported. Open “Unrounded value” for the full reading in the displayed unit.

China Economic Overview

China: nominal gdp is $20.85T (current US dollars; reference year 2026). Source: International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook). China: real gdp growth is 4.4% (annual percent change in real GDP; reference year 2026). Source: International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook).

China's economy combines manufacturing, services and a large domestic market. Its economic relationship with the United States spans trade, investment and technology. Compare their output using the same measure, then examine growth and per-person indicators separately.

Total GDP, GDP per person and real GDP growth answer different questions. Nominal GDP measures economic size at current prices and market exchange rates. Real growth measures changes after accounting for price changes; GDP per person adds a population denominator. A change in the dollar exchange rate can move the nominal GDP ranking without an equivalent change in real production.

Purchasing-power-parity comparisons use a different price basis from the current-dollar readings above. Keep the source, unit and reference period visible when comparing China with the United States or other economies. A difference between providers or publication rounds is not, on its own, proof that one figure is wrong.

For definitions and source notes, use the links beside each reading, the GDP ranking and SOTW methodology.

Questions about China's data

What nominal gdp does SOTW report for China in reference year 2026?

China: nominal gdp is $20.85T (current US dollars; reference year 2026). Source: International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook). Rank 2 among 188 covered IMF economies for reference year 2026.

What real gdp growth does SOTW report for China in reference year 2026?

China: real gdp growth is 4.4% (annual percent change in real GDP; reference year 2026). Source: International Monetary Fund (World Economic Outlook).

What population does SOTW report for China in reference year 2025?

China: population is 1.41B (people; reference year 2025). Source: World Bank (World Development Indicators). The World Bank definition describes midyear population estimates.

What life expectancy at birth does SOTW report for China in reference year 2024?

China: life expectancy at birth is 78.0 years (years; reference year 2024). Source: World Bank (World Development Indicators).