China GDP growth, 1961 to 2025

Annual growth of real gross domestic product in China, in percent, from the World Bank. · updated Jul 2026

About this statistic

China GDP growth stood at 4.96% in 2025, up 0bp on the previous period.

China's economy grew 5 percent in 2025 after 5 percent in 2024. Across the window shown, growth averaged 7.9 percent a year.

How it is measured

The figures come from the World Bank's World Development Indicators (indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG): the annual percentage change of GDP measured in constant local currency. Holding prices constant strips inflation out, and staying in local currency keeps exchange-rate swings out, so this is the cleanest single answer to whether an economy actually produced more than the year before.

What the curve shows

Real growth is the series recessions are read from. The worst year in this window was 1961 at -27.3 percent, and the best was 1970 at 19.3 percent. Growth rates compound: the difference between 2 and 5 percent sustained for a generation is the difference between a 50 percent larger economy and one two and a half times as large.

Frequently asked questions

Is this real or nominal growth?

Real. The underlying GDP is measured in constant local currency, so inflation does not inflate the growth rate. A country with high inflation can post large nominal gains and still shrink in real terms.

Does a negative year mean a recession?

A negative annual figure means output fell across the whole year, which is a stricter test than the common two-negative-quarters definition. Annual data smooths short downturns that begin and end within a year.

Other statistics on this topicAll Global development statistics →

World Bank · updated Jul 2026

United States GDP growth Open →

2.16%

World Bank · updated Jul 2026

India GDP growth Open →

7.57%

World Bank · updated Jul 2026

Japan GDP growth Open →

1.19%

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