Published by ChinaMNC · Huangzhong

China 2025: Key Economic Indicators for Foreign Founders

A practical overview of China's 2025 economic performance, highlighting growth, innovation, and regional trends relevant to foreign entrepreneurs setting up or operating a company in China.

China's 2025 Economic Performance: What Foreign Founders Need to Know

As a foreign founder considering registering or operating a company in China, understanding the latest economic indicators is crucial. The year 2025 marked the conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan and was significant for China's modernization. Despite complex domestic and international conditions, China's economy maintained growth, with continued development in modern industrial systems, reform and opening-up, and risk mitigation. This article summarizes key data from the official 2025 National Economic and Social Development Statistical Communiqué, focusing on aspects most relevant to business planning and investment decisions.

Overall Economic Growth

China's gross domestic product (GDP) reached 140.19 trillion yuan in 2025, a 5.0% increase over the previous year. The primary industry added value was 9.33 trillion yuan (up 3.9%), the secondary industry 49.97 trillion yuan (up 4.5%), and the tertiary industry 80.89 trillion yuan (up 5.4%). The tertiary sector accounted for 57.7% of GDP, reflecting a continued shift toward services. Final consumption expenditure contributed 2.6 percentage points to GDP growth, while gross capital formation contributed 0.8 points, and net exports of goods and services contributed 1.6 points. Quarterly GDP growth showed a decelerating trend: 5.4% in Q1, 5.2% in Q2, 4.8% in Q3, and 4.5% in Q4. GDP per capita was 99,665 yuan, up 5.1%. Gross national income was 139.37 trillion yuan, also up 5.1%. Labor productivity improved by 6.1% to 184,413 yuan per person.

Population and Employment

By the end of 2025, China's population was 1.40489 billion, a decrease of 3.39 million from the previous year. Urban residents numbered 953.8 million. Births were 7.92 million (birth rate 5.63‰), deaths 11.31 million (death rate 8.04‰), resulting in a natural growth rate of -2.41‰. Total employment was 725.04 million, with urban employment at 475.35 million (65.6% of total). New urban jobs totaled 12.67 million, 110,000 more than the previous year. The average surveyed urban unemployment rate was 5.2%, and 5.1% at year-end. Migrant workers totaled 301.15 million, up 0.5%, with 180.06 million working outside their hometowns (up 0.8%) and 121.09 million locally (up 0.1%).

Prices, Currency, and Foreign Reserves

Consumer prices remained flat compared to the previous year. Producer prices for industrial products fell 2.6%, and purchasing prices for industrial producers fell 3.0%. Agricultural producer prices dropped 3.7%. In December, among 70 large and medium-sized cities, new commercial residential prices rose month-on-month in 6 cities, remained flat in 6, and fell in 58; second-hand residential prices fell in all 70 cities. Year-on-year, new home prices rose in 5 cities and fell in 65, while second-hand prices fell in all 70. Foreign exchange reserves stood at 3.3579 trillion USD, an increase of 155.5 billion USD. The average RMB exchange rate was 7.1429 per USD, depreciating 0.3%.

New Quality Productive Forces

New quality productive forces grew steadily. In industrial enterprises above designated size, the added value of equipment manufacturing increased by 9.2%, accounting for 36.8% of total industrial added value, with profits up 7.7%. High-tech manufacturing added value grew 9.4%, accounting for 17.1%, with profits up 13.3%. Digital product manufacturing added value grew 9.3%, accounting for 12.5%. Output of service robots reached 18.581 million sets (up 16.1%), mobile communication base station equipment 5.364 million RF modules (up 13.5%), and servers 5.970 million units (up 12.6%). Among service enterprises above designated size, strategic emerging service industries saw revenue growth of 9.3%, and high-tech service industries grew 7.9%. E-commerce transaction value reached 46.73 trillion yuan (up 2.5%), and online retail sales were 15.97 trillion yuan (up 8.6%). Investment in equipment and tools increased by 11.8%. New business entities totaled 25.74 million, with an average of 26,000 new enterprises per day.

Urbanization and Regional Development

Urbanization continued, with the urbanization rate of permanent residents at 67.89%, up 0.89 percentage points. Regional GDP: eastern region 73.09 trillion yuan (up 5.0%), central 29.91 trillion yuan (up 5.2%), western 29.88 trillion yuan (up 5.1%), and northeastern 6.50 trillion yuan (up 4.1%). Key regional blocs: Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei 11.99 trillion yuan (up 5.4%), Yangtze Economic Belt 65.83 trillion yuan (up 5.2%), Yangtze River Delta 34.66 trillion yuan (up 5.4%). The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Yellow River Basin initiatives made progress. Hainan Free Trade Port launched full island customs closure operation.

Green Transition

Green and low-carbon transition achieved notable results. CO2 emissions per 10,000 yuan of GDP decreased by 5.0%. Clean energy generation (hydro, nuclear, wind, solar) reached 4.2481 trillion kWh, up 14.4%. New energy vehicle production was 16.524 million units (up 25.1%), with 43.97 million NEVs in use at year-end, an increase of 12.57 million. Among 339 monitored cities, 72.6% met air quality standards. Of 3,641 national surface water assessment sections, 91.4% had good water quality (Grade I-III), 6.9% Grade IV, 1.1% Grade V, and 0.6% worse than Grade V.

Agriculture and Industry

Grain sown area was 119.41 million hectares, up 90,000 hectares. Grain output was 714.88 million tons, up 1.2%. Cotton output 6.64 million tons (up 7.7%), oil-bearing crops 40.96 million tons (up 2.9%), sugar crops 117.01 million tons (up 2.1%), tea 3.92 million tons (up 4.8%). Meat output (pork, beef, mutton, poultry) was 100.72 million tons (up 4.2%). Aquatic products totaled 76.57 million tons (up 4.1%). Total industrial added value was 41.68 trillion yuan (up 5.8%); above-designated-size industrial added value grew 5.9%. By ownership, state-held enterprises grew 4.6%, joint-stock 6.3%, foreign and Hong Kong/Macao/Taiwan-invested 3.9%, and private 5.3%. By sector, mining grew 5.6%, manufacturing 6.4%, and utilities 2.3%. Profits of industrial enterprises above designated size were 7.3982 trillion yuan (up 0.6%).

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.