Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
45 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
636 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
all broadcast media are owned by, or affiliated with, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or a government agency; no privately owned TV or radio stations; state-run Chinese Central TV, provincial, and municipal stations offer more than 2,000 channels; the Central Propaganda Department and local (provincial, municipal) officials direct news reporting and approve all programming; foreign-made TV programs must be approved/censored prior to broadcast; widespread use of online platforms (Bilibili, Tencent Video, iQiyi, etc) to access domestic and international films and TV shows; Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) regulates video platforms (2022)
Communications: Internet country code
.cn
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
91.60% (2025 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
12 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
167 million (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
132 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
1.87 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
maize, rice, vegetables, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, cucumbers/gherkins, tomatoes, watermelons, pork (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
3.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
21.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$4.893 trillion (2019 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$2.684 trillion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
$148.204 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
$236.047 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
$293.022 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
$191.337 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
$188.676 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
$24.131 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
$102.910 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
$248.836 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
$352.886 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
$443.374 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$263.382 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$423.919 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$2.531 trillion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$488.114 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
7.1975 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Renminbi yuan (RMB) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
6.1958 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
6.1434 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
6.2275 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
6.6445 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
6.7588 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
6.6160 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
6.9084 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
6.9008 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
6.4490 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
6.7372 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
7.0840 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
7.1975 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
broadcasting equipment, computers, integrated circuits, garments, machine parts (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$2.006 trillion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$2.463 trillion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$2.362 trillion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$2.200 trillion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$2.424 trillion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$2.656 trillion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$2.629 trillion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$2.730 trillion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$3.554 trillion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$3.719 trillion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$3.508 trillion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$3.793 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
19.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
17.2% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
39.6% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-17% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
40.5% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0.6% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
6.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
36.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
56.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$27,105 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$18.744 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$38.190 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
38.6 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
38.5 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
39.1 (2017 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
38.5 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
38.2 (2019 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
37.1 (2020 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
35.7 (2021 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
36.0 (2022 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
28.2% (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
3.2% (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, integrated circuits, iron ore, gold, natural gas (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$1.432 trillion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$2.003 trillion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$1.944 trillion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$2.209 trillion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$2.564 trillion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$2.496 trillion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$2.375 trillion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$3.093 trillion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$3.142 trillion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$3.122 trillion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$3.254 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
5.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
1.44% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
2.00% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
1.59% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
2.07% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
2.90% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
2.42% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
0.98% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
1.97% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
0.23% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
0.22% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
773.88 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
0.00% (2020 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
47% of GDP (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$17.754 trillion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$18.578 trillion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$19.647 trillion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$20.975 trillion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$24.778 trillion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$25.777 trillion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$29.438 trillion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$30.361 trillion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$32.005 trillion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$33.598 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
6.98% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
6.78% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
6.89% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
6.76% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
6.07% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
2.34% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
8.57% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
3.13% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
5.41% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.98% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$12,942 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$13,463 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$14,157 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$15,022 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$17,601 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$18,267 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$20,843 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$23,032 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$25,179 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$17.790 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$29.911 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$33.105 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$18.876 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$22.480 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$3.405 trillion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$3.098 trillion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$3.236 trillion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$3.168 trillion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$3.223 trillion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$3.357 trillion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$3.428 trillion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$3.307 trillion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$3.45 trillion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$3.456 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
7.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
4.56% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
5.00% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
4.55% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
4.98% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
4.67% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
4.59% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
13.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
16.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
15.2% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
5.191 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
13.239 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
401.517 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: production
4.805 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
157.041 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
64.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
13.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: nuclear
4.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
9.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
8.894 trillion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
20.577 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
7.195 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
2.949 billion kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
325.352 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
113.805 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
395.341 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: exports
6.025 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
161.808 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
239.402 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
6.654 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Nuclear energy: Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors
55.32GW (2025 est.)
Energy: Nuclear energy: Number of nuclear reactors under construction
28 (2025)
Energy: Nuclear energy: Number of operational nuclear reactors
57 (2025)
Energy: Nuclear energy: Percent of total electricity production
4.9% (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
26.023 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
16.189 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
4.984 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
9.575 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
774.076 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
1.847 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
12.196 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north
Environment: Environmental issues
air pollution and acid rain from reliance on coal; carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels; water shortages, particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes; coastal destruction due to land reclamation, industrial development, and aquaculture; deforestation and habitat destruction; poor land management leading to soil erosion, landslides, floods, droughts, dust storms, and desertification; trade in endangered species
Environment: Geoparks: global geoparks and regional networks
Alxa; Arxan; Dali-Cangshan; Danxiashan; Dunhuang; Enshi Grand Canyon-Tenglongdong; Fangshan; Funiushan; Guangwushan-Noushuihe; Hexigten; Hong Kong; Huanggang Dabieshan; Huangshan; Jingpohu; Jiuhuashan; Kanbula; Keketuohai; Leiqiong; Leye Fengshan; Linxia; Longhushan; Longyan; Lushan; Mount Changbaishan; Mount Kunlun; Ningde; Qinling Zhongnanshan; Sanqingshan; Shennongjia; Shilin; Songshan; Taining; Taishan; Tianzhushan; Wangwushan-Daimeishan; Wudalianchi; Wugongshan; Xiangxi; Xingwen; Yingyi; Yandangshan; Yanqing; Yimengshan; Yuntaishan; Yunyang: Zhangjlajle; Zhangye; Zhijingdong Cave; Zigong (2025)
Environment: Geoparks: total global geoparks and regional networks
49 (2025)
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
55.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 11.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 41.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
23.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
20.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
18,177.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
27,832.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
1,186.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
9,402.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
41.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
2.84 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
361.24 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
103.04 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
117.01 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.78% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
65.89% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
395.081 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
24.4% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly smaller than the US
Geography: Area: land
9,326,410 sq km
Geography: Area: water
270,550 sq km
Geography: Coastline
14,500 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Mount Everest (highest peak in Asia and highest point on earth above sea level) 8,849 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Turpan Pendi (Turfan Depression) -154 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
1,840 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
35 00 N, 105 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
note 1: world's fourth largest country (after Russia, Canada, and the US) and largest country situated entirely in Asia; Mount Everest, on the border with Nepal, is the world's tallest peak above sea level note 2: the largest cave chamber in the world is the Miao Room, in the Gebihe cave system at China's Ziyun Getu He Chuandong National Park, which encloses about 10.78 million cu m (380.7 million cu ft); the world's largest sinkhole is the Xiaoxhai Tiankeng sinkhole in Chongqing Municipality, which is 660 m deep, with a volume of 130 million cu m
Geography: Irrigated land
690,070 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Afghanistan 91 km; Bhutan 477 km; Burma 2,129 km; India 2,659 km; Kazakhstan 1,765 km; North Korea 1,352 km; Kyrgyzstan 1,063 km; Laos 475 km; Mongolia 4,630 km; Nepal 1,389 km; Pakistan 438 km; Russia (northeast) 4,133 km and Russia (northwest) 46 km; Tajikistan 477 km; Vietnam 1,297 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
22,457 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
55.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 11.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 41.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
23.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
20.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
North China Aquifer System (Huang Huai Hai Plain), Song-Liao Plain, Tarim Basin
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): fresh water lake(s)
Dongting Hu - 3,100 sq km; Poyang Hu - 3,350 sq km; Hongze Hu - 2,700 sq km; Tai Hu - 2,210 sq km; Hulun Nur - 1,590
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): salt water lake(s)
Quinghai Hu - 4,460 sq km; Nam Co - 2,500 sq km; Siling Co - 1,860 sq km; Tangra Yumco - 1,400 sq km; Bosten Hu 1,380 sq km
Geography: Major rivers (by length in km)
Yangtze - 6,300 km; Huang He - 5,464 km; Amur river source (shared with Mongolia and Russia [m]) - 4,444 km; Lancang Jiang (Mekong) river source (shared with Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; Yarlung Zangbo Jiang (Brahmaputra) river source (shared with India and Bangladesh [m]) - 3,969 km; Yin-tu Ho (Indus) river source (shared with India and Pakistan [m]) - 3,610 km; Nu Jiang (Salween) river source (shared with Thailand and Burma [m]) - 3,060 km; Irrawaddy river source (shared with Burma [m]) - 2,809 km; Zhu Jiang (Pearl) (shared with Vietnam [s]) - 2,200 km; Yuan Jiang (Red river) source (shared with Vietnam [m]) - 1,149 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Arctic Ocean drainage
Ob (2,972,493 sq km)
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage
Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km), Indus (1,081,718 sq km), Irrawaddy (413,710 sq km), Salween (271,914 sq km)
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Internal (endorheic basin) drainage
Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km), Lake Balkash (510,015 sq km)
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Pacific Ocean drainage
Amur (1,929,955 sq km), Huang He (944,970 sq km), Mekong (805,604 sq km), Yangtze (1,722,193 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Asia
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts; land subsidence volcanism: China contains some historically active volcanoes including Changbaishan (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu, or P'aektu-san), Hainan Dao, and Kunlun although most have been relatively inactive in recent centuries
Geography: Population distribution
overwhelming majority of the population is found in the eastern half of the country; the west, with its vast mountainous and desert areas, remains sparsely populated; though ranked first in the world in total population, overall density is less than that of many Asian and European countries; high population density is found along the Yangtze and Yellow River valleys, the Xi Jiang River delta, the Sichuan Basin (around Chengdu), in and around Beijing, and the industrial area around Shenyang
Geography: Terrain
mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east
Government: Administrative divisions
23 provinces ( sheng , singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions ( zizhiqu , singular and plural), 4 municipalities ( shi , singular and plural), and two special administrative regions ( tebie xingzhengqu , singular and plural) provinces: Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang; (see note on Taiwan) autonomous regions: Guangxi, Nei Mongol (Inner Mongolia), Ningxia, Xinjiang Uyghur, Xizang (Tibet) municipalities: Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Tianjin special administrative regions: Hong Kong, Macau
Government: Capital: etymology
the name comes from the Chinese words bei (north) and jing (capital)
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
39 55 N, 116 23 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Capital: time zone note
China is the largest country (in terms of area) with just one time zone; before 1949 it was divided into five
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
least one parent must be a citizen of China
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
while naturalization is theoretically possible, in practical terms it is extremely difficult; residency is required but not specified
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress or supported by more than one fifth of the National People’s Congress membership; passage requires more than two-thirds majority vote of the Congress membership
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest promulgated 4 December 1982
Government: Country name: abbreviation
PRC
Government: Country name: conventional short form
China
Government: Country name: etymology
English name could be derived from the Qin (Chin, Ts'in) rulers in the 3rd century B.C., or from the province of Shaanxi (Shensi) with its capital of Xi'an (Sian); the Chinese name Zhongguo translates as "Central Nation" or "Middle Country"
Government: Country name: local long form
Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo
Government: Country name: local short form
Zhongguo
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador David PERDUE (since 25 July 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: consulate(s) general
Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, Wuhan; note - the Chinese Government ordered closure of the US consulate in Chengdu in late July 2020
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
BeijingACS@state.gov https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
55 Anjialou Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[86] (10) 8531-4200
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
7300 Beijing Place, Washington DC 20521-7300
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[86] (10) 8531-3000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
3505 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador XIE Feng (since 30 June 2023)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
chinaemppress_us@mfa.gov.cn http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 495-2138
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 495-2266
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
State Council appointed by National People's Congress
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2023: XI Jinping reelected president; National People's Congress vote - 2,952 (unanimously); HAN Zheng elected vice president with 2,952 votes; LI Qiang elected premier with 2,936 votes 2018 : XI Jinping reelected president; National People's Congress vote - 2,970 (unanimously); WANG Qishan elected vice president with 2,969 votes
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president and vice president indirectly elected by National People's Congress; premier nominated by president, confirmed by National People's Congress
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
March 2028
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Premier LI Qiang (since 11 March 2023)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
10 March 2023
Government: Flag
description: red with a large five-pointed yellow star and four smaller ones in the upper-left corner; the small stars are arranged in a vertical arc around the large one meaning: red represents revolution; the stars symbolize the four social classes -- the working class, the peasantry, the urban petty bourgeoisie, and the national bourgeoisie (capitalists) -- united under the Communist Party of China
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: International organization participation
ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, BRICS, CDB, CICA, EAS, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-24 (observer), G-5, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SCO, SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UN Security Council (permanent), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges, including the chief justice and 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress (NPC); limited to 2 consecutive 5-year-terms; other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the NPC; term of other justices and judges determined by the NPC
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Higher People's Courts; Intermediate People's Courts; District and County People's Courts; Autonomous Region People's Courts; International Commercial Courts; Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues
Government: Legal system
civil law influenced by Soviet and continental European civil law systems; legislature retains power to interpret statutes
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
March 2028
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
National People's Congress (Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
3/5/2023
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
3000 (all indirectly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
26.5%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1982; the anthem, which was banned during the Cultural Revolution, is more commonly known as "Zhongguo Guoge" (Chinese National Song)
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
TIAN Han/NIE Er
Government: National color(s)
red, yellow
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (c); Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (c); The Great Wall (c); Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing (c); Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area (n); Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa (c); Ancient Ancient City of Ping Yao (c); Historic Center of Macau (c); Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Centre of Heaven and Earth” (c); The Grand Canal (c); Mount Huangshan (m); Mogao Caves (c); Mount Taishan (m); Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian(c); Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area (n);Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area (n); Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains (c); Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde (c); Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu (c); Lushan National Park (c); Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area (m); Classical Gardens of Suzhou (c); Old Town of Lijiang (c); Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing (c); Dazu Rock Carvings (c); Mount Wuyi (m); Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun (c); Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (c); Longmen Grottoes (c); Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System (c); Yungang Grottoes (c); Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas (n); Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom (c); Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries - Wolong, Mt. Siguniang, and Jiajin Mountains (c); Yin Xu (c); Kaiping Diaolou and Villages (c); South China Karst (n); Fujian Tulou (c); Mount Sanqingshan National Park (n); Mount Wutai (c); China Danxia (n); West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou (c); Chengjiang Fossil Site (n); Site of Xanadu (c); Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces(c); Xinjiang Tianshan (n); Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor (c); Tusi Sites (c); Hubei Shennongjia (n); Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape (c); Kulangsu, a Historic International Settlement (c); Qinghai Hoh Xil (n); Fanjingshan (n); Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City (c); Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (n); Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China (c); Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain in Pu’er (c); Badain Jaran Desert - Towers of Sand and Lakes (n); Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital (c); Xixia Imperial Tombs (c)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
60 (41 cultural, 15 natural, 4 mixed)
Government: National holiday
National Day (anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949)
Government: National symbol(s)
dragon, giant panda
Government: Political parties
Chinese Communist Party or CCP
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
China's historical civilization dates to at least the 13th century B.C., first under the Shang (to 1046 B.C.) and then the Zhou (1046-221 B.C.) dynasties. The imperial era of China began in 221 B.C. under the Qin Dynasty and lasted until the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1912. During this period, China alternated between periods of unity and disunity under a succession of imperial dynasties. In the 19th century, the Qing Dynasty suffered heavily from overextension by territorial conquest, insolvency, civil war, imperialism, military defeats, and foreign expropriation of ports and infrastructure. It collapsed following the Revolution of 1911, and China became a republic under SUN Yat-sen of the Kuomintang (KMT or Nationalist) Party. However, the republic was beset by division, warlordism, and continued foreign intervention. In the late 1920s, a civil war erupted between the ruling KMT-controlled government, led by CHIANG Kai-shek, and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Japan occupied much of northeastern China in the early 1930s, and then launched a full-scale invasion of the country in 1937. The resulting eight years of warfare devastated the country and cost up to 20 million Chinese lives by the time of Japan’s defeat in 1945. The Nationalist-Communist civil war continued with renewed intensity after the end of World War II and culminated with a CCP victory in 1949, under the leadership of MAO Zedong. MAO and the CCP established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring the PRC's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and launched agricultural, economic, political, and social policies -- such as the Great Leap Forward (1958-1962) and the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) -- that cost the lives of millions of people. MAO died in 1976. Beginning in 1978, leaders DENG Xiaoping, JIANG Zemin, and HU Jintao focused on market-oriented economic development and opening up the country to foreign trade, while maintaining the rule of the CCP. Since the change, China has been among the world’s fastest growing economies, with real gross domestic product averaging over 9% growth annually through 2021, lifting an estimated 800 million people out of poverty and dramatically improving overall living standards. By 2011, the PRC’s economy was the second largest in the world. Current leader XI Jinping has continued these policies but has also maintained tight political controls. Over the past decade, China has increased its global outreach, including military deployments, participation in international organizations, and a global connectivity plan in 2013 called the "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI). Many nations have signed on to BRI agreements to attract PRC investment, but others have expressed concerns about such issues as the opaque nature of the projects, financing, and potentially unsustainable debt obligations. XI Jinping assumed the positions of General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission in 2012 and President in 2013. In 2018, the PRC’s National People’s Congress passed an amendment abolishing presidential term limits, which allowed XI to gain a third five-year term in 2023.
Military and Security: Military - note
the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the world’s largest military; the PLA's primary responsibility is external security but it also has some domestic security duties; China’s stated defense policy includes safeguarding sovereignty, security, and development interests while emphasizing a greater global role for the PLA; the PLA conducts air, counterspace, cyber, electronic warfare, joint, land, maritime, missile, nuclear, and space operations; it trains regularly, including multinational and multiservice exercises, deploys overseas, and participates in international peacekeeping missions the PRC's internal security forces consist primarily of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), the Ministry of State Security (MSS), the People’s Armed Police (PAP), and the militia; the PLA support the internal security forces as necessary: --the MPS controls the civilian national police, which serves as the first-line force for public order; its primary mission is domestic law enforcement and maintaining order, including anti-rioting and anti-terrorism --the MSS is the PRC’s main civilian intelligence and counterintelligence service --the PAP is a paramilitary component (or adjunct) of the PLA; its primary missions include internal security, maintaining public order, maritime security, and assisting the PLA in times of war; the China Coast Guard (CCG) administratively falls under the PAP and has a variety of missions, such as maritime sovereignty enforcement, surveillance, resource protection, anti-smuggling, and general law enforcement; it is the largest maritime law enforcement fleet in the world --the militia is an armed reserve of civilians which serves as an auxiliary and reserve force for the PLA upon mobilization, although it is distinct from the PLA’s reserve forces; militia units are organized around towns, villages, urban sub-districts, and enterprises, and vary widely in composition and mission; they have dual civilian-military command structures; a key component of the militia are the local maritime forces, commonly referred to as the People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM); the PAFMM consists of mariners (and their vessels) who receive training, equipment, and other forms of support from the Navy and CCG (although the PAFMM remains separate from both) to perform tasks such as maritime patrolling, surveillance and reconnaissance, emergency/disaster response, transportation, search and rescue, and auxiliary tasks in support of naval operations in wartime; the PAFMM’s tasks are often conducted in conjunction or coordination with the Navy and the CCG; it has been used to assert Beijing's maritime claims in the Sea of Japan and South China Sea (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
People's Liberation Army (PLA): Ground Forces or People's Liberation Army Army (PLAA), Navy (PLAN, includes Marine Corps (PLANMC)), Air Force (PLAAF), Rocket Force (PLARF), Aerospace Force (ASF), Cyberspace Force (CSF), Information Support Force (ISF), Joint Logistics Support Force (JLSF); People's Armed Police (PAP, includes Coast Guard, Border Defense Force, Internal Security Forces); PLA Reserve Force (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 2 million active-duty PLA (950,000-1 million Ground; 250,000 Navy, including about 50,000 Marines; 350-400,000 Air Force; 120,000 Rocket Forces; 150-175,000 other forces) (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
475 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 1,050 South Sudan (UNMISS); 280 Sudan/South Sudan (UNISFA); has also established a base in Djibouti with approximately 400 marines, plus naval and support personnel (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the PLA is mostly equipped with domestically produced armaments with smaller amounts of imported weaponry, largely from Russia; China has one of the world's largest defense-industrial sectors and is capable of producing advanced weapons systems across all military domains (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.78% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.77% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.71% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.67% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.68% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.76% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
1.61% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.63% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.66% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1.71% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-26 years of age depending on education level for men and women for both volunteer and selective compulsory military service; 24-month service obligation (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
16.3% (male 122,644,111/female 107,926,176)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
69.3% (male 505,412,555/female 476,599,793)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
14.4% (2024 est.) (male 94,144,838/female 109,315,797)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
1.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
2.63 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
4.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
7.28 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
0.7% (2020)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
0.1% (2020)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
2.8% (2020)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
2.4% (2013)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
5.94% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
69.5% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
7.97 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
21 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
4.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
43.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
22.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 96.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 97.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 3.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 2.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
4% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
11.9% national budget (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
3.90% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Han Chinese 91.1%, ethnic minorities 8.9% (includes Zhang, Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities) (2021 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.57 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
5.4% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
8.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
5.6 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
5.7 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
6.7 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Standard Chinese or Mandarin (official; Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages; note - Zhuang is official in Guangxi Zhuang, Yue is official in Guangdong, Mongolian is official in Nei Mongol, Uyghur is official in Xinjiang Uygur, Kyrgyz is official in Xinjiang Uyghur, and Tibetan is official in Xizang (Tibet)
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
世界概況 – 不可缺少的基本消息來源 (Standard Chinese) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
81.0 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
75.2 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
95.1% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
98.4% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
96.74% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
29.211 million Shanghai, 21.766 million BEIJING (capital), 17.341 million Chongqing, 14.284 million Guangzhou, 14.239 million Tianjin, 13.073 million Shenzhen (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
16 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
41.5 years
People and Society: Median age: male
39 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Chinese
People and Society: Net migration rate
-0.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
6.2% (2016)
People and Society: People - note
in October 2015, the Chinese Government announced that it would change its rules to allow all couples to have two children, loosening a 1979 mandate that restricted many couples to one child; the new policy was implemented on 1 January 2016 to address China’s rapidly aging population and future economic needs
People and Society: Physician density
3.11 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
1,408,975,000 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
overwhelming majority of the population is found in the eastern half of the country; the west, with its vast mountainous and desert areas, remains sparsely populated; though ranked first in the world in total population, overall density is less than that of many Asian and European countries; high population density is found along the Yangtze and Yellow River valleys, the Xi Jiang River delta, the Sichuan Basin (around Chengdu), in and around Beijing, and the industrial area around Shenyang
People and Society: Population growth rate
-0.08% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
690,272,617
People and Society: Population: male
716,908,592
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 95.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 98% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 4.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.14 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.06 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.86 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.09 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
1.9% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
46.6% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
24.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.01 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.78% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
65.89% (2024 est.)
Space: Key space-program milestones
1960s - began launching rockets and initiated satellite and satellite launch vehicle (SLV) programs 1970 - launched first communications satellite (Dongfanghong I) 2003 - first manned space flight; launched first satellite for global navigational system (Beidou) 2011 - placed temporary space station (Tiangong-1) into Earth orbit 2013 - first unmanned lunar landing mission (Chang'e-3); placed a second temporary space station (Tiangong-2) in Earth orbit 2017 - employed a communications satellite (Micius) to perform the world’s first quantum-encrypted virtual teleconference between Beijing and Vienna 2019 - landed a rover vehicle (Chang’e-4) on the far side of the Moon 2021 - landed a probe and operated a rover vehicle on Mars; signed agreement with Russia to set up an international manned lunar research station; announced intent to send a manned mission to Mars by 2033 2022 - completed construction of a permanent manned space station (Tiangong) in Earth orbit 2024 - successful landing and return of robotic spacecraft/probe (Chang'e-6) from the far side the Moon; first launch of "Thousand Sails" commercial communications satellite constellation project 2025 - launched asteroid sample return mission probe (Tianwen-2); launched world's first quantum communications microsatellite (Jinan-1)
Space: Space agency/agencies
China National Space Administration (CNSA; established in 1993); Administration for Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND; subordinate to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology); People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Aerospace Force (2025)
Space: Space launch site(s)
Jiuquan Launch Center (Inner Mongolia); Xichang Launch Center (Sichuan); Wenchang Launch Center (Hainan; Wenchang includes a commercial launch pad, the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, which became operational in December 2024); Taiyuan Launch Center (Shanxi); Eastern Spaceport (Shandong; a coastal spaceport designed to facilitate maritime launches) (2025)
Space: Space program overview
considered one of the world’s leading space powers, with a comprehensive and ambitious space program; can manufacture and operate the full spectrum of space launch vehicles (SLVs) and spacecraft, including human-crewed, lunar/inter-planetary/asteroid probes, satellites (communications, remote sensing, navigational, scientific, etc.), space stations, and reusable space transportation; has an astronaut/taikonaut program; researches and develops a range of space-related capabilities, including advanced telecommunications, optics, spacecraft components, and satellite payloads; participates in international space programs and co-leads (with Australia and Japan) the Global Earth Observation System of Systems; has signed agreements with more than 45 national space agencies, including those of Brazil, Canada, France, and Russia, as well several international organizations; has also cooperated with ESA; two state-owned aerospace enterprises dominate space industry, but a substantial commercial space sector includes launch services (2025)
Transnational Issues: Illicit drugs: USG identification
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
198,400 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
814 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Trafficking in persons: tier rating
Tier 3 — China does not fully meet the minimum standards for elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, China remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/china/
Transportation: Airports
552 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
B
Transportation: Heliports
120 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 1,831, container ship 419, general cargo 1,392, oil tanker 1,196, other 3,476
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
8,314 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Chaozhou, Dalian, Fang-Cheng, Guangzhou, Hankow, Lon Shui Terminal, Qingdao Gang, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shekou, Tianjin Xin Gang, Weihai, Wenzhou, Xiamen
Transportation: Ports: large
5
Transportation: Ports: medium
9
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
48
Transportation: Ports: small
25
Transportation: Ports: total ports
66 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
27
Transportation: Railways: total
150,000 km (2021) 1.435-m gauge (100,000 km electrified); 104,0000 traditional, 40,000 high-speed
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.