China

CHN orthographic

China's economy is the second largest in the world by nominal GDP. In 2018, it was around two-thirds of the US economy and 2.7 times larger than Japan, the third largest. China has been among the fastest growing economies over the last 30 years, averaging over 6 percent annually. It is also the world's fastest-growing consumer market and second-largest importer of goods. It has 119 of the world's 500 largest companies, the world's largest foreign-exchange reserves, and the second-highest number of billionaires with total wealth of $996 billion. It still has much further to grow with a GDP per capita of $9,771 USD in 2018 and a Human Capital Index rating of 46. Services is the largest sector at 52 percent of GDP, followed by manufacturing at 29.4 percent. It is the world's largest manufacturing economy and exporter of goods. It also has the world's largest natural resources worth $23 trillion, 90 percent of which are coal and rare earth metals. In 2017, its main export sectors were electronics (27 percent of total exports), machinery (22 percent), and textiles (15 percent). Its largest individual exports were transmitting and receiving apparatus for televisions, radio and phones (8.5 percent), computers (5.3 percent), ICT services (4.7 percent), and parts and accessories for office machines (3.4 percent). Its largest export partner is the US (19 percent). Its largest imports are electronic integrated circuits (13.2 percent), oil (9.9 percent), iron ore (3.9 percent), cars (2.9 percent) and soya beans (2.3 percent). Since the late 1970s, China has moved from a closed, centrally planned system based on agriculture to a more market-oriented system based on manufacturing exports and services. In 1985 about 63 percent of the population lived in rural areas, and nearly 63 percent of the labour force was in agriculture. Today 59 percent live in urban areas and 43 percent work in services. Reforms began with the end of collectivized agriculture in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Reform then moved to other parts of the economy with liberalisation of prices and greater autonomy for SOEs. The private sector was encouraged, and a modern banking system and stock markets were developed. China employed a selective industrial policy with state support for key sectors and maintained a restrictive investment regime. Its latest strategic plan, "Made in China 2025", seeks to put China at the forefront of a range of key global industries.

Its population in 2018 was 1,415,045,928 [1]

In 2015, 12.41% of its total energy
consumption was renewable [2]

In 2021, its GDP grew by 8.11% [2]

In 2021 it had a positive Current
Account Balance of US$bn 317.30 [3]

Its unemployment rate in 2021 was 3.96% [3]

Its Expenditure on R&D (as a percentage of
GDP) in 2020 was 2.40% [2]

A Big Mac will set you back the
local equivalent of US$3.05 [4]



What free trade areas or economic unions is it a member of?

None


What trade deals are there with other countries and economic unions?

Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (from 17/06/1976)

China - Hong Kong, China, free trade agreement (from 29/06/2003)

China - Macao, China, free trade agreement (from 17/10/2003)

Chile - China free trade agreement (from 01/10/2006)

Pakistan - China free trade agreement (from 01/07/2007)

China - New Zealand free trade agreement (from 01/10/2008)

China - Singapore free trade agreement (from 01/01/2009)

ASEAN - China Free Trade Area (from 01/01/2010)

Peru - China free trade agreement (from 01/03/2010)

China - Costa Rica free trade agreement (from 01/08/2011)

Iceland - China free trade agreement (from 01/07/2014)

Switzerland - China free trade agreement (from 01/07/2014)

Australia - China free trade agreement (from 20/12/2015)

China - Korea, Republic of, free trade agreement (from 20/12/2015)

China - Georgia free trade agreement (from 18/01/2018)

China - Mauritius free trade agreement (from 01/01/2021)

China’s Renminbi Needs Convertibility to Internationalise

On July 21, the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF) published its eighth annual report

Green Bonds: How Active Management Aims to Make the Most of a Dynamic Sector

The market for financing linked to environmentally friendly projects and companies has already reached $1trn by
Read more

Otaviano Canuto: Are We on the Verge of a New Commodity Super-Cycle?

Commodity prices have recovered their 2020 losses and, in most cases, are now above pre-pandemic levels

Lord Waverley: Quest for Balance and Unity Hampered by Blurred Lines and Differing Standards

There is an increasing recognition of the need to reassess the intersection of global co-operation and
Read more

ICBC Middle East: Resilience in Times of Crisis

Founded in 1984, ICBC has grown into the largest commercial bank with an extensive global network

Boost R&D to Ensure Sustainable Post-Covid Recovery: Economists

Increased investment in research and development is crucial to post-covid recovery, say economists calling for lasting
Read more

Sasseur REIT: Unique EMA Model Aligns Interests of All Stakeholders

Singapore Exchange-listed Sasseur REIT is the first retail outlet mall real estate investment trust listed in

Kathrein Privatbank: US Election Outcome is a Reason for Fresh Optimism, says Austrian Responsible Investment Specialist

Austrian financial institution Kathrein Privatbank believes that the sustainability mega-trend is still in its infancy, and
Read more

Credit Where It’s Due: Fitch Wrote the Book on This One

Fitch Ratings has been creating value for global markets and challenging conventional thinking since 1923, when

Lord Waverley: A New Chapter for the UK and a Meeting Place for the World

With the EU agreement now in place, the United Kingdom has the chance to develop a
Read more

Trade with the United Kingdom

Source: UK Office for National Statistics, October 2022.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.