China profile

Demography and Health

China’s population stands at about 1.409 billion in 2024, making it the most populous country. The birth rate in 2023 was 6.39 births per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate in 2023 was 7.87 per 1,000, indicating a drift toward an aging population as mortality remains steady and births are relatively low relative to the size of the population. Life expectancy at birth reached 78.0 years in 2023, suggesting solid health outcomes for a large population, with under-5 mortality at 6.2 per 1,000 live births, signaling ongoing improvements in child health. The share of the population using the internet is high (77.5% in 2023), reflecting rapid digital adoption that can underpin broader health information access and telemedicine. Health expenditure accounts for about 5.37% of GDP in 2022, with per-capita health expenditure (PPP) of roughly 623 international US dollars in 2022, indicating a substantial level of domestic health investment relative to biodiversity and aging pressures. The doctor density sits at approximately 2.52 physicians per 1,000 people (2021), which, while not the highest globally, supports extensive medical services across a vast country. Nutritional indicators are relatively favorable, with a low prevalence of undernourishment at 2.5% (2022). The suicide mortality rate is 8.95 per 100,000 (2021), highlighting a mental health dimension that intersects with broad public health challenges. Net migration in 2024 is negative, with an estimated outflow of about 319,000 people, suggesting ongoing cross-border mobility patterns even as the domestic market remains enormous. Overall, demographic dynamics combine a very large population with improving health outcomes and rising digital saturation, while aging and outflows of labor could shape social and economic policy in the coming years.

Economy

China’s nominal GDP per capita stands at about 13,303 current US dollars in 2024, placing it around the middle tier globally, while GDP per capita on a purchasing power parity basis is about 27,105 international dollars, signaling a higher standard of living when adjusted for price level differences. The country is a global powerhouse in high-technology exports, which reached roughly 825 billion US dollars in 2023 and constitutes a leading share of domestic output in this sector, underscoring the maturity of a knowledge- and export-driven economy. The broader economic structure is characterized by strong R&D intensity, with expenditure at 2.56% of GDP in 2022—well above many peers—indicating a sustained emphasis on innovation. Domestic investment in science and technology is reinforced by a robust patent ecosystem, including more than 1.4 million patent applications filed by residents in 2021, reflecting a vigorous inventive activity and IP generation engine. The inflation rate remained very low at 0.218% in 2024, suggesting price stability in a large, multi-year growth environment. Household and government health expenditures, while not the largest in global terms, support a broad access to services, and the macroeconomy displays resilience through moderate unemployment (5.11% in 2021) and a large domestic market to absorb production. The country’s 2024 current account balance stands at 2.26% of GDP, indicating a modest external surplus that complements a diversified external position. The overall picture is that of a formidable manufacturing and innovation-led economy, with a large consumer base, strong control over macroeconomic policy, and an ongoing transition toward higher value-added, technology-intensive sectors.

Trade and Investment

Trade and investment dynamics show a highly open and integrated economy. Exports of goods and services account for 20.0% of GDP in 2024, while imports of goods and services represent 17.2% of GDP, signaling a net external orientation that underpins manufacturing and global supply chains. The country is unmatched in high-technology exports, reinforcing its role as a key global hub for advanced manufacturing and digital goods. The patent activity, with residents filing about 1.43 million patents in 2021, complements the export profile by signaling a strong domestic innovation pipeline that can feed into competitive products and services abroad. Foreign direct investment net inflows are modest at 0.099% of GDP in 2024, indicating a stable but not oversized external investment footprint relative to peers, while the current account surplus supports a healthy external position. The logistics and trade infrastructure appears highly capable, with a Logistics Performance Index score of 4.0 (2022) and a rank of 6, highlighting sophisticated transport networks and customs processes that facilitate efficient cross-border trade and timely delivery of goods. Internet penetration (77.5% in 2023) also supports growth in e-commerce and digital services, reinforcing a diversified export base that includes both traditional and technology-driven sectors.

Governance and Institutions

The governance indicators present a nuanced profile. Political stability and absence of violence/terrorism register at -0.513 (2023) with a relatively low rank of 146, suggesting exposure to domestic and external shocks and a less stable environment compared with the most stable democracies. Regulatory quality sits at -0.357 (2023) with a rank of 119, indicating challenges or constraints in the ease and predictability of regulatory frameworks as perceived in cross-country comparisons. The rule of law stands at -0.0401 (2023), ranking 92, implying a level of legal enforcement or predictability that is moderate rather than standout in global terms. Control of corruption is near zero (-0.00537, 2023), ranking 84, suggesting limited perceived reduction in corruption relative to higher-performing economies. In contrast, government effectiveness is relatively strong at 0.679 (2023) with a rank of 51, reflecting credible policy design and implementation capacity, and a central authority capable of steering large-scale programs. Taken together, these indicators suggest a governance model with strong policy execution and administrative efficiency, but with fragility in political stability, regulatory quality, and the broader rule-of-law perceptions. Such a combination aligns with a centralized governance approach that prioritizes rapid development and systemic stability, while managing a broad spectrum of governance and accountability challenges noticeable in some international comparisons.

Infrastructure and Technology

China exhibits advanced infrastructure and a strong technology footprint. The Logistics Performance Index scores 4.0 (2022) with a top-10 global ranking position (6), signifying high-quality trade and transport infrastructure, efficient logistics services, and effective customs procedures that backbone its massive trade volumes. Internet penetration is high, with 77.5% of the population online as of 2023, enabling digital commerce, innovation ecosystems, and data-driven services at scale. The country is a leader in knowledge-intensive outputs, evidenced by a high-tech export value of about 825 billion USD in 2023 and a residency-based patent portfolio totaling approximately 1.43 million patent applications in 2021, highlighting a robust domestic innovation machine. R&D intensity remains significant, with expenditure at 2.56% of GDP in 2022, reflecting sustained investments in science and technology that support long-run productivity gains. The health system reflects a comprehensive infrastructure: life expectancy at 78 years, total health expenditure at 5.37% of GDP (2022), and per-capita health expenditure (PPP) of 623 USD (2022). The physician density stands at about 2.52 per 1,000 people (2021). However, environmental and resource pressures are notable: renewable energy accounts for 15.2% of total final energy consumption (2021), water withdrawal pressures persist with a water stress level of 41.5% (2021), and total greenhouse gas emissions per capita are 11.3 tons CO2e (2023), excluding LULUCF. The combination of strong infrastructure, rapid digitalization, and a growing emphasis on innovation coexists with ongoing challenges in energy transition and resource stewardship, signaling a persistently dynamic and forward-looking development path.

Environment and Sustainability

Environmental indicators reveal a country balancing rapid industrialization with sustainability challenges. Total greenhouse gas emissions per capita (excluding LULUCF) reach 11.3 tons of CO2 equivalent in 2023, signaling substantial per-capita emissions driven by heavy industry and energy intensity. Renewable energy accounted for 15.2% of total final energy consumption in 2021, indicating progress toward cleaner energy mixes but still with substantial reliance on fossil fuels for industrial activity. Freshwater resources face stress, with freshwater withdrawal representing 41.5% of available freshwater resources in 2021, highlighting significant water resource management considerations amid a large population and extensive agricultural and industrial demand. The country performs relatively well on food security, with undernourishment at 2.5% of the population in 2022, suggesting adequate caloric availability for most residents. Biodiversity and ecosystem health are not detailed here, but the energy mix and water stress figures imply ongoing trade-offs between development and environmental protection. The environmental performance is thus characterized by notable strides in energy transition and technological capacity, tempered by ongoing emissions growth and resource pressures that require continued policy focus on efficiency, renewable expansion, and sustainable water management.