China's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 5.0% compared to the previous year, with the total economic output surpassing 140 trillion yuan for the first time. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the economy successively exceeded the milestones of 110 trillion, 120 trillion, 130 trillion, and 140 trillion yuan. The 2025 Statistical Communique on National Economic and Social Development, released by the National Bureau of Statistics on February 28, highlights these achievements, offering a comprehensive view of the Chinese economy's stable foundation, progressive momentum, and resilient characteristics.
As China's economic scale continues to expand, a 5% growth rate now corresponds to an economic increment of over 5 trillion yuan. This new breakthrough in total economic volume reflects the enhanced production capacity in industry and agriculture, the revitalized dynamism in the service sector within a trillion-yuan economy, and serves as a crucial guarantee for the well-being of millions of households. It is a concentrated manifestation of China's stable economic foundation, numerous advantages, strong resilience, and vast potential, according to Sheng Laiyun, Deputy Director of the National Bureau of Statistics.
In 2025, China's per capita GDP reached 99,665 yuan, an increase of 5.1% from the previous year. Converted at the annual average exchange rate, this amounted to 13,953 US dollars, marking the third consecutive year that per capita GDP has exceeded 13,000 dollars. The steady rise in per capita GDP is attributed to the leading role of technological innovation, the accelerated construction of a modern industrial system, and the vigorous development of new quality productive forces, Sheng noted.
The steady growth of new quality productive forces is fully reflected in multiple sets of data from the communique. Throughout 2025, the value-added of equipment manufacturing in industries above the designated size increased by 9.2% year-on-year, accounting for 36.8% of the total value-added of these industries. Profits of equipment manufacturing enterprises grew by 7.7%. The value-added of high-tech manufacturing rose by 9.4%, constituting 17.1% of the total, with profits of high-tech manufacturing enterprises surging by 13.3%. The value-added of digital product manufacturing increased by 9.3%, making up 12.5% of the total.
Production of service robots reached 18.581 million units, up 16.1% year-on-year. Output of mobile communication base station equipment was 5.364 million radio frequency modules, growing by 13.5%. Server production hit 5.97 million units, an increase of 12.6%.
In terms of research and development investment, China's total R&D expenditure in 2025 increased by 8.1% compared to the previous year. The ratio of R&D spending to GDP reached 2.80%, exceeding the average level of OECD countries for the first time, with basic research funding accounting for 7.08% of the total.
Significant achievements were also made in advancing high-level opening up. In 2025, China's goods imports reached 18.5 trillion yuan, maintaining its position as the world's second-largest import market for the 17th consecutive year. The total volume of trade in services exceeded 8 trillion yuan, setting a new historical record. The number of newly established foreign-invested enterprises grew by 19.1%, and non-financial outward direct investment surpassed 1 trillion yuan.
Notably, China's total goods import and export volume exceeded 45 trillion yuan for the first time in 2025, increasing by 3.8% year-on-year. It is expected to remain the world's largest for the ninth consecutive year, solidifying its role as a key stabilizer in global industrial and supply chains.
China's contribution to global economic growth is projected to remain around 30%, continuing its status as the largest contributor and a primary stabilizer for world economic growth. Facing a complex external environment with rising unilateralism and protectionism, China has steadfastly adhered to high-level opening up, actively participated in global economic governance, injected stability and certainty into the global supply system, and shared the benefits of its development with the world while jointly undertaking global development responsibilities, fully demonstrating the international commitment of a responsible major country.
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