Refugees
712refugees and others in need of protection hosted, 2025
253,678from it, abroad, 2025
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder2025
Country page · Updated 13 Nov 2026
China
China imports 67% of the oil it uses (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2024) and 84% of the soybeans it uses (FAOSTAT, 2024). Russia was the main supplier of its major arms imports, at 66% (SIPRI, 2021–2025). China produced an estimated 69% of world rare earth mine output and 99% of world primary gallium production (USGS, 2025). It has 1.4 billion people and a GDP of US$19.5 trillion, second of 186 places (World Bank, 2025).
Drafted with AI from cited sources and reviewed by the editor- Population
- 1.41 bn (2025)
Boundaries: Natural Earth 1:50m, which shows who controls an area in practice. Borders shown do not imply endorsement.
- GDPUS$19.50trillion2nd of 186World Bank · 2025
- Population1.41billion2nd of 216World Bank · 2025
- GDP per personUS$13,86272nd of 186World Bank · 2025
- Military, % GDP1.7% of GDP73rd of 150World Bank · 2025
- CO2 per person8.7t30th of 213Global Carbon Budget · 2024
Dependencies at a glance
China imports 84% of the soybeans it uses and 67% of the oil it uses; it exports phosphate.
Imports mostImports someLow net tradeExporter
| Resource | Dependence | Position | Main partners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil | Imports most | Imports 67% of the oil it usesEIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025. More than Malaysia’s own output in 2025 (513k b/d, EIA): China’s customs records this origin, which can include oil shipped on from elsewhere. | Russia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia |
| Natural gas | Imports some | Imports 39% of the gas it uses PreliminaryEIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025 | Australia, Qatar, Russia |
| Wheat | Low net trade | Imports 7.3% of the wheat it uses EstimateFAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023 | Australia, Canada, United States |
| Maize | Low net trade | Imports 4.4% of the maize it usesFAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023 | Brazil, United States, Ukraine |
| Rice | Low net trade | Imports 0.4% of the rice it usesFAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023 | Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand |
| Soybeans | Imports most | Imports 84% of the soybeans it usesFAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023 | Brazil, United States |
| Potash | Imports most | Imports 55% of its potash supply EstimateFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025. Production: USGS, as FAOSTAT’s figure is an estimate far from it | Russia, Belarus, Laos |
| Phosphate | Exporter | Exports 30% of what it produces EstimateFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, exports 2025 | Brazil, India, Australia (buyers) |
| Arms | Supplier concentration only | Main supplier: Russia, 66% of importsSIPRI, 2021–2025 | Russia, Ukraine, France |
| Chips | Supplier concentration only | Main supplier: Taiwan, 41% of importsUN Comtrade, 2025 | Taiwan, South Korea, Japan |
Dependence is net imports: imports minus exports, as a share of what the country uses; for potash and phosphate, of its supply (production plus net imports). Arms and chips show supplier concentration only: the main supplier’s share of imports (arms: five-year totals of deliveries in SIPRI’s trend-indicator value, SIPRI’s measure of military capability delivered, not price or number of weapons).
- OilImports most
Imports 67% of the oil it uses
Main partners: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia
EIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025. More than Malaysia’s own output in 2025 (513k b/d, EIA): China’s customs records this origin, which can include oil shipped on from elsewhere.
- Natural gasImports some
Imports 39% of the gas it uses Preliminary
Main partners: Australia, Qatar, Russia
EIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025
- WheatLow net trade
Imports 7.3% of the wheat it uses Estimate
Main partners: Australia, Canada, United States
FAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023
- MaizeLow net trade
Imports 4.4% of the maize it uses
Main partners: Brazil, United States, Ukraine
FAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023
- RiceLow net trade
Imports 0.4% of the rice it uses
Main partners: Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand
FAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023
- SoybeansImports most
Imports 84% of the soybeans it uses
Main partners: Brazil, United States
FAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023
- PotashImports most
Imports 55% of its potash supply Estimate
Main partners: Russia, Belarus, Laos
FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025. Production: USGS, as FAOSTAT’s figure is an estimate far from it
- PhosphateExporter
Exports 30% of what it produces Estimate
Main partners: Brazil, India, Australia (buyers)
FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, exports 2025
- ArmsSupplier concentration only
Main supplier: Russia, 66% of imports
Main partners: Russia, Ukraine, France
SIPRI, 2021–2025
- ChipsSupplier concentration only
Main supplier: Taiwan, 41% of imports
Main partners: Taiwan, South Korea, Japan
UN Comtrade, 2025
Source: EIA; FAOSTAT; SIPRI; UN Comtradeyear in each rowUpdated 13 Nov 2026
Dependencies toolWhere it supplies 10% or more of the world
China mines 79% of the world’s tungsten and 78% of its natural graphite (USGS, 2025, estimated). It produces 99% of the world’s primary gallium (USGS, 2025, estimated).
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries2025, estimatedUpdated 13 Nov 2026Estimate
Critical minerals mapMoney and reserves
China’s economy produced $19.50 tn in 2025.
GDP, 2000–2025
Source: World Bank Indicators2000–2025Updated 13 Nov 2026
Economic growth5.0%2025 · 47th of 186 · World Bank
Inflation0.1%2025 · 157th of 169 · World Bank
Unemployment4.6%2025 · 106th of 181 · World Bank
ReservesUS$3.46trillion2024 · 1st of 164 · World Bank
Trade38% of GDP2024 · 159th of 172 · World Bank
Foreign investment inUS$80.0billion2025 · 5th of 200 · World Bank
US Treasury securities held
US Treasury securities heldUS$591bn2026-08; US$700bn a year earlier
Source: US Treasury TIC2026-08Updated 13 Nov 2026
People
China had 1.41 bn people in 2025.
Population, 1950–2100
Projection: UN projection, medium variant, after 2023Range between the UN low- and high-fertility scenarios
Source: UN World Population ProspectsUpdated 13 Nov 2026Projection
China’s population by age
1950200020502100
Source: UN World Population Prospects1950–2100Updated 13 Nov 2026Projection
Births per woman1.002023 · 229th of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Median age39.12023 · 63rd of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Aged 65 and over15%2025, Projection, medium variant · UN WPP 2024
Technology and space
Satellites owned in China numbered 1,714 at the end of 2026.
Climate and hazards
China emitted 12,289 Mt of CO2 from fossil fuels and cement in 2024.
China’s CO2 emissions, million tonnes, 1990–2024
Source: Our World in Data CO21990–2024Updated 13 Nov 2026
CO2 emissions12,289Mt2024 · 1st of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 per person8.7t2024 · 30th of 213 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 since 1750285,087Mt2024 · 2nd of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
Water stress2.82023 · 52nd of 164 · WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)
More figures
Shown only where a source covers China.
Sanctions
1,307entries on the US, EU and UK lists give it as an address or nationality: US 1,136, EU 50 and UK 121
Counts entries (people, companies, ships and aircraft), not how strict the measures are.
Source: US CSL; EU sanctions list; UK Sanctions ListUpdated 13 Nov 2026
Nuclear weapons
620estimated warheads, early 2026
Source: FAS Status of World Nuclear ForcesFAS estimate, as of early 2026Estimate
Cyber incidents
86publicly known incidents affecting China, 2000–2024
Counts compare documented incidents, not how often a country is targeted. Who they were attributed to
Source: EuRepoC Global Dataset of Cyber Incidents 1.3.2 (4 Mar 2025), CC BY-NC 4.02000–2024
All figures
56 measures on this site have a recent figure for China.
| GDP | $19.50 tn | 2025 | 2nd of 186 | World Bank |
| GDP per person | $13,862 | 2025 | 72nd of 186 | World Bank |
| Economic growth | 5.0% | 2025 | 47th of 186 | World Bank |
| Inflation | 0.1% | 2025 | 157th of 169 | World Bank |
| Government debt | 99% | 2025 | 24th of 191 | IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026 |
| Government budget balance | −7.9% | 2025 | 182nd of 195 | IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026 |
| Current account balance | 3.7% | 2025 | 45th of 194 | IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026 |
| Unemployment | 4.6% | 2025 | 106th of 181 | World Bank |
| Reserves, including gold | $3.46 tn | 2024 | 1st of 164 | World Bank |
| Trade | 38% | 2024 | 159th of 172 | World Bank |
| Foreign investment in | $80 bn | 2025 | 5th of 200 | World Bank |
| Remittances received | 0.1% | 2024 | 143rd of 162 | World Bank |
| Population | 1.41 bn | 2025 | 2nd of 216 | World Bank |
| Population with UN projections | 1.42 bn | 2023 | 2nd of 237 | UN WPP 2024 |
| Births per woman | 1.00 | 2023 | 229th of 237 | UN WPP 2024 |
| Median age | 39.1 | 2023 | 63rd of 237 | UN WPP 2024 |
| Life expectancy | 78.0 | 2023 | 77th of 237 | UN WPP 2024 |
| Refugees from the country | 253,678 | 2025 | 26th of 206 | UNHCR |
| Refugees and others needing protection, by host | 712 | 2025 | 140th of 176 | UNHCR |
| Refugees hosted per 1,000 people | 0.0 | 2025 | 169th of 176 | UNHCR |
| Crude oil production | 4,325 kb/d | 2025 | 6th of 214 | EIA |
| Oil consumption | 16,371 kb/d | 2024 | 2nd of 212 | EIA |
| Natural gas production | Preliminary | 2024 | 4th of 213 | EIA |
| Natural gas consumption | 424.9 bcm | 2024 | 3rd of 213 | EIA |
| Electricity generated | 10,025 TWh | 2024 | 1st of 193 | Ember |
| Low-carbon electricity | 38% | 2024 | 93rd of 193 | Ember |
| Electricity from coal | 58% | 2024 | 13th of 193 | Ember |
| Electricity from wind and solar | 18% | 2024 | 40th of 193 | Ember |
| Wheat production | 140.1 Mt | 2024 | 1st of 123 | FAOSTAT |
| Wheat imports | 11.0 Mt | 2024 | 3rd of 180 | FAOSTAT |
| Maize production | 294.9 Mt | 2024 | 2nd of 169 | FAOSTAT |
| Maize imports | 13.6 Mt | 2024 | 3rd of 196 | FAOSTAT |
| Rice production | 139.0 Mt | 2024 | 2nd of 135 | FAOSTAT |
| Rice imports | 1.6 Mt | 2024 | 7th of 197 | FAOSTAT |
| Soybean production | 20.7 Mt | 2024 | 4th of 108 | FAOSTAT |
| Soybean imports | 105.0 Mt | 2024 | 1st of 179 | FAOSTAT |
| Potash fertiliser use | 8.75 Mt | 2024 | 2nd of 199 | FAOSTAT |
| Phosphate fertiliser use | 9.24 Mt | 2024 | 1st of 199 | FAOSTAT |
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | 2024 | 1st of 214 | Global Carbon Budget |
| CO2 per person | 8.7 t | 2024 | 30th of 213 | Global Carbon Budget |
| CO2 emitted since 1750 | 285,087 Mt | 2024 | 2nd of 214 | Global Carbon Budget |
| Net CO2 imports through trade | −11% | 2023 | 106th of 120 | Global Carbon Budget |
| Water stress | 2.8 | 2023 | 52nd of 164 | WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0) |
| Water from abroad | 1% | 2023 | 120th of 193 | FAO AQUASTAT |
| Military spending, share of GDP | 1.7% | 2025 | 73rd of 150 | World Bank |
| Military spending | $336 bn | 2025 | 2nd of 150 | World Bank |
| Deaths in organised violence | 1 | 2023 | 62nd of 66 | UCDP |
| Arms imports | 207 TIV m | 2025 | 37th of 108 | SIPRI |
| Arms exports | 880 TIV m | 2025 | 8th of 44 | SIPRI |
| Satellites in orbit | 1,714 | 2026 | 2nd of 81 | Orbital data from CelesTrak |
| Orbital launches | 75 | 2026 | 2nd of 9 | Orbital data from CelesTrak |
| Share of documented AI supercomputer power | 6.9% | 2025 | 2nd of 36 | Epoch AI |
| People using the internet | 92% | 2024 | 46th of 182 | World Bank |
| ICT service exports | $69 bn | 2024 | 4th of 162 | World Bank |
| ICT service exports, share of service exports | 20% | 2024 | 24th of 162 | World Bank |
| Sanctions list entries (US, EU, UK) | 1,307 | 2026 | 3rd of 181 | US CSL |
Coverage notes. Unless noted otherwise, this source's figures for China exclude Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan (World Bank).
Sources for this page
- World Bank IndicatorsGDP, GDP per person, Economic growth, Inflation, Unemployment, Reserves, …
- IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026Debt, Budget balance, Current account
- UN World Population ProspectsPopulation (UN), Births per woman, Median age, Life expectancy
- UNHCR Refugee Data FinderRefugees from, Refugees hosted, Refugees per 1,000
- U.S. Energy Information AdministrationOil output, Oil use, Gas output, Gas use, Dependencies at a glance
- Ember electricity dataElectricity, Low-carbon electricity, Electricity from coal, Electricity from wind and solar
- FAOSTATWheat production, Wheat imports, Maize production, Maize imports, Rice production, Rice imports, …
- Our World in Data CO2CO2 emissions, CO2 per person, CO2 since 1750, Net CO2 imports through trade
- WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)Water stress
- FAO AQUASTATWater from abroad
- UCDP Georeferenced Event DatasetConflict deaths
- SIPRI Arms Transfers DatabaseArms imports, Arms exports, Dependencies at a glance
- CelesTrak SATCATSatellites in orbit, Orbital launches
- Epoch AIAI compute share
- US Consolidated Screening ListSanctions list entries, Sanctions
- UN ComtradeDependencies at a glance
- USGS Mineral Commodity SummariesMinerals
- EU financial sanctions listSanctions
- UK Sanctions ListSanctions
- FAS Status of World Nuclear ForcesNuclear weapons
- EuRepoC cyber incidentsCyber incidents
Page last updated 13 Nov 2026How we measure