National Identity
- Official name
- People’s Republic of China
- Official name (in Chinese)
- 中华人民共和国
- Official name (in Chinese, Romanized)
- Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó
- 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"
Sources:- Constitution of the People's Republic of China ↗ - The official English-language communication platform of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China
- The World Factbook: China - CIA
- National emblem
- National flag
Translated from the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China The field of the flag is red and rectangular, its length and height in the ratio of three to two; five yellow five-pointed stars are placed in the upper left of the field. One star is larger, the diameter of its circumscribed circle being three-tenths of the height of the flag, and it is on the left; four stars are smaller, the diameter of their circumscribed circles being one-tenth of the height of the flag, and they encircle the large star on its right. Each of the four small five-pointed stars has one point directed straight at the centre point of the large five-pointed star. The pole sleeve is white.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China The red of the field of the national flag symbolizes revolution. The five five-pointed stars on the flag and their relationship to one another symbolize the great unity of the revolutionary people under the leadership of the Communist Party. Yellow is used for the stars in order to show brightness on the red ground; yellow is brighter and more beautiful than white. Each of the four small five-pointed stars has one point directed straight at the centre point of the large star; this expresses unity around one centre, and in form it also appears compact and attractive. White is used for the pole sleeve of the national flag in order to distinguish it from the red of the field.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China In July 1949, the Sixth Group of the Preparatory Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, which was responsible for drafting the design of the national flag (including the design of the national emblem and the lyrics and music of the national anthem), publicly solicited designs for the national flag in the name of the Preparatory Committee. The requirements set out at that time for the solicited designs were: (1) Chinese characteristics (such as geography, history, nationalities, culture, etc.); (2) characteristics of the state power (the people's democratic dictatorship led by the working class and based on the alliance of workers and peasants); (3) the form to be rectangular, with length and width in the ratio of three to two, chiefly solemn and simple; (4) the colour to be mainly red, with other colours permitted in combination. Subsequently, in less than 1 month, the CPPCC Preparatory Committee received 3,012 submitted designs for the national flag. After repeated comparison by the selection committee, the Five-Star Red Flag design was finally chosen. On 27 September of the same year, the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, by vote, adopted the "Resolution on the National Capital, Calendar, National Anthem and National Flag of the People's Republic of China", item four of which provides: the national flag of the People's Republic of China is a five-star flag on a red ground, symbolizing the great unity of the Chinese revolutionary people.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China At that time it was expressed as the "five-star flag on a red ground"; the 1954 Constitution formally used the expression "Five-Star Red Flag" and made clear that it is the national flag of the People's Republic of China, and the three subsequent constitutions all made the same provision.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerSource:- npc.gov.cn ↗ - the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China
- National anthem
- Yìyǒngjūn Jìnxíngqǔ (义勇军进行曲)0:44
- Title (in Chinese)
- 义勇军进行曲
- Title (in Chinese, Romanized)
- Yìyǒngjūn Jìnxíngqǔ
- Title (in English, translated)
- The March of the Volunteers
- Unofficial title (in Chinese)
- 中國 國歌
- Unofficial title (in Chinese, Romanized)
- Zhōngguó guógē
- Unofficial title (in English, translated)
- Chinese National Song
- Lyrics
起来！不愿做奴隶的人们！ 把我们的血肉，筑成我们新的长城！ 中华民族到了最危险的时候， 每个人被迫着发出最后的吼声。 起来！起来！起来！ 我们万众一心， 冒着敌人的炮火，前进！ 冒着敌人的炮火，前进！ 前进！前进！进！
Source: - Citizens
- Chinese
- Official name:Constitution of the People's Republic of China ↗ - The official English-language communication platform of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China
- Official name, Citizens:The World Factbook: China - CIA
- National flag:npc.gov.cn ↗ - the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
Geography
- Location
- Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam
- Total area
- 9,596,960 km²
- Land area
- 9,326,410 km²
- Water area
- 270,550 km²
- Land borders
- 22,457 km(14 countries)
- Mongolia
- 4,630 km
- Russia
- 4,179 kmnortheast 4,133 kmnorthwest 46 km
- India
- 2,659 km
- Myanmar
- 2,129 km
- Kazakhstan
- 1,765 km
- Nepal
- 1,389 km
- North Korea
- 1,352 km
- Vietnam
- 1,297 km
- Kyrgyzstan
- 1,063 km
- Bhutan
- 477 km
- Tajikistan
- 477 km
- Laos
- 475 km
- Pakistan
- 438 km
- Afghanistan
- 91 km
Source:- The World Factbook: China - CIA
- Coastline
- 14,500 km
- Terrain
Mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east - Mean elevation
- 1,840 m
- Highest point
- 8,849 mMount Everest
- Lowest point
- −154 mTurpan Pendi (Turfan Depression)
- Climate
Extremely diverse tropical in south to subarctic in north - Avg. temperature
- 7.2 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 1.9 to 12.5 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 814 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January −2.2 −7.7 −13.2 22 February 1.5 −4 −9.9 26 March 7.2 1.8 −4.2 44 April 13.9 8.5 2.6 60 May 18.9 13.7 8.2 90 June 22.8 17.9 13 126 July 24.7 20.1 15.5 144 August 23.9 19 14.4 128 September 19.9 14.6 9.6 82 October 13.3 7.7 2.3 47 November 5.8 0.1 −5.3 28 December −0.5 −5.9 −11.2 18 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: China - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
- Loading
- Land use2023
- Arable11.5%Perm. crops2.0%Pasture41.8%Forest23.9%Other20.7%
- Arable land
- 108,427,100 hectares (11.5%)
- Permanent crops
- 19,152,900 hectares (2.0%)
- Permanent meadows & pastures
- 392,833,000 hectares (41.8%)
- Forest
- 223,931,000 hectares (23.9%)
- Other land
- 194,477,000 hectares (20.7%)
Source: - Major rivers
- 1Yangtze6,300km2Huang He5,464km
- Major lakes
- Quinghai Hu4,460 km²Poyang Hu3,350 km²Dongting Hu3,100 km²Hongze Hu2,700 km²Nam Co2,500 km²Tai Hu2,210 km²Siling Co1,860 km²Hulun Nur1,590 km²Tangra Yumco1,400 km²Bosten Hu1,380 km²Source:
- The World Factbook: China - CIA
- Natural hazards2026
- River floods9.3Very high#7/191Tsunamis9.0Very high#5/191Coastal floods9.0Very high#4/191Tropical cyclones7.8Very high#13/191Earthquakes6.7Very high#49/191Epidemics5.2High#86/191Drought4.6Medium#57/191
Scores out of 10, ranks out of 191 countries.
Source:- INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Mean elevation, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate, Major rivers, Major lakes:The World Factbook: China - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use:FAOSTAT Land Use domain ↗ - FAO
- Natural hazards:INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
Demographics
- Population change2026
- −0.22% per year−3,182,005 people/yearWorld Rank190thof 237
- Birth rate
- 6.1 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 8.1 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- −0.2 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 40.6 yearsWorld Rank58thof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years14.8%15-64 years70.1%65 years +15.1%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 15.1%
- Share aged under 18
- 18.5%
- Total dependency ratio
- 43
- Youth dependency ratio
- 21
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 22
- Sex ratio
- 1.04 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 1.1% 1.7% 70-79 3.5% 4.3% 60-69 5.8% 6.2% 50-59 8.1% 8.0% 40-49 7.2% 6.8% 30-39 8.0% 7.2% 20-29 6.1% 5.2% 10-19 6.7% 5.8% 0-9 4.4% 4.0% - 2026
- 1.07 below the replacement level for China ()1.03 births per womanreplacement 2.10123World Rank228thof 237
- 0.49 daughters per woman0.51 below replacement, long-run each generation smaller than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.5
- 2026
- −2.0 per 1,000 populationfor every 1,000 people, 2.0 more deaths than births a year
- 2026
- −0.2 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 66.8% live in cities944,104,121 urban residents
- Largest cities2020
- Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, GuangzhouRankCityPopulation (2020 census)1Shanghai21,909,8142Beijing18,960,7443Shenzhen17,444,6094Guangzhou16,096,7245Chengdu13,568,3576Tianjin11,052,4047Wuhan10,494,8798Dongguan9,644,8719Chongqing9,580,81910Xi'an9,392,938Source:
- National Bureau of Statistics of China and Bureaus of Statistics, China (2020 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- 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.
- Ethnic groups2021
- Han Chinese91.1%Ethnic minorities8.9%
Ethnic minorities include Zhang, Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities.
Source:- The World Factbook: China - CIA
- Religions2021
- Folk religion21.9%Buddhist18.2%Christian5.1%Muslim1.8%Hindu< 0.1%Jewish< 0.1%Other0.7%Unaffiliated52.1%
China is officially atheist.Other includes Daoist (Taoist).
Source:- The World Factbook: China - CIA
- Languages
- Chinese (中文)
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:National Bureau of Statistics of China and Bureaus of Statistics, China (2020 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: China - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- RepublicThe President and Vice President are elected by the National People's Congress; the Constitution calls the People's Republic of China "a socialist state" (Arts. 1, 79).
- System of government
- One-partyLeadership by the Communist Party of China is "the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics"; the Congress chooses the Premier on the President's nomination, the State Council (the government) answers to it, and no organ can dissolve it (Arts. 1, 62, 92, 60).Source:
- Territorial organisation
- Unitary
- Official websites
- Capital
- Beijing19 million people(2020)
- National holidays
- 22 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- FriJan 2Day off (substituted from 01/04/2026)
- MonFeb 16Chinese New Year's Eve
- TueFeb 17Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)
- WedFeb 18Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)
- ThuFeb 19Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)
- FriFeb 20Day off (substituted from 02/14/2026)
- MonFeb 23Day off (substituted from 02/28/2026)
- SunApr 5Tomb-Sweeping Day
- MonApr 6Tomb-Sweeping Day (observed)
- FriMay 1Labor Day
- SatMay 2Labor Day
- MonMay 4Labor Day (observed)
- TueMay 5Day off (substituted from 05/09/2026)
- FriJun 19Dragon Boat Festival
- FriSep 25Mid-Autumn Festival
- ThuOct 1National Day
- FriOct 2National Day
- SatOct 3National Day
- MonOct 5National Day (observed)
- TueOct 6Day off (substituted from 09/20/2026)
- WedOct 7Day off (substituted from 10/10/2026)
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- CSTChina Standard TimeUTC+8
- Currency
- Chinese Yuan (CNY)
- Entry requirements
- Official visa and entry information
- Calling code
- +86
- Internet TLD
- .cn
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- CN, CHN
- Infrastructure
- Passengers carried
- 619,215,886 by the country's airlines(2023)
- Heliports
- 120
- Aircraft departures
- 4,909,131 by the country's airlines(2023)
- Air freight
- 26,170.4 million tonne-km(2023)
- Aircraft registration prefix
- B
Sources:- The World Factbook: China - CIA
- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Flag carrier
- Air ChinaState-owned
- Passenger rail
- China State Railway Group (in Chinese)
- 2025
- 43 / 100World Rank76thof 182
Significant improverUp 7 points since 2014, when it scored 36.
Confidence intervalCorruption index score by year Year Score Lower bound Upper bound 2012 39 34 43 2013 40 35 45 2014 36 32 40 2015 37 33 41 2016 40 37 44 2017 41 38 44 2018 39 36 42 2019 41 37.6 44.4 2020 42 39.3 44.7 2021 45 42.1 47.9 2022 45 42 48 2023 42 39.3 44.7 2024 43 40.3 45.7 2025 43 40.9 45.1 Source:- Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
- Form of state, System of government, Territorial organisation:中华人民共和国宪法 (Constitution of the People's Republic of China), consolidated text, 22 March 2018 ↗ - Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China, with the English text of the State Council
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: China - CIA
- Infrastructure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Corruption Perceptions Index:Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
Economy
- Upper middle income
- GDP growth (real)2026
- +4.5% per yearWorld Rank47thof 195
- GDP per capita (PPP)2026
- GDP per capita (nominal)
- $15,371 (77th in the world)
Source:- 2025
- Services57.7% of GDPIndustry35.6% of GDPAgriculture6.7% of GDPManufacturing24.7%part of industry
- Households
- +40%
- Government
- +16.7%
- Investment
- +40.5%
- Exports
- +20.4%
- Imports
- −17.5%
The shape of the economyGDP by end useSource:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Inflation2026
- 1%up 1 percentage points1pp from 2025
- Labor force2024
- 773.8 million (55% of population)World Rank1stof 187
- Labor force participation2024
- 64.9% of people aged 15+
- Unemployment2024
- 4.6%
- Youth unemployment2024
- 15.0% ages 15 to 24
- Labor productivity2024
- $19.7 per hour worked at PPP
- Budget balance2026
- 8% of GDP deficit
- Current account
- 4% of GDP, $863.2 billion surplus
Source: - Debt2024
- Government debt88.3% of GDPHousehold debt61.4% of GDPCompany debt144.2% of GDPInterest on debt1% of GDP
- Trade2025
- Goods$3.8 trillion90.7%
- Services$384.7 billion9.3%
- Total exports
- $4.1 trillion
- Change from 2024
- up 6.9 percent on the previous year6.9%
Sources:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- The World Factbook: China - CIA
- 2024
- +1.26World Rank10thof 145
- Projected GDP growth
- +4.5% a year over the next 10 years
Source:- Atlas of Economic Complexity ↗ - Harvard Growth Lab
- Agricultural products2024
- Mushrooms and truffles, Spinach, Cucumbers and gherkins, and 7 more
- 1Mushrooms and truffles5.1×
- 2Spinach5×
- 3Cucumbers and gherkins4.2×
- 4Pears4.1×
- 5Green garlic4×
- 6Eggplants (aubergines)3.3×
- 7Watermelons3.3×
- 8Sweet potatoes3.1×
- 9Apples2.8×
- 10Tangerines and mandarins (including clementines)2.8×
ProductSource:- FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Gold reserves2025
- 2,306 tonnesWorth $323.9 billion, 9% of total official reserves by value
- Industries
- world leader in gross value of industrial output
- mining and ore processing, iron, steel, aluminum, and other metals, coal
- machine building
- armaments
- textiles and apparel
- petroleum
- cement
- chemicals
- fertilizer
- consumer products (including footwear, toys, and electronics)
- food processing
- transportation equipment, including automobiles, railcars and locomotives, ships, aircraft
- telecommunications equipment, commercial space launch vehicles, satellites
Source:- The World Factbook: China - CIA
- Income level, GDP by sector, Trade, Gold reserves:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- GDP (nominal), GDP growth (real), GDP per capita (PPP), Inflation, Budget balance:IMF World Economic Outlook ↗
- Labor force, Labor force participation, Unemployment, Youth unemployment, Labor productivity:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- Debt:IMF Global Debt Database ↗
- Debt:IMF Public Finances in Modern History ↗
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: China - CIA
- Economic Complexity Index:Atlas of Economic Complexity ↗ - Harvard Growth Lab
- Agricultural products:FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
Cost of Living
- Cost of living index
- Loading
- Monthly costs (excluding rent)
- Loading
- Rent
- Loading
- Buying an apartment
- Loading
- Average gross salary2022
- CN¥5,436 per month$807 (USD), $1,435 (PPP)
- 2024
- CN¥1,930 per month, gross$268 (USD), $544 (PPP)
- Average gross salary, Minimum wage:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
Society
- 2023
- 0.797HighWorld Rank78thof 193ChinaWorld
Human Development Index by year Year China World 1990 0.491 0.608 1991 0.499 0.611 1992 0.511 0.614 1993 0.522 0.617 1994 0.532 0.620 1995 0.543 0.625 1996 0.555 0.631 1997 0.566 0.636 1998 0.576 0.641 1999 0.587 0.646 2000 0.598 0.651 2001 0.608 0.657 2002 0.619 0.662 2003 0.630 0.669 2004 0.642 0.675 2005 0.654 0.681 2006 0.666 0.688 2007 0.680 0.694 2008 0.689 0.698 2009 0.700 0.701 2010 0.710 0.707 2011 0.717 0.713 2012 0.725 0.717 2013 0.733 0.721 2014 0.742 0.726 2015 0.750 0.731 2016 0.758 0.735 2017 0.765 0.739 2018 0.774 0.741 2019 0.781 0.745 2020 0.786 0.742 2021 0.794 0.742 2022 0.796 0.752 2023 0.797 0.756 Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- 2022
- 36
- Mean years of schooling2023
- 8 years
- Expected for a child today
- 15.5 years
Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Literacy2020
- 96.7% of adults
- Education expenditure2023
- 3.9% of GDP
- Share of government spending
- 11.9%
Source:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users2024
- 92% of the population
- Households with Internet access
- 91.7%
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Mobile subscriptions2024
- 1.9 billion
- Fixed telephone lines
- 166,506,532
- Fixed broadband
- 47.2 subscriptions per 100 people
Counts subscriptions, not people.
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership2024
- 46% of adults
- Debit-card ownership
- 81%
- Account at a bank or mobile-money provider
- 89%
- Made or received a digital payment
- 89%
Source:- Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Refugees hosted2025
- 251 people
- Asylum seekers
- 488
- Internally displaced persons
- 177,000All due to disasters
- Refugees from China abroad
- 153,282
Sources:- Refugee Data Finder ↗ - UN Refugee Agency
- Global Internal Displacement Database ↗ - Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre
- Inbound tourists2020latest available
- 8 million arrivalsdown 88% against 201988% below 2019Official tourism site
- Per resident
- 0.6 arrivals per 100 residents
- All visitors
- 25.3 million arrivals, overnight and same-day(2022)
- $39.7 billion(2024)
- Residents' trips abroad
- 20.3 million overnight trips
- $250.6 billion(2024)
- Hotel beds
- 2.7 million(2013, latest available)
- Average hotel stay
- 2.7 nights(2013, latest available)
Overnight arrivals by year2010 to 2020A tourist stays at least one night. Arrivals count trips, not people.
Source:- UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- 60 sites41 cultural15 natural4 mixed
Site Type Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties Cultural Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor Cultural The Great Wall Cultural Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing Cultural Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area Natural Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa Cultural Ancient City of Ping Yao Cultural Historic Center of Macau Cultural Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Centre of Heaven and Earth” Cultural The Grand Canal Cultural Mount Huangshan Mixed Mogao Caves Cultural Mount Taishan Mixed Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian Cultural Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area Natural Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area Natural Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains Cultural Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde Cultural Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu Cultural Lushan National Park Cultural Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area Mixed Classical Gardens of Suzhou Cultural Old Town of Lijiang Cultural Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing Cultural Dazu Rock Carvings Cultural Mount Wuyi Mixed Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun Cultural Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties Cultural Longmen Grottoes Cultural Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System Cultural Yungang Grottoes Cultural Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas Natural Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom Cultural Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries - Wolong, Mt. Siguniang, and Jiajin Mountains Cultural Yin Xu Cultural Kaiping Diaolou and Villages Cultural South China Karst Natural Fujian Tulou Cultural Mount Sanqingshan National Park Natural Mount Wutai Cultural China Danxia Natural West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou Cultural Chengjiang Fossil Site Natural Site of Xanadu Cultural Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces Cultural Xinjiang Tianshan Natural Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor Cultural Tusi Sites Cultural Hubei Shennongjia Natural Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape Cultural Kulangsu, a Historic International Settlement Cultural Qinghai Hoh Xil Natural Fanjingshan Natural Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City Cultural Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China Natural Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China Cultural Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain in Pu’er Cultural Badain Jaran Desert - Towers of Sand and Lakes Natural Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital Cultural Xixia Imperial Tombs Cultural Source:- The World Factbook: China - CIA
- Human Development Index, Mean years of schooling:Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Income inequality (Gini), Education expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Literacy:UIS Data Browser ↗ - UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Internet users, Mobile subscriptions:ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership:Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Refugees hosted:Refugee Data Finder ↗ - UN Refugee Agency
- Refugees hosted:Global Internal Displacement Database ↗ - Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre
- Inbound tourists:UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites:The World Factbook: China - CIA
Crime & Safety
- Travel advisory (US)
- Loading
- Active humanitarian crisisAug 2026
- None - no active crisis
- Homicide rate2020
- Very low by global standards0.5 per 100,000 peopleWorld Rank106thof 115
- Crime rates
- 1 offence category
Offence Per 100,000 Count Year Homicide (victims) 0.5 7,157 2020 A low figure can also mean weak recording.
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Active humanitarian crisis:INFORM Severity Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Homicide rate, Crime rates:UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 79.0 years
- Health expenditure2023
- 5.9% of GDP$763 per person
- Physicians2022
- 3.11 per 1,000 population
- Hospital beds2023
- 5.6 per 1,000 population
- Infant mortality2026
- 5.4 per 1,000 live births
- Maternal mortality2023
- 16 per 100,000 live births
- Alcohol consumption2022
- 4.5 litres of pure alcohol per adult per year
- Tobacco use2022
- 23.1% of adults
- Men
- 44.7%
- Women
- 1.6%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Alcohol and Tobacco Spending2023
- 3.2% of household spendingWorld Rank48thof 105
- World median
- 3.1%
Source:- The World Factbook: China - CIA
- Road traffic deaths2019
- 17.4 per 100,000 population
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Health expenditure, Physicians, Hospital beds, Road traffic deaths:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Maternal mortality:Maternal mortality estimates ↗ - UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group
- Alcohol consumption, Tobacco use:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Alcohol and Tobacco Spending:The World Factbook: China - CIA
Environment
- CO₂ emissions2024
- 13,124.7 Mt per yearup 0.8 percent on the previous year0.8% from 2023
- CO₂ per capita
- 9.1 t per personWorld Rank27thof 207
- Share of global CO₂
- 33.1%
- Methane (CH₄)
- 1,485.3 Mt CO₂-eq
- Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
- 423.6 Mt CO₂-eq
- Fluorinated gases
- 502.4 Mt CO₂-eq
- All greenhouse gases
- 15,536.1 Mt CO₂-eq
Source:- Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- 2024
- 29.6 µg/m³ of PM2.52.4 years of life expectancy lost against the WHO guidelineMost polluted24thof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
- National standard
- 30 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- 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
Source:- The World Factbook: China - CIA
- International agreements
- 19 of 20 landmark treaties in forceParty to 96 multilateral environmental agreements
Treaty Standing Joined Climate Paris Agreement in force 2016 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in force 1994 Kyoto Protocol in force 2005 Ozone layer Montreal Protocol in force 1991 Vienna Convention (Ozone Layer) in force 1989 Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity in force 1993 CITES in force 1981 Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn) not a party Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in force 2005 Nagoya Protocol in force 2016 Land and heritage Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in force 1992 World Heritage Convention in force 1986 UN Convention to Combat Desertification in force 1997 Chemicals and waste Basel Convention in force 1992 Rotterdam Convention (PIC) in force 2005 Stockholm Convention (POPs) in force 2004 Minamata Convention on Mercury in force 2017 Oceans UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in force 1996 High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) in force 2026 MARPOL 73/78 in force 1983 Source:- International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
- CO₂ emissions:Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: China - CIA
- International agreements:International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
Food & Water
- No access to safe drinking water2022
- 4.5% of the population
- Renewable water2022
- 2,840 billion m³ per year
- Per person
- 1,950 m³ per year
- Dependency ratio
- 1% originates outside the country
- Annual water withdrawal
- 581 billion m³ per year
- Withdrawn for agriculture
- 62%
- Water stress
- 42% of available freshwater withdrawn
Source:- AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment2022
- 8.5% of the population122.4 million people
- Obesity2024
- 9.3% of adults
- Men
- 10%
- Women
- 8.4%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children2013
- 2.4% of children under five
- No access to safe drinking water, Renewable water:AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment:Food security indicators (FAOSTAT) ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Obesity:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
Energy
- Energy consumption2024
- Per capita
- 126.8 GJ per person
- Share of world total
- 28.1%
- Supply
- Deficitproduces 77% of what it consumes, 2024
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Electricity2024
- 10,162 TWh generated per year
- Generation
- 10,162 TWh per year
- Consumption
- 9,794 TWh per year
- Imports
- 5 TWh per year
- Exports
- 22 TWh per year
- Net
- +17 TWh per year
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal
- Deficitproduces 33% of what it consumes, 2024Oil reserves202528.2 billion barrelsWorld Rank13thof 99
Oil imports and exports count crude oil only.
- Mineral resources2025
- Copper, Lithium, Rare earths
Mineral Mine production Reserves Copper 1.8 million t7.8% of world 41 million t Lithiumas pure lithium 62,000 t21.4% of world 4.6 million t Rare earthsas rare-earth oxide 270,000 t69.2% of world 44 million t USGS estimates. Shows only minerals where the country is a major producer.
Source:- Mineral Commodity Summaries ↗ - U.S. Geological Survey
- Energy consumption, Electricity, Oil, gas & coal:International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal:Worldwide Oil and Gas Survey ↗ - Oil & Gas Journal
- Mineral resources:Mineral Commodity Summaries ↗ - U.S. Geological Survey
Defense
- Military expenditure2024
- 1.7% of GDP$313.7 billion, 5.1% of government spending
- Military personnel2025
- approximately 2 millionactive-duty PLA
- Ground
- 950,000–1 million
- Navy
- 250,000including about 50,000 Marines
- Air Force
- 350,000–400,000
- Rocket Forces
- 120,000
- other forces
- 150,000–175,000
Source:- The World Factbook: China - CIA
- Military service2025
- Selective conscriptionmen and women 18–26 depending on education level, 24 months, voluntary or selective compulsory
The PLA’s conscription system functions as a levy; the PLA establishes the number of enlistees needed, which produces quotas for the provinces; each province provides a set number of soldiers or sailors; if the number of volunteers fails to meet quotas, the local governments may compel individuals to enter military service.
Source:- The World Factbook: China - CIA
- Space program2025
- 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
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
- Launch sites
- 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)
- 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)
Key milestones
in 2024, the PLA created the Aerospace Force from the former Strategic Support Force, which had included the Space Systems Department and the China Manned Space Engineering Office or CMSEO)the US NASA is barred by a 2011 law from cooperating with the Chinese bilaterally in space unless approved by the US Congress; the US objected to China’s participation in the International Space Station program
Source:- The World Factbook: China - CIA
- Nuclear weapons2026
- 620 warheads34 deployed, 620 in the military stockpile
Deployed, strategicOn long-range missiles and at bomber bases 34 Deployed, nonstrategicOn short-range weapons None known ReserveIn storage, not on launchers 586 Military stockpileDeployed and reserve, held for use 620 RetiredAwaiting dismantlement 0 Total inventory 620 Approximate FAS estimates. Parts may not sum.
Source:- Status of World Nuclear Forces ↗ - Federation of American Scientists
- Military expenditure:SIPRI Military Expenditure Database ↗ - Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
- Military expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Military personnel, Military service, Space program:The World Factbook: China - CIA
- Nuclear weapons:Status of World Nuclear Forces ↗ - Federation of American Scientists
