Photo: Seebeer Edited by Nicholasjf21 · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 17 of 18 · Country Index 2026
China: Digital & Technology
How ready is a country to use, make and trade technology?
China is placed joint 23rd of 198 countries on digital & technology in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: GovTech Maturity Index 0.651 (2025); Government AI Readiness Index 76.27 (2025).
Share
Digital & Technology
joint23rd
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 0.651GovTech Maturity Index, 2025GTMI score (0–1)
- 76.27Government AI Readiness Index, 2025AI readiness score (0–100)
- 3.226Government Cyber Security Capacity, 2025Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity
- 50.47Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports, 2024Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place China on digital & technology — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
0.651
GTMI score (0–1)
Higher is better
China: 0.651. Across the 196 countries in this edition, values run from 0.01 (North Korea) to 0.997 (South Korea); the world median is 0.63.
- World median
- 0.63
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 0.997 South Korea
- Land neighbours
- Afghanistan 0.121 · Bhutan 0.814 · Hong Kong 0.652 · India 0.969 · Kazakhstan 0.945 · Kyrgyzstan 0.626 · Laos 0.404 · Macau 0.401 · Myanmar 0.461 · Mongolia 0.776 · Nepal 0.517 · Pakistan 0.679 · North Korea 0.01 · Russia 0.96 · Tajikistan 0.294 · Vietnam 0.736
76.27
AI readiness score (0–100)
Higher is better
Ranked 8th of 195 by Oxford Insights
China: 76.27. Across the 195 countries in this edition, values run from 12.12 (Guinea-Bissau) to 88.36 (United States); the world median is 40.19.
- World median
- 40.19
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 76.89 South Korea
- Land neighbours
- Afghanistan 15.72 · Bhutan 39.38 · India 66.55 · Kazakhstan 56.7 · Kyrgyzstan 33.28 · Laos 29.92 · Myanmar 20.54 · Mongolia 40.86 · Nepal 38.5 · Pakistan 45.38 · North Korea 21.15 · Russia 59.57 · Tajikistan 29.08 · Vietnam 59.98
Key 3 of 4
Government Cyber Security Capacity
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
3.226
Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity
Higher is better
China: 3.226. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from -2.66 (Liberia) to 3.715 (Estonia); the world median is 0.196.
- World median
- 0.196
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 3.226 China
- Land neighbours
- Afghanistan -1.031 · Bhutan -0.656 · Hong Kong 0.816 · India 1.008 · Kazakhstan 1.097 · Kyrgyzstan -0.589 · Laos -0.903 · Myanmar -0.619 · Mongolia -0.04 · Nepal -0.718 · Pakistan 0.743 · North Korea 2.771 · Russia 2.107 · Tajikistan 0 · Vietnam 1.346
Key 4 of 4
Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
50.47
Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports)
Higher is better
China: 50.47. Across the 170 countries in this edition, values run from 0.377 (Gambia) to 87.15 (Ireland); the world median is 25.42.
- World median
- 25.42
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 52.9 Japan
- Land neighbours
- Bhutan 8.897 · Hong Kong 45.34 · India 78.01 · Kazakhstan 26.74 · Laos 8.211 · Macau 8.894 · Myanmar 13.17 · Mongolia 13.9 · Nepal 23.51 · Pakistan 63.58 · Russia 24.25 · Tajikistan 24.67 · Vietnam 18.11
02Over time
Which way China is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Government AI Readiness Index
AI readiness score (0–100) · higher is better
ChinaWorld median
China rose from 69.08 in 2020 to 76.27 in 2025; the world median went from 39.58 to 40.19.
Every year’s figures
Year China World median 2025 76.3 40.2 2024 72.0 43.3 2023 70.9 41.4 2022 70.8 40.3 2021 74.4 44.1 2020 69.1 39.6 Government Cyber Security Capacity
Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity · higher is better
ChinaWorld median
China rose from 2.57 in 2000 to 3.226 in 2025; the world median went from -0.514 to 0.196.
Every year’s figures
Year China World median 2025 3.23 0.20 2024 3.23 0.11 2023 3.24 0.14 2022 3.24 0.16 2021 2.92 0.12 2020 2.92 0.12 2019 2.57 0.10 2018 2.57 -0.05 2017 2.57 -0.08 2016 2.57 -0.10 2015 2.57 -0.17 2014 2.57 -0.21 2013 2.57 -0.21 2012 2.57 -0.25 2011 2.57 -0.32 2010 2.57 -0.31 2009 2.57 -0.50 2008 2.57 -0.51 2007 2.57 -0.51 2006 2.57 -0.55 2005 2.57 -0.55 2004 2.57 -0.55 2003 2.57 -0.55 2002 2.57 -0.51 2001 2.57 -0.51 2000 2.57 -0.51 Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports
Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports) · higher is better
ChinaWorld median
China rose from 31.41 in 2010 to 50.47 in 2024; the world median went from 19.88 to 25.42.
Every year’s figures
Year China World median 2024 50.5 25.42 2023 55.0 26.03 2022 48.8 26.04 2021 48.5 29.80 2020 54.0 29.47 2019 49.7 18.36 2018 47.7 20.09 2017 44.2 18.32 2016 43.7 18.15 2015 41.7 19.57 2014 44.3 21.00 2013 38.8 20.50 2012 35.6 19.56 2011 36.2 19.21 2010 31.4 19.88
03In context
China beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 198 countries on digital & technology, never a place within the region.
China and the countries it borders
Standing among all 198; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | GovTech Maturity IndexGTMI score (0–1) | Government AI Readiness IndexAI readiness score (0–100) | Government Cyber Security CapacityOriginal latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity | Digitally-Deliverable Services ExportsDigitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Indiacompare | 5th | 0.969 | 66.55 | 1.008 | 78.01 |
| China | =23rd | 0.651 | 76.27 | 3.226 | 50.47 |
 Russiacompare | =34th | 0.96 | 59.57 | 2.107 | 24.25 |
 Kazakhstan | 49th | 0.945 | 56.7 | 1.097 | 26.74 |
 Pakistancompare | 54th | 0.679 | 45.38 | 0.743 | 63.58 |
 Hong Kong | 57th | 0.652 | — | 0.816 | 45.34 |
 Vietnam | 62nd | 0.736 | 59.98 | 1.346 | 18.11 |
 Mongolia | =98th | 0.776 | 40.86 | -0.04 | 13.9 |
 Bhutan | 111th | 0.814 | 39.38 | -0.656 | 8.897 |
 Nepal | 115th | 0.517 | 38.5 | -0.718 | 23.51 |
 Kyrgyzstan | 116th | 0.626 | 33.28 | -0.589 | — |
 North Korea | 119th | 0.01 | 21.15 | 2.771 | — |
 Tajikistan | 122nd | 0.294 | 29.08 | 0 | 24.67 |
 Laos | 153rd | 0.404 | 29.92 | -0.903 | 8.211 |
 Myanmar | 154th | 0.461 | 20.54 | -0.619 | 13.17 |
 Macau | =155th | 0.401 | — | — | 8.894 |
 Afghanistan | 194th | 0.121 | 15.72 | -1.031 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
Placed either side on digital & technology
The countries immediately above and below China in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where China is ahead of the world, and behind
19 more statistics filed under digital & technology, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median11
Statistics on which China does better than the middle country measured.
Made or Received a Digital PaymentWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 51.6588.7251.65▲ Improved since 2014
China: 88.72 · world median 51.65 · Adults who made or received a digital payment in the past year (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 12.26 to 94.91; higher is better.
Position 3rd of 98 · derived.
Firms Experiencing Internet DisruptionsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.354.2232.35No earlier reading
China: 4.22 · world median 32.35 · Firms that experienced internet outages or slow-downs (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.735 to 82.39; lower is better.
Position 155th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
ICT Goods ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 0.97521.320.975▼ Worsened since 2014
China: 21.32 · world median 0.975 · ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.45; higher is better.
Position 7th of 119 · derived.
Share of Firms' Payments Made ElectronicallyWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 64.2297.7664.22No earlier reading
China: 97.76 · world median 64.22 · Payments made electronically in a typical month, excluding payroll and payments to government (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 2.172 to 99.91; higher is better.
ICT Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 7.47422.497.474▲ Improved since 2014
China: 22.49 · world median 7.474 · ICT services exports (% of services exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 56.25; higher is better.
Position 13th of 118 · derived.
Frontier Technology Readiness IndexUNCTAD · 2023 · world median 0.4850.8390.485No real change since 2013
China: 0.839 · world median 0.485 · Frontier Technology Readiness Index (0–1). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1; higher is better.
Position 21st of 170 · derived.
Mobile Phone OwnershipWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 91.6896.6591.68No earlier reading
China: 96.65 · world median 91.68 · Adults who own a mobile phone (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 45.83 to 100; higher is better.
Position 29th of 140 · derived.
Smartphone OwnershipWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 78.7888.2478.78No earlier reading
China: 88.24 · world median 78.78 · Adults whose main mobile phone is a smartphone (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 8.663 to 97.36; higher is better.
Position 30th of 140 · derived.
Internet Use Among AdultsWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 83.0586.2383.05No earlier reading
China: 86.23 · world median 83.05 · Adults who used the internet in the past three months (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 11.06 to 99.12; higher is better.
Position 61st of 140 · derived.
AI User Share of the Working-Age PopulationMicrosoft AI Economy Institute · 2026 · world median 15.4517.515.45▼ Worsened since 2025
China: 17.5 · world median 15.45 · Generative-AI users (% of population aged 15–64). Microsoft AI Economy Institute, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 6.1 to 73.3; higher is better.
Primary Schools with Internet for TeachingUIS · 2024 · world median 98.6698.8998.66▲ Improved since 2016
China: 98.89 · world median 98.66 · Primary schools with internet access for teaching (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Behind the world median5
Statistics on which China does worse than the middle country measured.
Digital Services Trade Restrictiveness IndexOECD · 2025 · world median 0.2060.2860.206▼ Worsened since 2015
China: 0.286 · world median 0.206 · Digital STRI (0 = open, 1 = closed). OECD, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.021 to 0.649; lower is better.
Position 40th of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
Government Internet ShutdownsV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 1.023-0.6091.023▲ Improved since 2015
China: -0.609 · world median 1.023 · Original latent estimate (≈ −4 to +2); higher = fewer shutdowns. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.547 to 2.081; higher is better.
Position 132nd of 176 · derived.
Firms with Their Own WebsiteWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 62.3929.3362.39No earlier reading
China: 29.33 · world median 62.39 · Firms with their own website (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.824 to 97.88; higher is better.
Position 159th of 181 · derived.
Government Dissemination of False Information (Domestic)V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median -0.114-2.202-0.114▲ Improved since 2015
China: -2.202 · world median -0.114 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.2); higher = less disinformation. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.392 to 2.93; higher is better.
Position 160th of 176 · derived.
Government Social Media CensorshipV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.505-3.0070.505No real change since 2015
China: -3.007 · world median 0.505 · Original latent estimate (≈ −4.5 to +2.4); higher = less censorship. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.721 to 2.295; higher is better.
Position 174th of 176 · derived.
No better end3
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
GitHub DevelopersGitHub · 2026 · world median 84,67011,351,93984,670No real change since 2020
China: 11,351,939 · world median 84,670 · Developer accounts located in the economy (as of quarter end). GitHub, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 110 to 32,410,529.
GitHub RepositoriesGitHub · 2026 · world median 141,45418,424,702141,454No real change since 2020
China: 18,424,702 · world median 141,454 · Public repositories located in the economy (as of quarter end). GitHub, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 142 to 77,284,974.
GitHub Git PushesGitHub · 2025 · world median 148,7142,330,861148,714Moved since 2020
China: 2,330,861 · world median 148,714 · Git pushes during the quarter. GitHub, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1,967 to 40,768,192.
No current reading for China
Anthropic AI Usage Index and Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Digital & Technology among China’s 16 topics
Digital & Technology is China’s 3rd best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Food & Agriculture6th of 1844/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade9th of 1774/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 23rd of 1984/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing47th of 2003/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality39th of 1593/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge51st of 1982/4 keys
- Economy & Innovationjoint 46th of 1764/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital62nd of 1963/3 keys
- Work & Labour60th of 1824/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience80th of 1934/4 keys
- Energyjoint 87th of 1653/3 keys
- Peace & Security102nd of 1774/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions125th of 1944/4 keys
- Gender & Equality124th of 1834/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability157th of 1864/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties178th of 1983/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on digital & technology
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders China can most readily be measured against.
=1
EstoniaNorthern Europe
Joint 1st of 198 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Andrus Uuetalu derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 ee, greyscale
=1
South KoreaEastern Asia
Joint 1st of 198 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
3
SingaporeSouth-eastern Asia
3rd of 198 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Khairul Nizam . · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
South Korea=1st4/4 keysThis page
China=23rd4/4 keys
Positions out of 198 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about China and digital & technology
08Questions
China on digital & technology: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does China rank on digital & technology?
China is placed joint 23rd of 198 countries on Digital & Technology in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (GovTech Maturity Index, Government AI Readiness Index, Government Cyber Security Capacity and Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest GovTech Maturity Index figure for China?
0.651 in 2025 (gTMI score (0–1)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.63.
What is the latest Government AI Readiness Index figure for China?
76.27 in 2025 (aI readiness score (0–100)), according to Oxford Insights. The world median in the same edition was 40.19.
How does China compare with India on digital & technology?
India is placed 5th of 198, and China joint 23rd. GovTech Maturity Index: India 0.969, China 0.651; Government AI Readiness Index: India 66.55, China 76.27; Government Cyber Security Capacity: India 1.008, China 3.226; Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports: India 78.01, China 50.47.
How have China’s digital & technology figures changed?
Government AI Readiness Index rose from 69.08 in 2020 to 76.27 in 2025; Government Cyber Security Capacity rose from 2.57 in 2000 to 3.226 in 2025; Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports rose from 31.41 in 2010 to 50.47 in 2024.
Which digital & technology statistics are missing for China?
No current reading is published for China on Anthropic AI Usage Index and Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Broadband and mobile subscriptions, connection speeds and the cost of getting online are absent, for the licence reason above; internet use and phone ownership, from the World Bank’s own household survey, and firms’ websites and internet disruptions, from its Enterprise Surveys, are published here as context. The ICT share of goods exports votes under Mobility & Trade. Digital public services and data-protection law are not held yet. Research and development spending is filed under Education & Knowledge, and what an economy knows how to make is under Economy & Innovation.
How the Digital & Technology standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The digital & technology method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- GovTech Maturity Index — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Government AI Readiness Index — Oxford Insights, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Government Cyber Security Capacity — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports — UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 19 statistics on this page come from 7 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
China’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- China (banner) — Seebeer Edited by Nicholasjf21, Public domain
- Estonia — Andrus Uuetalu derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0 ee
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Singapore — Khairul Nizam ., CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). China: Digital & Technology — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/china/digital