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Topic 02 of 12 · Country Index 2026
China: Economy & Innovation
What does an economy do for the people inside it?
China is placed joint 33rd of 150 countries on economy & innovation in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: GDP per Capita (PPP) 25,067 (2025); Economic Complexity Index 1.271 (2024).
Economy & Innovation
joint33rd
of 150 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place China on economy & innovation — 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 in that edition, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 3
GDP per Capita (PPP)
World Bank Group
Why it is a key: Output per person: the standard measure of an economy's size set against the population it has to support.
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
25,067
GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
Higher is better
China: 25,067. Across the 185 countries in this edition, values run from 1,067 (Burundi) to 139,593 (Singapore); the world median is 17,265.
- World median
- 17,265
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 117,098 Macau
- Land neighbours
- Bhutan 16,744 · Hong Kong 68,725 · India 10,039 · Kazakhstan 37,851 · Kyrgyzstan 7,878 · Laos 8,873 · Macau 117,098 · Myanmar 5,137 · Mongolia 17,773 · Nepal 5,277 · Pakistan 5,617 · Russia 42,358 · Tajikistan 5,062 · Vietnam 15,457
Each grey tick is one of 185 countries in the 2025 edition.
Key 2 of 3
Economic Complexity Index
Growth Lab at Harvard University
Why it is a key: What an economy knows how to make, read from the diversity and rarity of what it exports.
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC0 1.0
1.271
ECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3)
Higher is better
Ranked 10th of 145 by Growth Lab at Harvard University
China: 1.271. Across the 145 countries in this edition, values run from -3.53 (Chad) to 1.729 (Japan); the world median is 0.131.
- World median
- 0.131
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 1.729 Japan
- Land neighbours
- Afghanistan -0.818 · Hong Kong 1.162 · India 0.705 · Kazakhstan 0.363 · Kyrgyzstan 0.212 · Laos -0.703 · Myanmar -0.943 · Mongolia -1.568 · Nepal -0.102 · Pakistan -0.233 · Russia 0.243 · Tajikistan -1.399 · Vietnam 0.672
Each grey tick is one of 145 countries in the 2024 edition.
Key 3 of 3
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution
World Bank Group
Why it is a key: Whether ordinary adults are inside the financial system at all, which output per person does not reveal.
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
89.38
Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+)
Higher is better
China: 89.38. Across the 139 countries in this edition, values run from 14.83 (Niger) to 99.85 (Iceland); the world median is 72.83.
- World median
- 72.83
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 98.52 Japan
- Land neighbours
- Hong Kong 97.31 · India 89.02 · Kazakhstan 87.05 · Kyrgyzstan 72.26 · Laos 37.65 · Mongolia 98.28 · Nepal 59.99 · Pakistan 27.3 · Russia 79.34 · Tajikistan 54.52 · Vietnam 70.55
Each grey tick is one of 139 countries in the 2024 edition.
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.
GDP per Capita (PPP)
GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP) · higher is better
ChinaWorld median
China rose from 4,066 in 2000 to 25,067 in 2025; the world median went from 10,589 to 17,265.
Every year’s figures
Year China World median 2025 25,067 17,265 2024 23,841 18,108 2023 22,687 17,686 2022 21,499 16,933 2021 20,843 16,260 2020 19,215 15,631 2019 18,821 16,761 2018 17,807 16,349 2017 16,758 16,129 2016 15,773 15,512 2015 14,857 14,857 2014 13,969 14,475 2013 13,081 14,681 2012 12,218 14,631 2011 11,405 13,916 2010 10,476 14,101 2009 9,519 13,655 2008 8,744 14,030 2007 8,014 13,755 2006 7,057 12,983 2005 6,298 12,023 2004 5,684 11,608 2003 5,192 11,183 2002 4,744 11,144 2001 4,372 10,907 2000 4,066 10,589 Economic Complexity Index
ECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3) · higher is better
ChinaWorld median
China rose from 0.789 in 2000 to 1.271 in 2024; the world median went from 0.016 to 0.131.
Every year’s figures
Year China World median 2024 1.271 0.1310 2023 1.348 0.0710 2022 1.361 0.0580 2021 1.384 0.0010 2020 1.341 0.0470 2019 1.301 0.0300 2018 1.311 -0.0150 2017 1.295 0.0080 2016 1.294 -0.0660 2015 1.285 -0.0600 2014 1.261 -0.0190 2013 1.209 0.0140 2012 1.210 0.0060 2011 1.176 -0.0140 2010 1.150 -0.0020 2009 1.096 0.0990 2008 1.101 0.0700 2007 1.051 -0.0080 2006 0.983 0.0740 2005 0.955 0.0510 2004 0.931 0.0505 2003 0.877 0.0450 2002 0.847 0.0100 2001 0.823 0.0470 2000 0.789 0.0160 Account Ownership at a Financial Institution
Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+) · higher is better
ChinaWorld median
China rose from 63.82 in 2011 to 89.38 in 2024; the world median went from 37.03 to 72.83.
Every year’s figures
Year China World median 2024 89.4 73 2021 88.7 74 2017 79.5 59 2014 79.0 52 2011 63.8 37
03In context
China beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 150 countries on economy & innovation, never a place within the region.
1st150thNot placed · 74 countries with too few key statisticsNo data
China and the countries it borders
The standing is each country’s place among all 150 placed on the topic; the other columns are the publishers’ own values, read at the edition the standing used.
| Country | Standing | GDP per Capita (PPP)GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP) | Economic Complexity IndexECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3) | Account Ownership at a Financial InstitutionAdults with an account (% of population aged 15+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Hong Kong | =15th | 68,725 | 1.162 | 97.31 |
| China | =33rd | 25,067 | 1.271 | 89.38 |
 Kazakhstan | 47th | 37,851 | 0.363 | 87.05 |
 Russia | 53rd | 42,358 | 0.243 | 79.34 |
 India | 58th | 10,039 | 0.705 | 89.02 |
 Vietnam | 70th | 15,457 | 0.672 | 70.55 |
 Mongolia | 72nd | 17,773 | -1.568 | 98.28 |
 Kyrgyzstan | 80th | 7,878 | 0.212 | 72.26 |
 Nepal | 104th | 5,277 | -0.102 | 59.99 |
 Laos | 119th | 8,873 | -0.703 | 37.65 |
 Pakistan | =120th | 5,617 | -0.233 | 27.3 |
 Myanmar | 123rd | 5,137 | -0.943 | — |
 Tajikistan | 127th | 5,062 | -1.399 | 54.52 |
 Afghanistan | not placed | — | -0.818 | — |
 Bhutan | not placed | 16,744 | — | — |
 Macau | not placed | 117,098 | — | — |
 North Korea | not placed | — | — | — |
“—” means the publisher gives no reading for that country in that edition. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed.
Across Eastern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 150.
Placed either side on economy & innovation
The countries immediately above and below China in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where China is ahead of the world, and behind
36 more statistics filed under economy & innovation, 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 median20
Statistics on which China does better than the middle country measured.
Liner Shipping Connectivity IndexUNCTAD · 2026 · world median 56.211,31956.21No real change since 2016
China: 1,319 · world median 56.21 · LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 4.13 to 1,319; higher is better.
Ranked 1st of 175 by UNCTAD.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 1.0501.05▲ Improved since 2012
China: 0 · world median 1.05 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 81.36; lower is better.
Position 71st of 71 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Poverty Gap at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 0.4200.42▲ Improved since 2012
China: 0 · world median 0.42 · Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 44.72; lower is better.
Position 69th of 69 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Government AI Readiness IndexOxford Insights · 2025 · world median 40.1976.2740.19▲ Improved since 2020
China: 76.27 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.
Ranked 8th of 195 by Oxford Insights.
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 here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
External Debt Stocks (% of GNI)World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 43.941343.94▲ Improved since 2014
China: 13 · world median 43.94 · External debt stocks (% of GNI). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 2.213 to 350.57; lower is better.
Position 104th of 110 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Global Innovation IndexWorld Intellectual Property Organization · 2025 · world median 28.5256.5628.52No real change since 2022
China: 56.56 · world median 28.52 · GII score (0–100). World Intellectual Property Organization, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.94 to 65.96; higher is better.
Ranked 10th of 139 by World Intellectual Property Organization.
Cereal YieldFAO · 2023 · world median 3,0726,4183,072No real change since 2013
China: 6,418 · world median 3,072 · Cereal yield (kg per hectare). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 23 to 29,147; higher is better.
Position 20th of 179 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Logistics Performance IndexWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 2.93.72.9No real change since 2014
China: 3.7 · world median 2.9 · LPI score (1–5). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.9 to 4.3; higher is better.
Ranked 19th of 139 by World Bank Group.
Research and Development SpendingUIS · 2023 · world median 0.8142.5770.814No real change since 2013
China: 2.577 · world median 0.814 · Gross domestic expenditure on R&D (% of GDP). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.006 to 6.346; higher is better.
Position 15th of 84 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Adjusted Net SavingsWorld Bank Group · 2021 · world median 8.38916.338.389▼ Worsened since 2011
China: 16.33 · world median 8.389 · Adjusted net savings, including particulate emission damage (% of GNI). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from -81.62 to 32.18; higher is better.
Position 28th of 118 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
GDP GrowthWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.3964.963.396▼ Worsened since 2015
China: 4.96 · world median 3.396 · GDP growth (annual %). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -5.847 to 19.34; higher is better.
Position 47th of 186 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Debt Service on External DebtWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 12.938.59312.93▼ Worsened since 2014
China: 8.593 · world median 12.93 · Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.285 to 96.2; lower is better.
Position 81st of 109 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Crop Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.23111.85106.23▲ Improved since 2012
China: 111.85 · world median 106.23 · Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 53.79 to 189.93; higher is better.
Position 68th of 195 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Food Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.08111.75106.08▲ Improved since 2012
China: 111.75 · world median 106.08 · Food production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 71.08 to 177.49; higher is better.
Position 75th of 195 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.670.609▲ Improved since 2013
China: 0.67 · world median 0.609 · IHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.226 to 0.923; higher is better.
Position 67th of 169 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Income Share Held by Lowest 20%World Bank Group · 2022 · world median 7.087.37.08▲ Improved since 2012
China: 7.3 · world median 7.08 · Share of national income held by the poorest fifth (%). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 3.22 to 10.36; higher is better.
Position 32nd of 73 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Livestock Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 107.06109.5107.06No real change since 2012
China: 109.5 · world median 107.06 · Livestock production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 35.52 to 190.08; higher is better.
Position 87th of 194 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
World Energy Trilemma IndexWorld Energy Council · 2023 · world median 63.864.463.8No earlier reading
China: 64.4 · world median 63.8 · Trilemma score (0–100). World Energy Council, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 27.7 to 83.2; higher is better.
Ranked 47th of 99 by World Energy Council.
Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median -0.09-0.071-0.09No real change since 2014
China: -0.071 · world median -0.09 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -2.035 to 2.132; higher is better.
Position 103rd of 209 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Behind the world median3
Statistics on which China does worse than the middle country measured.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 10.7916.1410.79▲ Improved since 2012
China: 16.14 · world median 10.79 · Population below $8.30 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0.04 to 96.28; lower is better.
Position 35th of 73 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Prosperity GapWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 2.1182.4042.118▲ Improved since 2012
China: 2.404 · world median 2.118 · Average factor incomes must rise by to reach $28 a day. World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0.43 to 24.43; lower is better.
Position 35th of 73 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Gini IndexWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 33.9136.0233.91▲ Improved since 2012
China: 36.02 · world median 33.91 · Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 24.08 to 54.82; lower is better.
Position 30th of 73 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
No better end13
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Container Port TrafficUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 1,827,788299,703,8001,827,788No real change since 2014
China: 299,703,800 · world median 1,827,788 · Container port traffic (TEU, twenty-foot equivalent units). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 17,263 to 299,703,800.
Position 1st of 103 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Gross Savings (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 22.0642.7222.06Moved since 2014
China: 42.72 · world median 22.06 · Gross savings (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -21.13 to 47.82.
Position 4th of 146 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 11.2624.7311.26Moved since 2015
China: 24.73 · world median 11.26 · Manufacturing value added (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.481 to 43.97.
Position 7th of 132 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Fertilizer Consumption per HectareFAO · 2023 · world median 87.36394.0287.36No real change since 2013
China: 394.02 · world median 87.36 · Fertilizer consumption (kg per hectare of arable land). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 2,926.
Position 11th of 188 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Industry Value Added including Construction (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 24.6535.6424.65Moved since 2015
China: 35.64 · world median 24.65 · Industry, including construction, value added (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.228 to 75.09.
Position 25th of 158 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Agricultural LandFAO · 2023 · world median 37.9655.4337.96No real change since 2013
China: 55.43 · world median 37.96 · Agricultural land (% of land area). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.445 to 86.48.
Position 47th of 209 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6.5726.6596.572Moved since 2015
China: 6.659 · world median 6.572 · Agriculture, forestry and fishing value added (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.025 to 47.59.
Position 79th of 158 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 1.7081.7081.708Moved since 2011
China: 1.708 · world median 1.708 · Natural resources rents (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.03.
Position 99th of 180 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Livestock DensityFAO · 2023 · world median 0.5350.510.535Moved since 2013
China: 0.51 · world median 0.535 · Livestock units per hectare of agricultural land. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 43.97.
Position 99th of 188 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 36.3421.0736.34Moved since 2015
China: 21.07 · world median 36.34 · Exports of goods and services (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.103 to 199.76.
Position 110th of 138 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Trade (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 79.6837.9679.68Moved since 2015
China: 37.96 · world median 79.68 · Exports plus imports (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.382 to 396.65.
Position 122nd of 138 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 41.7216.8941.72Moved since 2015
China: 16.89 · world median 41.72 · Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.279 to 196.89.
Position 129th of 138 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Net Official Development Assistance ReceivedOECD Development Assistance Committee · 2023 · world median 2.579-0.0012.579No real change since 2013
China: -0.001 · world median 2.579 · Net ODA received (% of GNI). OECD Development Assistance Committee, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -0.001 to 101.78.
Position 130th of 130 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
No current reading for China
Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, General Government Consumption (last 2024), GNI per Capita (PPP) (last 2021), Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP) (last 2024), Household Consumption (last 2024) and Public Sector Wage Bill. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
05Country Index 2026
Economy & Innovation among China’s 12 topics
Economy & Innovation is China’s 3rd best-placed topic of 12. Strongest first; each marker sits at the position divided by that topic’s field, so fields of different sizes compare fairly.
- Mobility & Connectivity4th of 1473/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing43rd of 2013/4 keys
- Economy & Innovationjoint 33rd of 1503/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge47th of 1823/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital51st of 1943/3 keys
- Work & Labour60th of 1824/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions81st of 1935/5 keys
- Gender & Equality81st of 1783/3 keys
- Peace & Security102nd of 1773/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainability107th of 1613/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience159th of 1913/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties179th of 1983/3 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on economy & innovation
The three countries placed highest of 150, and the leaders China can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 150 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
SwitzerlandWestern Europe
2nd of 150 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Simon Koopmann derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 2.0 de, greyscale
3
AustriaWestern Europe
3rd of 150 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Singapore4th3/3 keysHighest in Eastern Asia
Japan12th3/3 keysThis page
China=33rd3/3 keys
Positions out of 150 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 economy & innovation
China · Economy & Innovation
China Leads Global High-Technology Exports
The world’s ten largest high-technology exporters as a treemap, with the rest of the world beside them. Each country’s figure is its own most recent year, between 2022 and 2024.
On economy & innovation
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita. India is the better placed on five of them; Pakistan on one.
On economy & innovation
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
08Questions
China on economy & innovation: 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 economy & innovation?
China is placed joint 33rd of 150 countries on Economy & Innovation in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (GDP per Capita (PPP), Economic Complexity Index and Account Ownership at a Financial Institution). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest GDP per Capita (PPP) figure for China?
25,067 in 2025 (gDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 17,265.
What is the latest Economic Complexity Index figure for China?
1.271 in 2024 (eCI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3)), according to Growth Lab at Harvard University. The world median in the same edition was 0.131.
How does China compare with India on economy & innovation?
India is placed 58th of 150, and China joint 33rd. GDP per Capita (PPP): India 10,039, China 25,067; Economic Complexity Index: India 0.705, China 1.271; Account Ownership at a Financial Institution: India 89.02, China 89.38.
How have China’s economy & innovation figures changed?
GDP per Capita (PPP) rose from 4,066 in 2000 to 25,067 in 2025; Economic Complexity Index rose from 0.789 in 2000 to 1.271 in 2024; Account Ownership at a Financial Institution rose from 63.82 in 2011 to 89.38 in 2024.
Which economy & innovation statistics are missing for China?
No current reading is published for China on Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, General Government Consumption, GNI per Capita (PPP), Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP), Household Consumption and Public Sector Wage Bill. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Keep reading
Explore further
China, topic by topic
- Governance & Institutions81st of 193
- Work & Labour60th of 182
- Education & Knowledge47th of 182
- Health & Wellbeing43rd of 201
- Development & Human Capital51st of 194
- Environment & Sustainability107th of 161
- Gender & Equality81st of 178
- Democracy & Civil Liberties179th of 198
- Peace & Security102nd of 177
- Risk & Resilience159th of 191
- Mobility & Connectivity4th of 147
- The full China profile
Nearby, on economy & innovation
New ZealandPlaced just above32nd
PolandPlaced just below=33rd- AfghanistanShares a bordernot placed
- BhutanShares a bordernot placed
- Hong KongShares a border=15th
- IndiaShares a border58th
- KazakhstanShares a border47th
- KyrgyzstanShares a border80th
- LaosShares a border119th
- MacauShares a bordernot placed
- MyanmarShares a border123rd
- MongoliaShares a border72nd
- NepalShares a border104th
- PakistanShares a border=120th
- North KoreaShares a bordernot placed
- RussiaShares a border53rd
- TajikistanShares a border127th
- VietnamShares a border70th
- Every country on economy & innovation
The key statistics, for every country
10Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
The total size of an economy is deliberately left out: a very large economy spread over a very large population is not doing more for each person. Growth rates, trade shares and the structure of output (how much is farming, industry or services) are published here as context, because they describe an economy's shape rather than how well it serves people. Jobs and wages have their own topic, Work & Labour.
How the Economy & Innovation standing is decided, step by step
A standing is a place in a list, not a mark out of anything. This one is part of the Country Index 2026, and it is worked out like this.
- A few key indicators decide it; the rest are context. 3 indicators on this topic are keys and 44 are charted alongside them without a vote. That split is the point: if every statistic voted, importing five more of one kind would quietly change what the topic is about.
- Each key is read at one edition. ⚠ The keys behind this standing do not all describe the same year — they run from 2024 to 2025, because publishers release on their own schedules. Read the standing as “how this country places now”, not as a snapshot of one year.
- Every country’s published value is turned into a place within that one key’s own field, and then expressed as a share of that field — how far down this key’s list the country sits, rather than how many countries are above it. Keys where a higher published number is worse (terrorism, hunger, disaster risk) are turned round first, so the good end is always the same end.
- Dividing by the field first is the whole reason this works. A place carries the size of its list inside it: 22nd of 44 and 108th of 215 are the same showing, and averaging the numbers 22 and 108 says loudly that they are not. Fields on this site run from about 44 countries to about 215, so averaging raw places would reward a country for happening to be measured in small ones. Dividing each place by its own field removes the size and leaves only the showing.
- The shares are averaged, plainly. One key, one vote — no key is weighted above another, because any weighting would be this site’s opinion presented as a measurement. Countries are then put in order by that average, and the average itself is never published. It is our arithmetic with nothing anchoring it, so printing it would invite it to be read as a measurement somebody made. The position it produces, the band, and the keys it was built from are all published instead — every one of them checkable against the tables on this page.
- A country needs 2 of this topic’s 3 keys — half, rounded up, and never fewer than 2. A standing built from one reading, printed beside one built from four, is two different things sharing a column heading. 150 countries clear the bar here.
- A key has to earn its vote every edition. It must measure at least 120 countries (below that it starts measuring who was surveyed rather than the world), it must not have more than 10% of its field tied at either end, and it must not repeat another key in the same topic — Spearman correlation above 0.92 counts as repeating. A topic needs at least 2 surviving keys to place anyone at all; this one has 3.
- A standing is relative, and the grouping is ours. It says where a country places against the others measured alongside it, so it moves when they move. The publishers listed on this page did not agree to be read together, and each measures its subject its own way: the underlying numbers are theirs, the ordering on top is this site’s — the same method as the rest of the Country Index, applied to one subject instead of all of them.
The key statistics and their licences
- GDP per Capita (PPP) — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Economic Complexity Index — Growth Lab at Harvard University, CC0 1.0
- Account Ownership at a Financial Institution — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
The other 36 statistics on this page come from 9 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
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Switzerland — Simon Koopmann derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 2.0 de
- Austria — chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). China: Economy & Innovation — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/china/economy