Photo: Seebeer Edited by Nicholasjf21 · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 12 of 18 · Country Index 2026
China: Mobility & Trade
How connected is a country to the rest of the world?
China is placed 9th of 177 countries on mobility & trade in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Liner Shipping Connectivity Index 1,313 (2025); Container Import Dwell Time 4 (2024).
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Mobility & Trade
9th
of 177 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place China on mobility & trade — 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.
Key 1 of 4
Liner Shipping Connectivity Index
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
1,313
LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100)
Higher is better
Ranked 1st of 177 by UNCTAD
China: 1,313. Across the 168 countries in this edition, values run from 4.13 (Turks and Caicos Islands) to 1,313 (China); the world median is 60.84.
- World median
- 60.84
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 1,313 China
- Land neighbours
- Hong Kong 337.4 · India 399.12 · Myanmar 37.01 · Pakistan 150.9 · Russia 175.52 · Vietnam 463.83
4
Median days a full import container waits in port
Lower is better
China: 4. Across the 156 countries in this edition, values run from 1 (Gibraltar) to 21.6 (Haiti); the world median is 4.4.
- World median
- 4.4
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 1.4 Macau
- Land neighbours
- Hong Kong 2.7 · India 3 · Macau 1.4 · Myanmar 10.2 · Pakistan 6.1 · Vietnam 3.6
3.7
LPI score (1–5)
Higher is better
Ranked 19th of 139 by World Bank Group
China: 3.7. Across the 139 countries in this edition, values run from 1.9 (Afghanistan) to 4.3 (Singapore); the world median is 2.9.
- World median
- 2.9
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 4 Hong Kong
- Land neighbours
- Afghanistan 1.9 · Bhutan 2.5 · Hong Kong 4 · India 3.4 · Kazakhstan 2.7 · Kyrgyzstan 2.3 · Laos 2.4 · Mongolia 2.5 · Russia 2.6 · Tajikistan 2.5 · Vietnam 3.3
Key 4 of 4
ICT Goods Exports
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
21.32
ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports)
Higher is better
China: 21.32. Across the 120 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Gambia) to 61.45 (Hong Kong); the world median is 0.975.
- World median
- 0.975
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 61.45 Hong Kong
- Land neighbours
- Hong Kong 61.45 · India 5.71 · Kazakhstan 0.87 · Kyrgyzstan 2.76 · Macau 19.61 · Myanmar 0.97 · Pakistan 0.06
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.
Liner Shipping Connectivity Index
LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100) · higher is better
ChinaWorld median
China rose from 749.38 in 2006 to 1,319 in 2026; the world median went from 52.25 to 56.21.
Every year’s figures
Year China World median 2026 1,319 56.21 2025 1,313 60.84 2024 1,250 55.22 2023 1,193 54.78 2022 1,176 51.49 2021 1,115 52.64 2020 1,030 47.86 2019 1,004 51.05 2018 991 52.03 2017 952 49.87 2016 900 48.09 2015 925 49.13 2014 895 48.08 2013 892 51.32 2012 908 47.44 2011 903 50.26 2010 887 50.51 2009 790 53.04 2008 823 51.68 2007 824 55.78 2006 749 52.25 Logistics Performance Index
LPI score (1–5) · higher is better
ChinaWorld median
China rose from 3.322 in 2007 to 3.7 in 2023; the world median went from 2.529 to 2.9.
Every year’s figures
Year China World median 2023 3.70 2.900 2018 3.61 2.706 2016 3.66 2.734 2014 3.53 2.753 2012 3.52 2.773 2010 3.49 2.746 2007 3.32 2.529 ICT Goods Exports
ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports) · higher is better
ChinaWorld median
China rose from 17.53 in 2000 to 21.32 in 2024; the world median went from 0.43 to 0.975.
Every year’s figures
Year China World median 2024 21.32 0.975000 2023 21.34 0.690000 2022 22.64 0.565000 2021 24.71 0.550000 2020 26.16 0.680000 2019 25.51 0.625000 2018 26.61 0.480000 2017 26.32 0.630000 2016 25.67 0.865000 2015 25.60 0.790000 2014 25.08 0.760000 2013 26.68 0.645000 2012 26.17 0.630000 2011 25.27 0.535000 2010 27.50 0.560000 2009 28.74 0.780000 2008 26.86 0.595000 2007 28.88 0.660000 2006 30.43 0.445000 2005 30.52 0.570000 2004 29.80 0.535000 2003 27.53 0.530000 2002 23.86 0.510000 2001 19.85 0.490000 2000 17.53 0.430000
03In context
China beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 177 countries on mobility & trade, never a place within the region.
China and the countries it borders
Standing among all 177; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Liner Shipping Connectivity IndexLSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100) | Container Import Dwell TimeMedian days a full import container waits in port | Logistics Performance IndexLPI score (1–5) | ICT Goods ExportsICT goods exports (% of total goods exports) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Macau | 2nd | — | 1.4 | — | 19.61 |
 Hong Kong | 3rd | 337.4 | 2.7 | 4 | 61.45 |
| China | 9th | 1,313 | 4 | 3.7 | 21.32 |
 Indiacompare | 15th | 399.12 | 3 | 3.4 | 5.71 |
 Vietnam | 29th | 463.83 | 3.6 | 3.3 | — |
 Russiacompare | 62nd | 175.52 | — | 2.6 | — |
 Kazakhstan | 99th | — | — | 2.7 | 0.87 |
 Pakistancompare | 107th | 150.9 | 6.1 | — | 0.06 |
 Kyrgyzstan | 120th | — | — | 2.3 | 2.76 |
 Myanmar | =136th | 37.01 | 10.2 | — | 0.97 |
 Afghanistan | not placed | — | — | 1.9 | — |
 Bhutan | not placed | — | — | 2.5 | — |
 Laos | not placed | — | — | 2.4 | — |
 Mongolia | not placed | — | — | 2.5 | — |
 Nepal | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 North Korea | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Tajikistan | not placed | — | — | 2.5 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 177.
Placed either side on mobility & trade
The countries immediately above and below China in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where China is ahead of the world, and behind
29 more statistics filed under mobility & trade, 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 median4
Statistics on which China does better than the middle country measured.
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.
Digitally-Deliverable Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 25.4250.4725.42▼ Worsened since 2014
China: 50.47 · world median 25.42 · Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.377 to 87.15; higher is better.
Position 34th of 170 · derived.
Average Time to Clear Exports Through CustomsWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 4.4563.1494.456No earlier reading
China: 3.149 · world median 4.456 · Average time to clear exports through customs (days). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 27.46; lower is better.
Position 123rd of 174 · derived, 1st = worst.
Cost of Sending RemittancesWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 3.2252.8263.225▲ Improved since 2016
China: 2.826 · world median 3.225 · Average cost of sending $200 home (% of the amount). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -49.69 to 19.63; lower is better.
Position 51st of 93 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median4
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.
FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness IndexOECD · 2024 · world median 0.0790.2270.079▼ Worsened since 2018
China: 0.227 · world median 0.079 · FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index (0 = open, 1 = closed). OECD, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.567; lower is better.
Position 18th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Inbound Mobility Rate, TertiaryUIS · 2024 · world median 5.4940.325.494▼ Worsened since 2014
China: 0.32 · world median 5.494 · Inbound mobility rate, tertiary (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 87.12; higher is better.
Position 71st of 75 · derived.
Freedom of Foreign MovementV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 1.2-1.4761.2▼ Worsened since 2015
China: -1.476 · world median 1.2 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +2.9); higher = freer movement. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.642 to 2.727; higher is better.
Position 170th of 176 · derived.
No better end21
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, counted from the highest value.
EmigrantsUN DESA Population Division · 2024 · world median 444,45111,701,619444,451No real change since 2015
China: 11,701,619 · world median 444,451 · Migrants from the country living abroad, mid-year (people). UN DESA Population Division, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 313 to 18,533,845.
Merchant Fleet by Country of OwnershipUNCTAD · 2026 · world median 275.73377,047275.73No real change since 2016
China: 377,047 · world median 275.73 · Merchant fleet owned (thousand dead-weight tons). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 397,071.
Creative Goods ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 1.2356.0811.235Moved since 2014
China: 6.081 · world median 1.235 · Creative goods exports (% of merchandise exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.23.
Creative Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 6.17116.166.171Moved since 2014
China: 16.16 · world median 6.171 · Creative services exports (% of services exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.002 to 63.91.
International MigrantsUN DESA Population Division · 2024 · world median 223,3231,638,718223,323No real change since 2015
China: 1,638,718 · world median 223,323 · International migrants living in the country, mid-year (people). UN DESA Population Division, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 246 to 52,375,047.
Net Migration RateUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median -0.133-0.399-0.133Moved since 2013
China: -0.399 · world median -0.133 · Net migrants per 1,000 population. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -61.68 to 39.62.
Tariff Rate, Applied, Weighted Mean, All ProductsWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 3.662.183.66Moved since 2014
China: 2.18 · world median 3.66 · Applied tariff rate, trade-weighted mean (%). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 29.52.
Asylum-Seekers by Country of AsylumUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · 2025 · world median 1,8364821,836Moved since 2015
China: 482 · world median 1,836 · Asylum-seekers awaiting a decision, end of year (people). UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 3,718,945.
Foreign Value Added Share of Gross ExportsOECD · 2022 · world median 27.4116.9927.41Moved since 2012
China: 16.99 · world median 27.41 · Foreign value added (% of gross exports). OECD, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 4.491 to 66.08.
Cereal Import Dependency RatioFAO · 2022 · world median 42.89.242.8Moved since 2012
China: 9.2 · world median 42.8 · Share of the cereal supply that is imported (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from -1,894 to 100.
Refugee Population by Country of AsylumUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · 2025 · world median 12,26923012,269Moved since 2015
China: 230 · world median 12,269 · Refugees under UNHCR's mandate hosted, end of year (people). UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 2,655,191.
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, counted from the highest value.
Outbound Mobility Ratio, TertiaryUIS · 2023 · world median 5.2791.8115.279Moved since 2013
China: 1.811 · world median 5.279 · Outbound mobility ratio, tertiary (% of tertiary enrolment at home). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.333 to 1,724.
Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 9.6022.6039.602Moved since 2015
China: 2.603 · world median 9.602 · Services exports (% of GDP). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.085 to 166.21.
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, counted from the highest value.
Terms of Trade IndexUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 103.2382.52103.23Moved since 2015
China: 82.52 · world median 103.23 · Terms of trade index (2015 = 100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 38.2 to 1,448.
Export Concentration IndexUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 0.3060.0930.306Moved since 2015
China: 0.093 · world median 0.306 · Export concentration index (0–1, normalised Herfindahl–Hirschman). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.059 to 0.933.
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, counted from the highest value.
International Migrants as a Share of PopulationUN DESA Population Division · 2024 · world median 6.0890.1156.089No real change since 2015
China: 0.115 · world median 6.089 · International migrants (% of population). UN DESA Population Division, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 100.
Commodity Export DependenceUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 67.176.2967.17No real change since 2014
China: 6.29 · world median 67.17 · Commodity exports (% of merchandise exports, three-year average). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.605 to 99.77.
“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
Mobility & Trade among China’s 16 topics
Mobility & Trade is China’s 2nd 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 mobility & trade
The three countries placed highest of 177, and the leaders China can most readily be measured against.
1
SingaporeSouth-eastern Asia
1st of 177 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Khairul Nizam . · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
2MacauEastern Asia
2nd of 177 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3Hong KongEastern Asia
3rd of 177 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Base64 and Derivative work by Globe-trotter · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Singapore1st4/4 keysHighest in Eastern Asia
Macau2nd2/4 keysThis page
China9th4/4 keys
Positions out of 177 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 mobility & trade
China · Mobility & Trade
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 mobility & trade
The World’s Safest Airlines for 2025
The eleven safest airlines of 2025, each beside the country it is based in, and the nine things the grading looks at. Three airlines share third place, and the publisher gives an order but no score.
On mobility & trade
The world’s most powerful passports for 2025
Sixteen passports, their mobility scores, and the visa-free, visa-on-arrival and visa-required split behind each. Fourteen share third place while differing in how they reach it.
08Questions
China on mobility & trade: 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 mobility & trade?
China is placed 9th of 177 countries on Mobility & Trade in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Liner Shipping Connectivity Index, Container Import Dwell Time, Logistics Performance Index and ICT Goods Exports). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Liner Shipping Connectivity Index figure for China?
1,313 in 2025 (lSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100)), according to UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The world median in the same edition was 60.84.
What is the latest Container Import Dwell Time figure for China?
4 in 2024 (median days a full import container waits in port), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 4.4.
How does China compare with India on mobility & trade?
India is placed 15th of 177, and China 9th. Liner Shipping Connectivity Index: India 399.12, China 1,313; Container Import Dwell Time: India 3, China 4; Logistics Performance Index: India 3.4, China 3.7; ICT Goods Exports: India 5.71, China 21.32.
How have China’s mobility & trade figures changed?
Liner Shipping Connectivity Index rose from 749.38 in 2006 to 1,319 in 2026; Logistics Performance Index rose from 3.322 in 2007 to 3.7 in 2023; ICT Goods Exports rose from 17.53 in 2000 to 21.32 in 2024.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Passport strength and freedom of movement for people are not measured with a key, because the data behind passport rankings is not licensed for reuse here. Trade as a share of the economy, remittance costs and student mobility are published here as context.
How the Mobility & Trade 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 mobility & trade method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Liner Shipping Connectivity Index — UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Container Import Dwell Time — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Logistics Performance Index — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- ICT Goods Exports — UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 29 statistics on this page come from 8 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
- Singapore — Khairul Nizam ., CC BY 2.0
- Macau — Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hong Kong — Base64 and Derivative work by Globe-trotter, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). China: Mobility & Trade — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/china/mobility