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Last updated: April 23, 2025
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  • The oldest tea forests in the world are on Jingmai Mountain in southwestern China in the Yunnan Province. For over a thousand years, the Blang and Dai people have maintained the forests and produced tea using practices begun in the 10th century. The tea forests were designated a UNESCO site in 2023.

    The oldest tea forests in the world are on Jingmai Mountain in southwestern China in the Yunnan Province. For over a thousand years, the Blang and Dai people have maintained the forests and produced tea using practices begun in the 10th century. The tea forests were designated a UNESCO site in 2023.

  • The Tiananmen or Gate of Heavenly Peace is a monumental gate in the center of Beijing, China; it is frequently used as a national symbol of China. First built in 1420, Tiananmen was the entrance to the Imperial City, where the Forbidden City is located.

    The Tiananmen or Gate of Heavenly Peace is a monumental gate in the center of Beijing, China; it is frequently used as a national symbol of China. First built in 1420, Tiananmen was the entrance to the Imperial City, where the Forbidden City is located.

  • The Hall of Supreme Harmony as seen from the Inner Courtyard of the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. The Hall was destroyed by fire seven times and was last rebuilt in 1695-97. Many buildings in the Forbidden City were built from precious woods and marble, with golden bricks used for floors.

    The Hall of Supreme Harmony as seen from the Inner Courtyard of the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. The Hall was destroyed by fire seven times and was last rebuilt in 1695-97. Many buildings in the Forbidden City were built from precious woods and marble, with golden bricks used for floors.

  • The Palace of Heavenly Purity is the largest of three halls in the Inner Court of the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. It served as the audience hall during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912).

    The Palace of Heavenly Purity is the largest of three halls in the Inner Court of the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. It served as the audience hall during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912).

  • The Summer Palace is a vast ensemble of lakes, gardens, and palaces in Beijing, China. It was an imperial garden during the Qing dynasty (1644-1912). This view shows a folly on the grounds.

    The Summer Palace is a vast ensemble of lakes, gardens, and palaces in Beijing, China. It was an imperial garden during the Qing dynasty (1644-1912). This view shows a folly on the grounds.

  • The Tower of Buddhist Incense rises over the Temple of Buddhist Virtue at the Summer Palace in Beijing, China. The Palace -- called "the Gardens of Nurtured Harmony" in Chinese -- was a summer resort for the imperial family. It consists of palaces, gardens, a lake, and a hill. Gardens have been at the site since the 12th century; construction of the Summer Palace began in 1750.

    The Tower of Buddhist Incense rises over the Temple of Buddhist Virtue at the Summer Palace in Beijing, China. The Palace -- called "the Gardens of Nurtured Harmony" in Chinese -- was a summer resort for the imperial family. It consists of palaces, gardens, a lake, and a hill. Gardens have been at the site since the 12th century; construction of the Summer Palace began in 1750.

  • Ruins of European-style palaces at the Old Summer Palace, 8 km (5 mi) northwest of the Imperial City section of Beijing, China. The complex of palaces and gardens was originally referred to as the Imperial Gardens. Constructed throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries, the Old Summer Palace was the main imperial residence of the emperor. Widely perceived as the pinnacle of Chinese imperial garden and palace design, the Old Summer Palace was destroyed in 1860 during the Second Opium War.

    Ruins of European-style palaces at the Old Summer Palace, 8 km (5 mi) northwest of the Imperial City section of Beijing, China. The complex of palaces and gardens was originally referred to as the Imperial Gardens. Constructed throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries, the Old Summer Palace was the main imperial residence of the emperor. Widely perceived as the pinnacle of Chinese imperial garden and palace design, the Old Summer Palace was destroyed in 1860 during the Second Opium War.

  • The Tower of Buddhist Incense at the Summer Palace in Beijing, China.

    The Tower of Buddhist Incense at the Summer Palace in Beijing, China.

  • The Drum Tower in Beijing, China, was built in 1272 and rebuilt twice after fires. It originally contained one large drum and 24 smaller drums that were used to keep track of time. The Drum Tower is 47 m high and located to the north of the Forbidden City.

    The Drum Tower in Beijing, China, was built in 1272 and rebuilt twice after fires. It originally contained one large drum and 24 smaller drums that were used to keep track of time. The Drum Tower is 47 m high and located to the north of the Forbidden City.

  • The Marble Boat, which is also known as The Boat of Purity and Ease, is a wooden pavilion in the shape of a paddle steamer that is painted to imitate marble, located at the Summer Palace in Beijing, China. It was originally built in 1755, but it was destroyed in 1860 during the Second Opium War and reconstructed in 1893.

    The Marble Boat, which is also known as The Boat of Purity and Ease, is a wooden pavilion in the shape of a paddle steamer that is painted to imitate marble, located at the Summer Palace in Beijing, China. It was originally built in 1755, but it was destroyed in 1860 during the Second Opium War and reconstructed in 1893.

  • Section of the Long Corridor, a covered walkway at the Summer Palace in Beijing, China. The 18th-century corridor is famous for its great length (728 m), which is used to display over 14,000 paintings.

    Section of the Long Corridor, a covered walkway at the Summer Palace in Beijing, China. The 18th-century corridor is famous for its great length (728 m), which is used to display over 14,000 paintings.

  • The Monument to the People's Heroes in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. Constructed in 1958, it commemorates those who fought in revolutions from 1840 to 1949.

    The Monument to the People's Heroes in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. Constructed in 1958, it commemorates those who fought in revolutions from 1840 to 1949.

  • The National Museum of China on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. Completed in 1959, the museum's mission is to educate about the arts and history of China.

    The National Museum of China on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. Completed in 1959, the museum's mission is to educate about the arts and history of China.

  • The Mao Zedong Mausoleum (or Chairman Mao Memorial Hall) was constructed in 1977 on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. Mao's body lies in a crystal casket for public viewing.

    The Mao Zedong Mausoleum (or Chairman Mao Memorial Hall) was constructed in 1977 on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. Mao's body lies in a crystal casket for public viewing.

  • Revolutionary monument in front of Chairman Mao Zedong Mausoleum on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China.

    Revolutionary monument in front of Chairman Mao Zedong Mausoleum on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China.

  • The Ming Dynasty Tombs are located some 50 km (30 mi) north of Beijing. The archway leading to the Sacred Way and the tombs dates to 1540; it is the earliest and largest stone archway in China.

    The Ming Dynasty Tombs are located some 50 km (30 mi) north of Beijing. The archway leading to the Sacred Way and the tombs dates to 1540; it is the earliest and largest stone archway in China.

  • A crenellated walkway on top of the Great Wall of China. The Wall stretched for thousands of miles linking fortresses.

    A crenellated walkway on top of the Great Wall of China. The Wall stretched for thousands of miles linking fortresses.

  • The Huanghuacheng (Lakeside) section of the Great Wall of China derives its name from the man-made reservoir lakes nearby. The section, which is less visited than the main tourist sections at Mutianyu and Badaling, has a sweeping view, with a steep hike to a high guard tower.

    The Huanghuacheng (Lakeside) section of the Great Wall of China derives its name from the man-made reservoir lakes nearby. The section, which is less visited than the main tourist sections at Mutianyu and Badaling, has a sweeping view, with a steep hike to a high guard tower.

  • The 12-story wooden pagoda at Shibaozhai in Chongqing, China. The first nine stories were constructed in the 1819; three more were added in 1956.

    The 12-story wooden pagoda at Shibaozhai in Chongqing, China. The first nine stories were constructed in the 1819; three more were added in 1956.

  • The Grand Theater in Shanghai, the largest city in China with over 20 million citizens. Shanghai is the largest center of commerce and investment in China, as well as a popular tourist destination. The distinctive tall building in the background, Tomorrow Square, houses a hotel and apartment units.

    The Grand Theater in Shanghai, the largest city in China with over 20 million citizens. Shanghai is the largest center of commerce and investment in China, as well as a popular tourist destination. The distinctive tall building in the background, Tomorrow Square, houses a hotel and apartment units.

  • The Shanghai Museum of Ancient Art was founded in 1952 in the clubhouse of the former Shanghai Racecourse. A new building -- constructed in the form of an ancient bronze cooking vessel called a "ding" -- was opened in 1996 on People's Square. It houses some 120,000 items including bronzes, ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, furniture, jades, ancient coins, seals, and sculptures.

    The Shanghai Museum of Ancient Art was founded in 1952 in the clubhouse of the former Shanghai Racecourse. A new building -- constructed in the form of an ancient bronze cooking vessel called a "ding" -- was opened in 1996 on People's Square. It houses some 120,000 items including bronzes, ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, furniture, jades, ancient coins, seals, and sculptures.

  • Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai, China, dates to the Ming Dynasty (14th-17th centuries) and contains two hectares (five acres) of delicate pavilions, winding paths, caves, grottoes, and a 14 m (46 ft) artificial mountain.

    Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai, China, dates to the Ming Dynasty (14th-17th centuries) and contains two hectares (five acres) of delicate pavilions, winding paths, caves, grottoes, and a 14 m (46 ft) artificial mountain.

  • The mosque in downtown Urumqi, Xinjiang Province, China, was built in 1919. One of the most beautiful parts of the structure is its prayer hall, decorated with glazed tiles in colorful patterns of flowers and plants.

    The mosque in downtown Urumqi, Xinjiang Province, China, was built in 1919. One of the most beautiful parts of the structure is its prayer hall, decorated with glazed tiles in colorful patterns of flowers and plants.

  • The ruins of Jiaohe in the Yarnaz Valley 10 km (6 mi) west of Turpan, China. An important site along the Silk Road, the city was situated on an islet in the middle of a river, which served as a natural barrier and enabled the city to be built without walls. From 108 B.C. to A.D. 450, it was the capital of the Anterior Jushi Kingdom; later, it became a prefecture capital until the Mongols destroyed it in the 13th century.

    The ruins of Jiaohe in the Yarnaz Valley 10 km (6 mi) west of Turpan, China. An important site along the Silk Road, the city was situated on an islet in the middle of a river, which served as a natural barrier and enabled the city to be built without walls. From 108 B.C. to A.D. 450, it was the capital of the Anterior Jushi Kingdom; later, it became a prefecture capital until the Mongols destroyed it in the 13th century.

  • Gardens surround the Emin Mosque and Minaret in Turpan, China, which is an oasis city in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Province. Built in 1777, the minaret is the tallest in China (44 m, 144 ft) and is named in honor of Emin Khoja, a heroic Turpan general, whose statue stands in front of the minaret.

    Gardens surround the Emin Mosque and Minaret in Turpan, China, which is an oasis city in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Province. Built in 1777, the minaret is the tallest in China (44 m, 144 ft) and is named in honor of Emin Khoja, a heroic Turpan general, whose statue stands in front of the minaret.

  • Some of the terra cotta warriors found in the mausoleum of first Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang (221-210 B.C.) in Xi'an, China. The tomb, under an earthen pyramid, was discovered in 1974. The ceramic army that accompanied the ruler into the afterlife is estimated to consist of over 8,000 soldiers (each with a unique face), 100 chariots with 400 horses, and 300 cavalry horses.

    Some of the terra cotta warriors found in the mausoleum of first Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang (221-210 B.C.) in Xi'an, China. The tomb, under an earthen pyramid, was discovered in 1974. The ceramic army that accompanied the ruler into the afterlife is estimated to consist of over 8,000 soldiers (each with a unique face), 100 chariots with 400 horses, and 300 cavalry horses.

  • The Forest of Stone Stelae museum in Xi'an, China, is located in a former Confucian temple. Some 3,000 inscribed stelae and stone carvings are housed at this site that has been called the "Cradle of Calligraphy."

    The Forest of Stone Stelae museum in Xi'an, China, is located in a former Confucian temple. Some 3,000 inscribed stelae and stone carvings are housed at this site that has been called the "Cradle of Calligraphy."

  • The South China tiger, one of the most endangered animals in the in the world, is extinct in the wild, and only a few remain in zoos. The South China tiger is the smallest tiger subspecies from mainland Asia and has yellowish fur, with narrower and longer stripes than the Bengal tiger.

    The South China tiger, one of the most endangered animals in the in the world, is extinct in the wild, and only a few remain in zoos. The South China tiger is the smallest tiger subspecies from mainland Asia and has yellowish fur, with narrower and longer stripes than the Bengal tiger.

  • Gingko trees, which existed before the era of the dinosaurs, are often referred to as “living fossils.” Native to China, the trees have unique fan-shaped leaves and are a fixture in temple gardens. They are valued in many parts of the world for their resistance to fungus and insects. Ginkgos can grow up to 30.5 m (100 ft) high with trunks up to 0.60 m (2 ft) in diameter.

    Gingko trees, which existed before the era of the dinosaurs, are often referred to as “living fossils.” Native to China, the trees have unique fan-shaped leaves and are a fixture in temple gardens. They are valued in many parts of the world for their resistance to fungus and insects. Ginkgos can grow up to 30.5 m (100 ft) high with trunks up to 0.60 m (2 ft) in diameter.

  • Shibaozhai is a steep, craggy hill on the Yangtze River, in Zhong county, Chongqing, China. A temple at the crest of the 220 m (722 ft) hill was built in the 18th century. A nine-story wooden pagoda was constructed in the 1819 to help pilgrims reach the top of the hill, with three more stories added in 1956. A coffer dam protects the site from higher river waters -- the result of the Three Gorges Dam.

    Shibaozhai is a steep, craggy hill on the Yangtze River, in Zhong county, Chongqing, China. A temple at the crest of the 220 m (722 ft) hill was built in the 18th century. A nine-story wooden pagoda was constructed in the 1819 to help pilgrims reach the top of the hill, with three more stories added in 1956. A coffer dam protects the site from higher river waters -- the result of the Three Gorges Dam.

  • The Xiaoxhai Tiankeng is the world’s largest and deepest sinkhole at 660 m deep (2,165 ft), with a volume of 130 million cu m (4.6 billion cu ft). Located in southwestern China, the tiankeng, which means “heavenly pit” in Mandarin, was discovered in 1994. It is a unique double-nested sinkhole that holds two craters joined by a sloping edge, and during the rainy season, a waterfall cascades from the mouth of the pit to an underground river and cave network below.

    The Xiaoxhai Tiankeng is the world’s largest and deepest sinkhole at 660 m deep (2,165 ft), with a volume of 130 million cu m (4.6 billion cu ft). Located in southwestern China, the tiankeng, which means “heavenly pit” in Mandarin, was discovered in 1994. It is a unique double-nested sinkhole that holds two craters joined by a sloping edge, and during the rainy season, a waterfall cascades from the mouth of the pit to an underground river and cave network below.

  • The oldest tea forests in the world are on Jingmai Mountain in southwestern China in the Yunnan Province. For over a thousand years, the Blang and Dai people have maintained the forests and produced tea using practices begun in the 10th century. The tea forests were designated a UNESCO site in 2023.

    The oldest tea forests in the world are on Jingmai Mountain in southwestern China in the Yunnan Province. For over a thousand years, the Blang and Dai people have maintained the forests and produced tea using practices begun in the 10th century. The tea forests were designated a UNESCO site in 2023.

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  • The Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. The building was constructed in 1959 and is the home of the National People's Congress.
  • The Tiananmen or Gate of Heavenly Peace is a monumental gate in the center of Beijing, China; it is frequently used as a national symbol of China. First built in 1420, Tiananmen was the entrance to the Imperial City, where the Forbidden City is located.
  • The Hall of Supreme Harmony as seen from the Inner Courtyard of the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. The Hall was destroyed by fire seven times and was last rebuilt in 1695-97. Many buildings in the Forbidden City were built from precious woods and marble, with golden bricks used for floors.
  • The Palace of Heavenly Purity is the largest of three halls in the Inner Court of the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. It served as the audience hall during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912).
  • The Summer Palace is a vast ensemble of lakes, gardens, and palaces in Beijing, China. It was an imperial garden during the Qing dynasty (1644-1912). This view shows a folly on the grounds.
  • The Tower of Buddhist Incense rises over the Temple of Buddhist Virtue at the Summer Palace in Beijing, China. The Palace -- called "the Gardens of Nurtured Harmony" in Chinese -- was a summer resort for the imperial family. It consists of palaces, gardens, a lake, and a hill. Gardens have been at the site since the 12th century; construction of the Summer Palace began in 1750.
  • Ruins of European-style palaces at the Old Summer Palace, 8 km (5 mi) northwest of the Imperial City section of Beijing, China. The complex of palaces and gardens was originally referred to as the Imperial Gardens. Constructed throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries, the Old Summer Palace was the main imperial residence of the emperor. Widely perceived as the pinnacle of Chinese imperial garden and palace design, the Old Summer Palace was destroyed in 1860 during the Second Opium War.
  • The Tower of Buddhist Incense at the Summer Palace in Beijing, China.
  • The Drum Tower in Beijing, China, was built in 1272 and rebuilt twice after fires. It originally contained one large drum and 24 smaller drums that were used to keep track of time. The Drum Tower is 47 m high and located to the north of the Forbidden City.
  • The Marble Boat, which is also known as The Boat of Purity and Ease, is a wooden pavilion in the shape of a paddle steamer that is painted to imitate marble, located at the Summer Palace in Beijing, China. It was originally built in 1755, but it was destroyed in 1860 during the Second Opium War and reconstructed in 1893.
  • Section of the Long Corridor, a covered walkway at the Summer Palace in Beijing, China. The 18th-century corridor is famous for its great length (728 m), which is used to display over 14,000 paintings.
  • The Monument to the People's Heroes in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. Constructed in 1958, it commemorates those who fought in revolutions from 1840 to 1949.
  • The National Museum of China on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. Completed in 1959, the museum's mission is to educate about the arts and history of China.
  • The Mao Zedong Mausoleum (or Chairman Mao Memorial Hall) was constructed in 1977 on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. Mao's body lies in a crystal casket for public viewing.
  • Revolutionary monument in front of Chairman Mao Zedong Mausoleum on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China.
  • The Ming Dynasty Tombs are located some 50 km (30 mi) north of Beijing. The archway leading to the Sacred Way and the tombs dates to 1540; it is the earliest and largest stone archway in China.
  • A crenellated walkway on top of the Great Wall of China. The Wall stretched for thousands of miles linking fortresses.
  • The Huanghuacheng (Lakeside) section of the Great Wall of China derives its name from the man-made reservoir lakes nearby. The section, which is less visited than the main tourist sections at Mutianyu and Badaling, has a sweeping view, with a steep hike to a high guard tower.
  • The 12-story wooden pagoda at Shibaozhai in Chongqing, China. The first nine stories were constructed in the 1819; three more were added in 1956.
  • The Grand Theater in Shanghai, the largest city in China with over 20 million citizens. Shanghai is the largest center of commerce and investment in China, as well as a popular tourist destination. The distinctive tall building in the background, Tomorrow Square, houses a hotel and apartment units.
  • The Shanghai Museum of Ancient Art was founded in 1952 in the clubhouse of the former Shanghai Racecourse. A new building -- constructed in the form of an ancient bronze cooking vessel called a "ding" -- was opened in 1996 on People's Square. It houses some 120,000 items including bronzes, ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, furniture, jades, ancient coins, seals, and sculptures.
  • Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai, China, dates to the Ming Dynasty (14th-17th centuries) and contains two hectares (five acres) of delicate pavilions, winding paths, caves, grottoes, and a 14 m (46 ft) artificial mountain.
  • The mosque in downtown Urumqi, Xinjiang Province, China, was built in 1919. One of the most beautiful parts of the structure is its prayer hall, decorated with glazed tiles in colorful patterns of flowers and plants.
  • The ruins of Jiaohe in the Yarnaz Valley 10 km (6 mi) west of Turpan, China. An important site along the Silk Road, the city was situated on an islet in the middle of a river, which served as a natural barrier and enabled the city to be built without walls. From 108 B.C. to A.D. 450, it was the capital of the Anterior Jushi Kingdom; later, it became a prefecture capital until the Mongols destroyed it in the 13th century.
  • Gardens surround the Emin Mosque and Minaret in Turpan, China, which is an oasis city in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Province. Built in 1777, the minaret is the tallest in China (44 m, 144 ft) and is named in honor of Emin Khoja, a heroic Turpan general, whose statue stands in front of the minaret.
  • Some of the terra cotta warriors found in the mausoleum of first Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang (221-210 B.C.) in Xi'an, China. The tomb, under an earthen pyramid, was discovered in 1974. The ceramic army that accompanied the ruler into the afterlife is estimated to consist of over 8,000 soldiers (each with a unique face), 100 chariots with 400 horses, and 300 cavalry horses.
  • The Forest of Stone Stelae museum in Xi'an, China, is located in a former Confucian temple. Some 3,000 inscribed stelae and stone carvings are housed at this site that has been called the "Cradle of Calligraphy."
  • The South China tiger, one of the most endangered animals in the in the world, is extinct in the wild, and only a few remain in zoos. The South China tiger is the smallest tiger subspecies from mainland Asia and has yellowish fur, with narrower and longer stripes than the Bengal tiger.
  • Gingko trees, which existed before the era of the dinosaurs, are often referred to as “living fossils.” Native to China, the trees have unique fan-shaped leaves and are a fixture in temple gardens. They are valued in many parts of the world for their resistance to fungus and insects. Ginkgos can grow up to 30.5 m (100 ft) high with trunks up to 0.60 m (2 ft) in diameter.
  • Shibaozhai is a steep, craggy hill on the Yangtze River, in Zhong county, Chongqing, China. A temple at the crest of the 220 m (722 ft) hill was built in the 18th century. A nine-story wooden pagoda was constructed in the 1819 to help pilgrims reach the top of the hill, with three more stories added in 1956. A coffer dam protects the site from higher river waters -- the result of the Three Gorges Dam.
  • The Xiaoxhai Tiankeng is the world’s largest and deepest sinkhole at 660 m deep (2,165 ft), with a volume of 130 million cu m (4.6 billion cu ft). Located in southwestern China, the tiankeng, which means “heavenly pit” in Mandarin, was discovered in 1994. It is a unique double-nested sinkhole that holds two craters joined by a sloping edge, and during the rainy season, a waterfall cascades from the mouth of the pit to an underground river and cave network below.
  • The oldest tea forests in the world are on Jingmai Mountain in southwestern China in the Yunnan Province. For over a thousand years, the Blang and Dai people have maintained the forests and produced tea using practices begun in the 10th century. The tea forests were designated a UNESCO site in 2023.

China Factbook Data

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Anny VU (since March 2025)

embassy: 55 Anjialou Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600

mailing address: 7300 Beijing Place, Washington DC  20521-7300

telephone: [86] (10) 8531-3000

FAX: [86] (10) 8531-4200

email address and website:
BeijingACS@state.gov

https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/

consulate(s) general: Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, Wuhan; note - the Chinese Government ordered closure of the US consulate in Chengdu in late July 2020

Transportation - note

seven of the world’s ten largest container ports are in China

Age structure

0-14 years: 16.3% (male 122,644,111/female 107,926,176)

15-64 years: 69.3% (male 505,412,555/female 476,599,793)

65 years and over: 14.4% (2024 est.) (male 94,144,838/female 109,315,797)
2023 population pyramid
This is the population pyramid for China. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.

Geographic coordinates

35 00 N, 105 00 E

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.14 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female

total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Natural hazards

frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts; land subsidence

volcanism: China contains some historically active volcanoes including Changbaishan (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu, or P'aektu-san), Hainan Dao, and Kunlun although most have been relatively inactive in recent centuries

People - note

in October 2015, the Chinese Government announced that it would change its rules to allow all couples to have two children, loosening a 1979 mandate that restricted many couples to one child; the new policy was implemented on 1 January 2016 to address China’s rapidly aging population and future economic needs

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than the US
Area comparison map

slightly smaller than the US

Military service age and obligation

18-22 years of age for men for selective compulsory military service, with a 2-year service obligation; women 18-19 years of age who are high school graduates and meet requirements for specific military jobs are subject to conscription (2024)

note: 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

Background

China's historical civilization dates to at least the 13th century B.C., first under the Shang (to 1046 B.C.) and then the Zhou (1046-221 B.C.) dynasties. The imperial era of China began in 221 B.C. under the Qin Dynasty and lasted until the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1912. During this period, China alternated between periods of unity and disunity under a succession of imperial dynasties. In the 19th century, the Qing Dynasty suffered heavily from overextension by territorial conquest, insolvency, civil war, imperialism, military defeats, and foreign expropriation of ports and infrastructure. It collapsed following the Revolution of 1911, and China became a republic under SUN Yat-sen of the Kuomintang (KMT or Nationalist) Party. However, the republic was beset by division, warlordism, and continued foreign intervention. In the late 1920s, a civil war erupted between the ruling KMT-controlled government, led by CHIANG Kai-shek, and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Japan occupied much of northeastern China in the early 1930s, and then launched a full-scale invasion of the country in 1937. The resulting eight years of warfare devastated the country and cost up to 20 million Chinese lives by the time of Japan’s defeat in 1945. The Nationalist-Communist civil war continued with renewed intensity after the end of World War II and culminated with a CCP victory in 1949, under the leadership of MAO Zedong.

MAO and the CCP established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring the PRC's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and launched agricultural, economic, political, and social policies -- such as the Great Leap Forward (1958-1962) and the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) -- that cost the lives of millions of people. MAO died in 1976. Beginning in 1978, leaders DENG Xiaoping, JIANG Zemin, and HU Jintao focused on market-oriented economic development and opening up the country to foreign trade, while maintaining the rule of the CCP. Since the change, China has been among the world’s fastest growing economies, with real gross domestic product averaging over 9% growth annually through 2021, lifting an estimated 800 million people out of poverty and dramatically improving overall living standards. By 2011, the PRC’s economy was the second largest in the world. Current leader XI Jinping has continued these policies but has also maintained tight political controls. Over the past decade, China has increased its global outreach, including military deployments, participation in international organizations, and a global connectivity plan in 2013 called the "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI). Many nations have signed on to BRI agreements to attract PRC investment, but others have expressed concerns about such issues as the opaque nature of the projects, financing, and potentially unsustainable debt obligations. XI Jinping assumed the positions of General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission in 2012 and President in 2013. In 2018, the PRC’s National People’s Congress passed an amendment abolishing presidential term limits, which allowed XI to gain a third five-year term in 2023. 

 

Environment - current issues

air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates) from reliance on coal produces acid rain; China is the world's largest single emitter of carbon dioxide 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 leads to soil erosion, landslides, floods, droughts, dust storms, and desertification; trade in endangered species

Environment - international agreements

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban

Military expenditures

1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.7% of GDP (2019 est.)

Population below poverty line

0% (2020 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.2% (2021 est.)

highest 10%: 28.2% (2021 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Exports - commodities

broadcasting equipment, computers, integrated circuits, garments, machine parts (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

USA 13%, Hong Kong 8%, Japan 5%, Germany 5%, S. Korea 4% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Administrative divisions

23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions (zizhiqu, singular and plural), 4 municipalities (shi, singular and plural), and two special administrative regions (tebie xingzhengqu, singular and plural)

provinces: Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang; (see note on Taiwan)

autonomous regions: Guangxi, Nei Mongol (Inner Mongolia), Ningxia, Xinjiang Uyghur, Xizang (Tibet)

municipalities: Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Tianjin

special administrative regions: Hong Kong, Macau



note: China considers Taiwan its 23rd province; see separate entries for the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau

Agricultural products

maize, rice, vegetables, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, cucumbers/gherkins, tomatoes, watermelons, pork (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Military and security forces

People's Liberation Army (PLA): Ground Forces or People's Liberation Army Army (PLAA), Navy (PLAN, includes Marine Corps (PLANMC)), Air Force (PLAAF), Rocket Force (PLARF), Aerospace Force (ASF), Cyberspace Force (CSF), Information Support Force (ISF), Joint Logistics Support Force (JLSF), People's Armed Police (PAP, includes Coast Guard, Border Defense Force, Internal Security Forces); PLA Reserve Force (2024)

note: the PAP is a paramilitary police component of China’s armed forces that is under the dual authority of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the Central Military Commission; the China Coast Guard (CCG) is subordinate to the PAP

Budget

revenues: $2.684 trillion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

expenditures: $4.893 trillion (2019 est.)

Capital

name: Beijing

geographic coordinates: 39 55 N, 116 23 E

time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

time zone note: China is the largest country (in terms of area) with just one time zone; before 1949 it was divided into five

etymology: the Chinese meaning is "Northern Capital"

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, integrated circuits, iron ore, gold, natural gas (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Climate

extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north

Coastline

14,500 km

Constitution

history: several previous; latest promulgated 4 December 1982

amendment process: proposed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress or supported by more than one fifth of the National People’s Congress membership; passage requires more than two-thirds majority vote of the Congress membership

Exchange rates

Renminbi yuan (RMB) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
7.084 (2023 est.)
6.737 (2022 est.)
6.449 (2021 est.)
6.901 (2020 est.)
6.908 (2019 est.)

Executive branch

chief of state: President XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013)

head of government: Premier LI Qiang (since 11 March 2023)

cabinet: State Council appointed by National People's Congress

elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by National People's Congress; election last held on 10 March 2023 (next to be held in March 2028); premier nominated by president, confirmed by National People's Congress

election results:
2023: XI Jinping reelected president; National People's Congress vote - 2,952 (unanimously); HAN Zheng
elected vice president with 2,952 votes

2018: XI Jinping reelected president; National People's Congress vote - 2,970 (unanimously); WANG Qishan elected vice president with 2,969 votes

note: ultimate authority rests with the Communist Party Central Committee’s 25-member Political Bureau (Politburo) and its seven-member Standing Committee; XI Jinping holds the three most powerful positions as party general secretary, state president, and chairman of the Central Military Commission

Flag description

red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner; the color red represents revolution, while the stars symbolize the four social classes - the working class, the peasantry, the urban petty bourgeoisie, and the national bourgeoisie (capitalists) - united under the Communist Party of China

Roadways

total: 5.2 million km (2020)

paved: 4.578 million km (2020) (includes 168000 km of expressways)

unpaved: 622,000 km (2017)

Illicit drugs

a major source of precursor chemicals for narcotics such as fentanyl and methamphetamine, new psychoactive substances (NPS), and synthetic drugs; is a destination and transit country for methamphetamine and heroin produced in South east and Southwest Asia;  China remains a major source of precursor chemicals sold in North America via the internet and shipped to overseas customers; domestic use of synthetic drugs is prevalent; chemical alterations of drugs circumvent laws and hamper efforts to stem the flow of these

(2021)

Independence

1 October 1949 (People's Republic of China established); notable earlier dates: 221 B.C. (unification under the Qin Dynasty); 1 January 1912 (Qing Dynasty replaced by the Republic of China)

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

Waterways

27,700 km (2020) (navigable waterways)

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges, including the chief justice and 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases)

judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress (NPC); limited to 2 consecutive 5-year-terms; other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the NPC; term of other justices and judges determined by the NPC

subordinate courts: Higher People's Courts; Intermediate People's Courts; District and County People's Courts; Autonomous Region People's Courts; International Commercial Courts; Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues

Land boundaries

total: 22,457 km

border countries (14): Afghanistan 91 km; Bhutan 477 km; Burma 2,129 km; India 2,659 km; Kazakhstan 1,765 km; North Korea 1,352 km; Kyrgyzstan 1,063 km; Laos 475 km; Mongolia 4,630 km; Nepal 1,389 km; Pakistan 438 km; Russia (northeast) 4,133 km and Russia (northwest) 46 km; Tajikistan 477 km; Vietnam 1,297 km

Land use

agricultural land: 55.3% (2022 est.)

arable land: 11.5% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 2.1% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 41.7% (2022 est.)

forest: 23.7% (2022 est.)

other: 21% (2022 est.)

Legal system

civil law influenced by Soviet and continental European civil law systems; legislature retains power to interpret statutes; note - on 28 May 2020, the National People's Congress adopted the PRC Civil Code, which codifies personal relations and property relations

Legislative branch

legislature name: National People's Congress (Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui)

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 3000 (all indirectly elected)

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 5 years

most recent election date: 3/5/2023

percentage of women in chamber: 26.5%

expected date of next election: March 2028

note: in practice, only members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), its 8 allied independent parties, and CCP-approved independent candidates are elected

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96.8%

male: 98.5%

female: 95.2% (2018)

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

International organization participation

ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, BRICS, CDB, CICA, EAS, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-24 (observer), G-5, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SCO, SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UN Security Council (permanent), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

National holiday

National Day (anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949)

Nationality

noun: Chinese (singular and plural)

adjective: Chinese

Natural resources

coal, iron ore, helium, petroleum, natural gas, arsenic, bismuth, cobalt, cadmium, ferrosilicon, gallium, germanium, hafnium, indium, lithium, mercury, tantalum, tellurium, tin, titanium, tungsten, antimony, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, selenium, strontium, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, rare earth elements, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest), arable land

Geography - note

note 1: world's fourth largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US) and largest country situated entirely in Asia; Mount Everest on the border with Nepal is the world's tallest peak above sea level

note 2: the largest cave chamber in the world is the Miao Room, in the Gebihe cave system at China's Ziyun Getu He Chuandong National Park, which encloses some 10.78 million cu m (380.7 million cu ft) of volume; the world's largest sinkhole is the Xiaoxhai Tiankeng sinkhole in Chongqing Municipality, which is 660 m deep, with a volume of 130 million cu m

note 3: China appears to have been the center of domestication for two of the world's leading cereal crops: millet in the north along the Yellow River and rice in the south along the lower or middle Yangtze River

Economic overview

world’s second-largest economy by nominal GDP; global leader in exports and manufacturing; historically strong growth slowing; challenges of aging workforce, weak productivity, rising youth unemployment, struggling property sector, and public debt; state-sponsored economic controls and infrastructure investments

Pipelines

76,000 km gas, 30,400 km crude oil, 27,700 km refined petroleum products, 797,000 km water (2018)

Political parties

Chinese Communist Party or CCP 

note: China has 8 nominally independent small parties controlled by the CCP

Railways

total: 150,000 km (2021) 1.435-m gauge (100,000 km electrified); 104,0000 traditional, 40,000 high-speed

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: China has the largest Internet market in the world with almost all subscribers accessing Internet through mobile devices; market is driven through government-allied investment; fast-developing data center market; government aims to provide universal and affordable broadband coverage through market competition and private investment in state-controlled enterprises; 3G and LTE subscribers will migrate to 5G aiming for 2 million 5G base stations by the end of 2022; government strengthens IoT policies to boost economic growth; China is pushing development of smart cities beyond Beijing; Beijing residents carry virtual card integrating identity, social security, health, and education documents; government controls gateways to global Internet through censorship, surveillance, and shut-downs; major exporter of broadcasting equipment world-wide (2022)

domestic: nearly 13 per 100 fixed line and 122 per 100 mobile-cellular (2021)

international: country code - 86; landing points for the RJCN, EAC-C2C, TPE, APCN-2, APG, NCP, TEA, SeaMeWe-3, SJC2, Taiwan Strait Express-1, AAE-1, APCN-2, AAG, FEA, FLAG and TSE submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the US; satellite earth stations - 7 (5 Intelsat - 4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean; 1 Intersputnik - Indian Ocean region; and 1 Inmarsat - Pacific and Indian Ocean regions) (2019)

Terrain

mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east

Government type

communist party-led state

Country name

conventional long form: People's Republic of China

conventional short form: China

local long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo

local short form: Zhongguo

abbreviation: PRC

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"

Location

Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam

Map references

Asia

Irrigated land

690,070 sq km (2012)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador XIE Feng (since 30 June 2023)

chancery: 3505 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 495-2266

FAX: [1] (202) 495-2138

email address and website:
chinaemppress_us@mfa.gov.cn

http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/

consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco; note - the US ordered closure of the Houston consulate in late July 2020

Internet users

percent of population: 77% (2023 est.)

Internet country code

.cn

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 303,107 (Vietnam), undetermined (North Korea) (mid-year 2021)

IDPs: undetermined (2021)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$17.795 trillion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Trafficking in persons

tier rating: Tier 3 — China does not fully meet the minimum standards for elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, China remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to:  https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/china/

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: A+ (2007)

Moody's rating: A1 (2017)

Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2017)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Total renewable water resources

2.84 trillion cubic meters (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years

male: 14 years

female: 14 years (2015)

Urbanization

urban population: 64.6% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.78% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

note: data do not include Hong Kong and Macau

Broadcast media

all broadcast media are owned by, or affiliated with, the Chinese Communisty Party (CCP) or a government agency; no privately owned TV or radio stations; state-run Chinese Central TV, provincial, and municipal stations offer more than 2,000 channels; the Central Propaganda Department as well as local (provincial, municipal) sends directives to all domestic media outlets to guide its reporting with the government maintaining authority to approve all programming; foreign-made TV programs must be approved/censored prior to broadcast; increasingly, PRC nationals turn to online platforms (Bilibili, Tencent Video, iQiyi, etc) to access PRC and international films and television shows.  Video platforms have to abide by regulations issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), which align with censorship policies from CCP propaganda authorities. (2022)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 97.3% of population

rural: 91.5% of population

total: 95.1% of population

unimproved:

urban: 2.7% of population

rural: 8.5% of population

total: 4.9% of population (2020 est.)

National anthem

name: "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" (The March of the Volunteers)

lyrics/music: TIAN Han/NIE Er

note: adopted 1949; the anthem, though banned during the Cultural Revolution, is more commonly known as "Zhongguo Guoge" (Chinese National Song); it was originally the theme song to the 1935 Chinese movie, "Sons and Daughters in a Time of Storm"
This is an audio of the National Anthem for China. The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.

Major urban areas - population

29.211 million Shanghai, 21.766 million BEIJING (capital), 17.341 million Chongqing, 14.284 million Guangzhou, 14.239 million Tianjin, 13.073 million Shenzhen (2023)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Physician density

3.11 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

4.3 beds/1,000 population (2017)

National symbol(s)

dragon, giant panda; national colors: red, yellow

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 39.1% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 16.5% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 41.3% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.7% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 19.7% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -17.6% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 44.5

youth dependency ratio: 25.5

elderly dependency ratio: 19

potential support ratio: 5.3 (2021 est.)

note: data do not include Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: least one parent must be a citizen of China

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: while naturalization is theoretically possible, in practical terms it is extremely difficult; residency is required but not specified

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 other countries in Asia and Europe; 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

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 56 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 2,890

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 436,183,969 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 611,439,830 (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

B

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 97.6% of population

rural: 90.6% of population

total: 94.9% of population

unimproved:

urban: 2.4% of population

rural: 9.4% of population

total: 5.1% of population (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

Han Chinese 91.1%, ethnic minorities 8.9% (includes Zhang, Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities) (2021 est.)

note: the PRC officially recognizes 56 ethnic groups

Religions

folk religion 21.9%, Buddhist 18.2%, Christian 5.1%, Muslim 1.8%, Hindu < 0.1%, Jewish < 0.1%, other 0.7% (includes Daoist (Taoist)), unaffiliated 52.1% (2021 est.)

note: officially atheist

Languages

Standard Chinese or Mandarin (official; Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages; note - Zhuang is official in Guangxi Zhuang, Yue is official in Guangdong, Mongolian is official in Nei Mongol, Uyghur is official in Xinjiang Uygur, Kyrgyz is official in Xinjiang Uyghur, and Tibetan is official in Xizang (Tibet)

major-language sample(s):
世界概況  –  不可缺少的基本消息來源 (Standard Chinese)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Mandarin audio sample

Imports - partners

S. Korea 7%, USA 7%, Japan 6%, Australia 6%, Russia 6% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Government - note

in 2018, the Beijing established an investigatory National Supervisory Commission to oversee all state employees

Elevation

highest point: Mount Everest (highest peak in Asia and highest point on earth above sea level) 8,849 m

lowest point: Turpan Pendi (Turfan Depression) -154 m

mean elevation: 1,840 m

Contraceptive prevalence rate

84.5% (2017)

Current health expenditure

5.4% of GDP (2021)

Military - note

established in 1927, the PLA is the military arm of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which oversees the PLA through its Central Military Commission (CMC); the CMC is China’s top military decision making body

the PLA is the world’s largest military; its primary responsibility is external security but it also has some domestic security duties; China’s stated defense policy includes safeguarding sovereignty, security, and development interests while emphasizing a greater global role for the PLA; the PLA conducts air, counterspace, cyber, electronic warfare, joint, land, maritime, missile, nuclear, and space operations; it trains regularly, including multinational and multiservice exercises, deploys overseas, and participates in international peacekeeping missions 

the PRC's internal security forces consist primarily of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), the Ministry of State Security (MSS), the People’s Armed Police (PAP), and the militia; the PLA support the internal security forces as necessary:

--the MPS controls the civilian national police, which serves as the first-line force for public order; its primary mission is domestic law enforcement and maintaining order, including anti-rioting and anti-terrorism

--the MSS is the PRC’s main civilian intelligence and counterintelligence service

--the PAP is a paramilitary component (or adjunct) of the PLA; its primary missions include internal security, maintaining public order, maritime security, and assisting the PLA in times of war; the China Coast Guard (CCG) administratively falls under the PAP and has a variety of missions, such as maritime sovereignty enforcement, surveillance, resource protection, anti-smuggling, and general law enforcement; it is the largest maritime law enforcement fleet in the world

--the militia is an armed reserve of civilians which serves as an auxiliary and reserve force for the PLA upon mobilization, although it is distinct from the PLA’s reserve forces; militia units are organized around towns, villages, urban sub-districts, and enterprises, and vary widely in composition and mission; they have dual civilian-military command structures; a key component of the militia are the local maritime forces, commonly referred to as the People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM); the PAFMM consists of mariners (and their vessels) who receive training, equipment, and other forms of support from the Navy and CCG (although the PAFMM remains separate from both) to perform tasks such as maritime patrolling, surveillance and reconnaissance, emergency/disaster response, transportation, search and rescue, and auxiliary tasks in support of naval operations in wartime; the PAFMM’s tasks are often conducted in conjunction or coordination with the Navy and the CCG; it has been used to assert Beijing's maritime claims in the Sea of Japan and South China Sea (2024)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 2 million active-duty troops (approximately 950,000-1 million Ground; 250,000 Navy, including about 50,000 Marines; 350-400,000 Air Force; 120,000 Rocket Forces; 150-175,000 other forces); approximately 500,000 People’s Armed Police (2024)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the PLA has a mix of mostly modern domestically produced and imported weapons and equipment; most of its imported weaponry has come from Russia; China has one of the world's largest defense-industrial sectors and is capable of producing advanced weapons systems across all military domains (2024)

note: the PLA is in the midst of a decades-long modernization effort to achieve a "world-class" military by 2049

Military deployments

400 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 1,030 South Sudan (UNMISS); 150 Sudan/South Sudan (UNISFA); up to 2,000 Djibouti (2024)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 117.01 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 103.04 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 361.24 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 210 million tons (2015 est.)

Average household expenditures

on food: 21.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 3.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 38.15 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 9,893.04 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 1,490.24 megatons (2020 est.)

Major aquifers

North China Aquifer System (Huang Huai Hai Plain), Song-Liao Plain, Tarim Basin

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Pacific Ocean drainage: Amur (1,929,955 sq km), Huang He (944,970 sq km), Mekong (805,604 sq km), Yangtze (1,722,193 sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km), Indus (1,081,718 sq km), Irrawaddy (413,710 sq km), Salween (271,914 sq km)
Arctic Ocean drainage: Ob (2,972,493 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km), Lake Balkash (510,015 sq km)

Major rivers (by length in km)

Yangtze - 6,300 km; Huang He - 5,464 km; Amur river source (shared with Mongolia and Russia [m]) - 4,444 km; Lancang Jiang (Mekong) river source (shared with Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; Yarlung Zangbo Jiang (Brahmaputra) river source (shared with India and Bangladesh [m]) - 3,969 km; Yin-tu Ho (Indus) river source (shared with India and Pakistan [m]) - 3,610 km; Nu Jiang (Salween) river source (shared with Thailand and Burma [m]) - 3,060 km; Irrawaddy river source (shared with Burma [m]) - 2,809 km; Zhu Jiang (Pearl) (shared with Vietnam [s]) - 2,200 km; Yuan Jiang (Red river) source (shared with Vietnam [m]) - 1,149 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Dongting Hu - 3,100 sq km; Poyang Hu - 3,350 sq km; Hongze Hu - 2,700 sq km; Tai Hu - 2,210 sq km; Hulun Nur - 1,590

salt water lake(s): Quinghai Hu - 4,460 sq km; Nam Co - 2,500 sq km; Siling Co - 1,860 sq km; Tangra Yumco - 1,400 sq km; Bosten Hu 1,380 sq km

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 59 (40 cultural, 15 natural, 4 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales:

Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (c); Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (c); The Great Wall (c); Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing (c); Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area (n); Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa (c); Ancient Ancient City of Ping Yao (c); Historic Center of Macau (c); Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Centre of Heaven and Earth” (c); The Grand Canal (c); Mount Huangshan (m);Mogao Caves (c);Mount Taishan (m);Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian(c);Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area (n);Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area (n);Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains (c);Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde (c);Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu (c);Lushan National Park (c);Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area (m); Classical Gardens of Suzhou (c);Old Town of Lijiang (c);Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing (c); Dazu Rock Carvings (c); Mount Wuyi (m); Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun (c);Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (c); Longmen Grottoes (c); Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System (c); Yungang Grottoes (c); Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas (n); Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom (c);Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries - Wolong, Mt Siguniang and Jiajin Mountains (c);Yin Xu (c);Kaiping Diaolou and Villages (c);South China Karst (n);Fujian Tulou (c);Mount Sanqingshan National Park (n);Mount Wutai (c);China Danxia (n)West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou (c);Chengjiang Fossil Site (n);Site of Xanadu (c)Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces(c);Xinjiang Tianshan (n);Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor (c);Tusi Sites (c);Hubei Shennongjia (n);Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape (c);Kulangsu, a Historic International Settlement (c);Qinghai Hoh Xil (n);Fanjingshan (n);Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City (c);Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (n);Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China (c; )Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain in Pu’er (c); Badain Jaran Desert - Towers of Sand and Lakes (n); Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital(c)

Coal

production: 4.805 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption: 5.191 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

exports: 13.239 million metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 401.517 million metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 157.041 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 64.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear: 4.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind: 9.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 13.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste: 1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Natural gas

production: 239.402 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption: 395.341 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports: 6.025 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports: 161.808 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 6.654 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 4.984 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 16.189 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 26.023 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.74 (2024 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

75.9% (2023 est.)

Remittances

0.16% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.15% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.13% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Nuclear energy

Number of operational nuclear reactors: 57 (2025)

Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 28 (2025)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 55.32GW (2025 est.)

Percent of total electricity production: 4.9% (2023 est.)

Space program overview

has a large, comprehensive, and ambitious space program and is considered one of the World’s leading space powers; capable of manufacturing and operating the full spectrum of space launch vehicles (SLVs) and spacecraft, including human crewed, satellite launchers, lunar/inter-planetary/asteroid probes, satellites (communications, remote sensing, navigational, scientific, etc.), space stations, and re-usable space transportation systems, such as orbital space planes/shuttles; trains astronauts (taikonauts); researches and develops a range of other space-related capabilities, including advanced telecommunications, optics, spacecraft components, satellite payloads, etc.; participates in international space programs, such as the Square Kilometer Array Project radio telescope project and co-leads (with Australian and Japan) the Global Earth Observation System of Systems; has signed space cooperation agreements with more than 30 countries, including Brazil, Canada, France, and Russia, as well as the European Space Agency (note – 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 also objected to China’s participation in the International Space Station program); has a space industry dominated by two state-owned aerospace enterprises but since announcing in 2014 that it would allow private investment into the traditionally state-dominated space industry has developed a substantial commercial space sector, including space launch services (2024)

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

Space launch site(s)

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); note - China also has a ship capable of conducting space launches (2024)

Space agency/agencies

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 (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) (2024)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 0.1%

women married by age 18: 2.8%

men married by age 18: 0.7% (2020 est.)

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 47 (2024)

global geoparks and regional networks: Alxa; Arxan; Dali-Cangshan; Danxiashan; Dunhuang; Enshi Grand Canyon-Tenglongdong; Fangshan; Funiushan; Guangwushan-Noushuihe; Hexigten; Hong Kong; Huanggang Dabieshan; Huangshan; Jingpohu; Jiuhuashan; Keketuohai; Leiqiong; Leye Fengshan; Linxia; Longhushan; Longyan; Lushan; Mount Changbaishan; Mount Kunlun; Ningde; Qinling Zhongnanshan; Sanqingshan; Shennongjia; Shilin; Songshan; Taining; Taishan; Tianzhushan; Wangwushan-Daimeishan; Wudalianchi; Wugongshan; Xiangxi; Xingwen; Yingyi; Yandangshan; Yanqing; Yimengshan; Yuntaishan; Zhangjlajle; Zhangye; Zhijingdong Cave; Zigong (2024)

Ports

total ports: 66 (2024)

large: 5

medium: 9

small: 25

very small: 27

ports with oil terminals: 48

key ports: Chaozhou, Dalian, Fang-Cheng, Guangzhou, Hankow, Lon Shui Terminal, Qingdao Gang, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shekou, Tianjin Xin Gang, Weihai, Wenzhou, Xiamen

Labor force

781.103 million (2023 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 15.7% (2023 est.)

male: 16.9% (2023 est.)

female: 14.2% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Net migration rate

-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 40.2 years (2024 est.)

male: 39 years

female: 41.5 years

Debt - external

$497.467 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Maternal mortality ratio

23 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.45 trillion (2023 est.)
$3.307 trillion (2022 est.)
$3.428 trillion (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Public debt

47% of GDP (2017 est.)

note: official data; data cover both central and local government debt, including debt officially recognized by China's National Audit Office report in 2011; data exclude policy bank bonds, Ministry of Railway debt, and China Asset Management Company debt

Total fertility rate

1.55 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.67% (2023 est.)
4.98% (2022 est.)
4.55% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population

total: 1,416,043,270 (2024 est.)

male: 722,201,504

female: 693,841,766

Carbon dioxide emissions

12.196 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 9.575 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 1.847 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 774.076 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Area

total : 9,596,960 sq km

land: 9,326,410 sq km

water: 270,550 sq km

Taxes and other revenues

7.7% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$31.23 trillion (2023 est.)
$29.672 trillion (2022 est.)
$28.822 trillion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Airports

552 (2025)

Infant mortality rate

total: 6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 6.7 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 1.81 billion (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 125 (2022 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

35.7 (2021 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.23% (2023 est.)
1.97% (2022 est.)
0.98% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Current account balance

$252.987 billion (2023 est.)
$443.374 billion (2022 est.)
$352.886 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Real GDP per capita

$22,100 (2023 est.)
$21,000 (2022 est.)
$20,400 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 636 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45 (2023 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 25.6% (2020 est.)

male: 49.4% (2020 est.)

female: 1.7% (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

6.2% (2016)

Energy consumption per capita

113.805 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Death rate

7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Birth rate

10.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 2.949 billion kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 8.894 trillion kWh (2023 est.)

exports: 20.577 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 7.195 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 325.352 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 8,314 (2023)

by type: bulk carrier 1,831, container ship 419, general cargo 1,392, oil tanker 1,196, other 3,476

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.4% (2013)

Imports

$3.125 trillion (2023 est.)
$3.142 trillion (2022 est.)
$3.094 trillion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports

$3.511 trillion (2023 est.)
$3.719 trillion (2022 est.)
$3.555 trillion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Heliports

120 (2025)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 173.326 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2023 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 4.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 1.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 2.63 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.7 years (2024 est.)

male: 76 years

female: 81.7 years

Real GDP growth rate

5.25% (2023 est.)
2.95% (2022 est.)
8.45% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

4.7% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 7.1% (2023 est.)

industry: 38.3% (2023 est.)

services: 54.6% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Revenue from forest resources

0.08% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0.57% of GDP (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

3.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Population growth rate

0.23% (2024 est.)
Sources:
China - CN - CHN - CHN