Country Profile: China

China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is the world's most populous country with over 1.4 billion residents. Located in Eastern Asia, it spans diverse geographical features from mountains and high plateaus in the west to extensive plains and deltas in the east. The country is a global economic powerhouse, second only to the United States in nominal GDP, and has rapidly transformed from a centrally planned economy to a market-oriented one while maintaining strong state control. Governed by the Chinese Communist Party, China has established a unique blend of socialism with Chinese characteristics, emphasizing both economic development and strict political oversight.

Geography

China, the fourth largest country in the world, has a total area of 9,596,960 sq km. Its vast landscape includes mountain ranges, high plateaus, and extensive desert areas, with significant rivers such as the Yangtze and Huang He underpinning its geography. The country benefits from a diverse climate that ranges from tropical in the south to subarctic in the north.

14,500 km of coastline.
22,457 km of land boundaries shared with 14 countries.
Home to Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world at 8,849 m.
690,070 sq km of irrigated land as of 2012.

People and Society

China's population is estimated at 1,416,043,270 (2024), predominantly consisting of Han Chinese (91.1%). The country features a youthful demographic with 16.3% of the population aged 0-14 years and an elderly dependency ratio of 20.7%. Mandarin Chinese is the official language, while various dialects and minority languages are also spoken across the nation.

64.6% of the population lives in urban areas (2023).
Life expectancy at birth is 78.7 years (2024).
Literacy rate stands at 97% (2020).
Total fertility rate is 1.55 children born/woman (2024).

Economy

China's economy is characterized as the world’s second-largest by nominal GDP, with a real GDP (PPP) estimated at $33.598 trillion for 2024. The nation is a leader in manufacturing and exports, but it faces challenges such as an aging workforce and rising public debt. Economic growth has been robust, although it is showing signs of slowing down.

56.7% of GDP comes from the services sector (2024).
Unemployment rate is 4.6% (2024).
39.6% of household consumption reflects GDP (2023).
$18.744 trillion is the GDP based on official exchange rates (2024).

Government

Governed as a communist party-led state, China is administratively divided into 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities, and 2 special administrative regions. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) maintains a monopoly on political power, with Xi Jinping serving as the President since 2013.

The National People’s Congress has 2,988 members (most recent election in 2023).
The legal system is influenced by civil law systems.
Citizenship is primarily by descent, and dual citizenship is not recognized.

Military and Security

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the largest military force in the world, with approximately 2 million active personnel. Military expenditures account for 1.5% of GDP as of 2024, reflecting China's growing global military presence and modernization efforts.

The PLA is involved in peacekeeping missions with 400 personnel in Lebanon and 1,030 in South Sudan (2024).
China has 57 operational nuclear reactors (2025).
The country is enhancing its military capabilities across all domains by 2049.

Energy

China is a major player in global energy consumption and production. The country has a diverse energy mix, with fossil fuels dominating and a growing emphasis on renewable energy sources.

100% of the population has access to electricity (2022).
Produced 4.805 billion metric tons of coal in 2023.
Total carbon dioxide emissions reach 12.196 billion metric tonnes (2023).
239.402 billion cubic meters of natural gas produced (2023).

Environment

China faces significant environmental challenges including air pollution, water shortages, and the impacts of industrialization. The government is a party to numerous international environmental agreements aimed at addressing these issues.

55.3% of land is categorized as agricultural (2022).
2.84 trillion cubic meters of total renewable water resources (2020).
Major issues include deforestation and habitat destruction.

Transportation

China boasts a comprehensive transportation network with extensive railways and airports. It has made significant investments in high-speed rail, connecting major urban centers efficiently.

150,000 km of railways (2021), with approximately 40,000 km of high-speed rail.
552 airports projected by 2025.
The country has a merchant marine fleet comprising 8,314 vessels (2023).

Communications

China has a rapidly growing communications infrastructure, with widespread access to mobile and internet services. The majority of broadcast media are state-owned, heavily regulated, and influence the public narrative.

1.81 billion mobile cellular subscriptions as of 2023.
636 million fixed broadband subscriptions (2023).
Approximately 78% of the population are internet users (2023).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	1,416,043,270	2024 estimate
Area	9,596,960 sq km	Total area
GDP (nominal)	$18.744 trillion	2024 estimate
GDP per capita	$23,800	2024 estimate
Unemployment rate	4.6%	2024 estimate
Life expectancy	78.7 years	2024 estimate
Total energy consumption per capita	113.805 million Btu/person	2023 estimate
Electricity access	100%	2022 estimate
Literacy rate	97%	2020 estimate
Urban population	64.6%	2023 estimate