Country Profile: China

China, located in Eastern Asia, is the world's fourth largest country and features a diverse geography that ranges from tropical climates in the south to subarctic regions in the north. With a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it stands as the most populous nation globally. As the second-largest economy by nominal GDP, China has been a powerhouse in exports and manufacturing, while its governance is characterized by a one-party communist system under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Despite impressive economic growth lifting millions out of poverty, challenges such as an aging workforce and rising unemployment persist.

Geography

China occupies a total area of 9,596,960 square kilometers, making it slightly smaller than the United States. The terrain is predominantly mountainous and consists of extensive plateaus and deserts in the west, while the eastern regions are characterized by plains and deltas. The country has a coastline of 14,500 km and shares land borders with 14 countries.

Highest Point: Mount Everest, at 8,849 m, the tallest peak in Asia.
Lowest Point: Turpan Pendi, at -154 m.
Major Rivers: Yangtze River, 6,300 km; Huang He, 5,464 km.

People and Society

China's population is estimated at 1,416,043,270 in 2024, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 1.04. The majority of the population is Han Chinese (91.1%), with various ethnic minorities comprising the remaining 8.9%. The country is linguistically diverse, with Mandarin as the official language alongside several dialects and minority languages.

Urban Population: 64.6% of total population (2023).
Life Expectancy: 78.7 years (2024).
Literacy Rate: 96.7% (2020).
Birth Rate: 10.2 births/1,000 population (2024).

Economy

China's economy is the second largest in the world with a nominal GDP of $18.744 trillion expected in 2024. The country is recognized as a global leader in exports and manufacturing, though it faces challenges such as a sluggish growth rate and rising public debt. The services sector dominates the economy, accounting for 56.7% of GDP in 2024.

Real GDP Growth Rate: 5% (2024 est.).
Unemployment Rate: 4.6% (2024 est.).
Exports: $3.793 trillion forecast for 2024.
Imports: $3.254 trillion forecast for 2024.

Government

China is a communist party-led state, officially known as the People's Republic of China (PRC). The capital is Beijing, and the government is characterized by a centralized authority where the Chinese Communist Party holds ultimate power. The National People's Congress serves as the legislative body but is primarily influenced by the CCP.

Current President: Xi Jinping, since 14 March 2013.
Government Structure: Unicameral legislature with 3,000 seats.
Suffrage: Universal at 18 years of age.

Military and Security

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the largest military force in the world, consisting of approximately 2 million active-duty personnel as of 2024. China invests significantly in military modernization and capabilities, aiming to enhance its global military standing.

Military Expenditures: 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.).
Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 2 million.
Conscription Age: Men 18-22 years, women 18-19 years.

Energy

China's energy sector is robust, with a total installed electricity capacity of 2.949 billion kW in 2023. The country heavily relies on coal, which accounts for 64.2% of its electricity generation, while also making strides in renewable sources like wind and solar.

Electricity Consumption: 8.894 trillion kWh (2023 est.).
Coal Production: 4.805 billion metric tons (2023 est.).
Total Energy Consumption Per Capita: 113.805 million Btu/person (2023 est.).

Environment

China faces significant environmental challenges including air pollution, water shortages, and deforestation. The reliance on coal for energy has led to high levels of carbon emissions. However, the country is a party to numerous international environmental agreements aiming to tackle these issues.

CO2 Emissions: 12.196 billion metric tonnes (2023 est.).
Water Withdrawal for Agriculture: 361.24 billion cubic meters (2022 est.).
Recycling Rate of Municipal Waste: 24.4% (2022 est.).

Transportation

China possesses extensive transportation infrastructure, including 150,000 km of railways and 552 airports as of 2025. The country has one of the largest merchant fleets in the world, facilitating significant maritime trade.

Number of Airports: 552 projected for 2025.
Railways: 150,000 km total (2021).
Merchant Marine: 8,314 ships as of 2023.

Communications

China has a well-developed telecommunications network with nearly 1.81 billion mobile cellular subscriptions. The country leads in internet usage with 78% of the population connected online, heavily utilizing state-controlled media.

Broadband Subscriptions: 636 million (2023 est.).
Fixed Telephone Lines: 173.326 million (2023 est.).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	1,416,043,270 (2024 est.)
Area	9,596,960 sq km
GDP (Nominal)	$18.744 trillion (2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate	4.6% (2024 est.)
Energy Consumption	113.805 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Birth Rate	10.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Life Expectancy	78.7 years (2024 est.)
Literacy Rate	96.7% (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures	1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Number of Airports	552 (2025)