Food, beverages and tobacco in China
China: Food, beverages and tobacco was 11.8% in 2019. ▼ Falling
Food, beverages and tobacco in China, 1980–2019
Source: International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics, UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Measured in % of value added in manufacturing.
Analysis
China recorded 11.8% for food, beverages and tobacco in 2019.
The figure is up 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food, beverages and tobacco in China peaked at 16.2% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 10.0%, in 1980.
That places China 130th out of 157 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 40 years of available data.
Food, beverages and tobacco in China, year by year
| Year | % of value added in manufacturing | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 10.0% | — |
| 1981 | 11.6% | +15.9% |
| 1982 | 12.8% | +9.6% |
| 1983 | 12.4% | -2.5% |
| 1984 | 12.3% | -1.0% |
| 1985 | 11.6% | -5.4% |
| 1986 | 12.4% | +6.4% |
| 1987 | 12.9% | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 13.5% | +4.9% |
| 1989 | 13.5% | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 14.5% | +7.8% |
| 1991 | 14.7% | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 13.3% | -9.4% |
| 1993 | 12.8% | -3.9% |
| 1994 | 14.1% | +10.0% |
| 1995 | 13.5% | -3.6% |
| 1996 | 15.1% | +11.7% |
| 1997 | 16.0% | +5.9% |
| 1998 | 16.2% | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 15.5% | -4.0% |
| 2000 | 14.4% | -7.2% |
| 2001 | 14.2% | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 14.3% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 12.8% | -10.4% |
| 2004 | 12.0% | -6.8% |
| 2005 | 12.1% | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 11.8% | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 11.8% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 11.8% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 11.8% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 11.8% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 11.8% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 11.8% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 11.8% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 11.8% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 11.8% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 11.8% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 11.8% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 11.8% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 11.8% | +0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 11.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 32.6%, 36% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- China's 11.8% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 28.6%, 41% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 12.3% | 10.0% | 13.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.6% | 12.8% | 16.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.7% | 11.8% | 14.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.8% | 11.8% | 11.8% | 10 |
Countries ranked near China
More economy & growth data for China
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.46 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.31 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 157.21 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0081 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 111.77 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 79.98 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 87.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0041 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 56.86 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.47 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food, beverages and tobacco in China?
- Food, beverages and tobacco in China was 11.8% in 2019, according to International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics, UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
- What is the highest food, beverages and tobacco recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 16.2% in 1998.
- What is the lowest food, beverages and tobacco recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.0% in 1980.
- How does China rank for food, beverages and tobacco?
- China ranks 130th out of 157 countries with data for 2019.
- Is food, beverages and tobacco rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics, UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), published as part of Food, beverages and tobacco (% of value added in manufacturing). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Manufacturing of food, beverages, and tobacco includes industries classified in ISIC (Rev. 3) divisions 15 and 16. Value added is the contribution to the economy by a producer or an industry or an institutional sector, which is estimated by the total value of output produced and deducting the total value of intermediate consumption of goods and services used to produce that output. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of value added in manufacturing which is the contribution to the economy by the manufacturing sector (ISIC Rev. 3 major division D).