GDP per capita in China
China: GDP per capita was 9,796 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020. ◆ Volatile
GDP per capita in China, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 1990 prices.
Analysis
In 2020, gdp per capita in China stood at 9,796 international-$ in 1990 prices. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 65.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in China peaked at 9,796 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020 and was at its lowest, 376.38 international-$ in 1990 prices, in 1950.
That places China 56th out of 162 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP per capita in China, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 1990 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 504.78 international-$ in 1990 prices | — |
| 1880 | 514.63 international-$ in 1990 prices | +2.0% |
| 1890 | 504.67 international-$ in 1990 prices | -1.9% |
| 1900 | 480.43 international-$ in 1990 prices | -4.8% |
| 1913 | 463.98 international-$ in 1990 prices | -3.4% |
| 1925 | 470.39 international-$ in 1990 prices | +1.4% |
| 1929 | 472.55 international-$ in 1990 prices | +0.5% |
| 1933 | 486.08 international-$ in 1990 prices | +2.9% |
| 1938 | 472.39 international-$ in 1990 prices | -2.8% |
| 1950 | 376.38 international-$ in 1990 prices | -20.3% |
| 1955 | 537.3 international-$ in 1990 prices | +42.8% |
| 1960 | 553.01 international-$ in 1990 prices | +2.9% |
| 1965 | 723.74 international-$ in 1990 prices | +30.9% |
| 1970 | 776.28 international-$ in 1990 prices | +7.3% |
| 1975 | 851.19 international-$ in 1990 prices | +9.6% |
| 1980 | 1,010 international-$ in 1990 prices | +18.6% |
| 1985 | 1,271 international-$ in 1990 prices | +25.9% |
| 1990 | 1,448 international-$ in 1990 prices | +13.9% |
| 1995 | 2,091 international-$ in 1990 prices | +44.4% |
| 2000 | 2,635 international-$ in 1990 prices | +26.1% |
| 2005 | 3,890 international-$ in 1990 prices | +47.6% |
| 2010 | 5,935 international-$ in 1990 prices | +52.6% |
| 2015 | 7,582 international-$ in 1990 prices | +27.7% |
| 2020 | 9,796 international-$ in 1990 prices | +29.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 504.78 international-$ in 1990 prices | 504.78 international-$ in 1990 prices | 504.78 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1880s | 514.63 international-$ in 1990 prices | 514.63 international-$ in 1990 prices | 514.63 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1890s | 504.67 international-$ in 1990 prices | 504.67 international-$ in 1990 prices | 504.67 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1900s | 480.43 international-$ in 1990 prices | 480.43 international-$ in 1990 prices | 480.43 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1910s | 463.98 international-$ in 1990 prices | 463.98 international-$ in 1990 prices | 463.98 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
| 1920s | 471.47 international-$ in 1990 prices | 470.39 international-$ in 1990 prices | 472.55 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1930s | 479.24 international-$ in 1990 prices | 472.39 international-$ in 1990 prices | 486.08 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1950s | 456.84 international-$ in 1990 prices | 376.38 international-$ in 1990 prices | 537.3 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1960s | 638.38 international-$ in 1990 prices | 553.01 international-$ in 1990 prices | 723.74 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1970s | 813.74 international-$ in 1990 prices | 776.28 international-$ in 1990 prices | 851.19 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1980s | 1,141 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,010 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,271 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 1990s | 1,769 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1,448 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2,091 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 2000s | 3,263 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2,635 international-$ in 1990 prices | 3,890 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 2010s | 6,758 international-$ in 1990 prices | 5,935 international-$ in 1990 prices | 7,582 international-$ in 1990 prices | 2 |
| 2020s | 9,796 international-$ in 1990 prices | 9,796 international-$ in 1990 prices | 9,796 international-$ in 1990 prices | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
- 53 Saint Kitts and Nevis 9,958 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 54 Seychelles 9,930 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 55 Croatia 9,806 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 57 Saudi Arabia 9,766 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 58 Uzbekistan 9,723 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
- 59 Russian Federation 9,599 international-$ in 1990 prices compare
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)
- External balance on goods and services (current US$), annual growth 48.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth 48.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), annual 1.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 0.4788 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 6,636 current LCU per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 3.94 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.0703 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 974.53 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp per capita in China?
- Gdp per capita in China was 9,796 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020, according to Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gdp per capita recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 9,796 international-$ in 1990 prices in 2020.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 376.38 international-$ in 1990 prices in 1950.
- How does China rank for gdp per capita?
- China ranks 56th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is gdp per capita rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
GDP per capita expressed in international-$ at 1990 prices to account for inflation and differences in the cost of living between countries.