Share of services as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita in China
China: Share of services as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita was 42.9% in 2011. ▲ Rising
Latest (2011)
42.9%
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
39th
of 43 countries
All-time high
43.0%
in 2009
All-time low
21.4%
in 1976
Years of data
60
1952–2011
Share of services as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita in China, 1952–2011
Source: Herrendorf et al. and Groningen Growth and Development Centre (2015) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % GDP.
Analysis
China recorded 42.9% for share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in 2011.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in China peaked at 43.0% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 21.4%, in 1976.
China ranks 39th of 43 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 60 years of available data.
Share of services as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita in China, year by year
| Year | % GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | 27.1% | — |
| 1953 | 29.3% | +8.1% |
| 1954 | 28.8% | -1.7% |
| 1955 | 28.2% | -2.1% |
| 1956 | 27.8% | -1.4% |
| 1957 | 28.7% | +3.2% |
| 1958 | 27.8% | -3.1% |
| 1959 | 29.8% | +7.2% |
| 1960 | 31.3% | +5.0% |
| 1961 | 31.0% | -1.0% |
| 1962 | 27.7% | -10.6% |
| 1963 | 25.0% | -9.7% |
| 1964 | 24.9% | -0.4% |
| 1965 | 26.0% | +4.4% |
| 1966 | 24.0% | -7.7% |
| 1967 | 24.9% | +3.7% |
| 1968 | 25.5% | +2.4% |
| 1969 | 25.7% | +0.8% |
| 1970 | 24.1% | -6.2% |
| 1971 | 23.6% | -2.1% |
| 1972 | 24.0% | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 23.6% | -1.7% |
| 1974 | 23.3% | -1.3% |
| 1975 | 21.9% | -6.0% |
| 1976 | 21.4% | -2.3% |
| 1977 | 23.5% | +9.8% |
| 1978 | 24.4% | +3.8% |
| 1979 | 22.1% | -9.4% |
| 1980 | 21.9% | -0.9% |
| 1981 | 22.2% | +1.4% |
| 1982 | 21.7% | -2.3% |
| 1983 | 22.2% | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 24.5% | +10.4% |
| 1985 | 28.5% | +16.3% |
| 1986 | 28.9% | +1.4% |
| 1987 | 29.4% | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 30.4% | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 31.9% | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 31.0% | -2.8% |
| 1991 | 33.4% | +7.7% |
| 1992 | 34.1% | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 33.1% | -2.9% |
| 1994 | 32.8% | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 32.4% | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 32.3% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 34.0% | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 36.1% | +6.2% |
| 1999 | 37.9% | +5.0% |
| 2000 | 39.1% | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 40.7% | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 41.8% | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 41.6% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 41.4% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 41.6% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 41.0% | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 41.7% | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 42.0% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 43.0% | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 42.9% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 42.9% | +0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 42.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 55.9%, 77% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
- China's 42.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 53.7%, 80% of the median. (9 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 28.4% | 27.1% | 29.8% | 8 |
| 1960s | 26.6% | 24.0% | 31.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 23.2% | 21.4% | 24.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 26.2% | 21.7% | 31.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 33.7% | 31.0% | 37.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.4% | 39.1% | 43.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.9% | 42.9% | 42.9% | 2 |
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 share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in China?
- Share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita in China was 42.9% in 2011, according to Herrendorf et al. and Groningen Growth and Development Centre (2015) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 43.0% in 2009.
- What is the lowest share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.4% in 1976.
- How does China rank for share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita?
- China ranks 39th out of 43 countries with data for 2011.
- Is share of services as a share of gdp vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Herrendorf et al. and Groningen Growth and Development Centre (2015) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of services as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The vertical axis shows historical estimates of the value of services divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage. The horizontal axis shows GDP per capita, adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.