Imports of goods and services in China
China: Imports of goods and services was 16.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Imports of goods and services in China, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, imports of goods and services in China stood at 16.9%.
The figure is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in China peaked at 28.0% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 1969.
That places China 183rd out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods and services in China, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3.2% | — |
| 1961 | 2.8% | -11.1% |
| 1962 | 2.4% | -15.1% |
| 1963 | 2.4% | -0.0% |
| 1964 | 2.5% | +3.9% |
| 1965 | 2.7% | +9.7% |
| 1966 | 2.8% | +4.7% |
| 1967 | 2.6% | -7.5% |
| 1968 | 2.6% | -1.1% |
| 1969 | 2.2% | -16.6% |
| 1970 | 2.4% | +9.5% |
| 1971 | 2.2% | -5.9% |
| 1972 | 2.6% | +14.6% |
| 1973 | 3.8% | +47.9% |
| 1974 | 5.3% | +41.0% |
| 1975 | 5.1% | -4.5% |
| 1976 | 4.8% | -6.6% |
| 1977 | 4.6% | -3.5% |
| 1978 | 8.2% | +78.0% |
| 1979 | 8.7% | +6.3% |
| 1980 | 11.4% | +31.1% |
| 1981 | 11.3% | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 8.7% | -23.6% |
| 1983 | 8.4% | -3.1% |
| 1984 | 9.5% | +13.1% |
| 1985 | 12.4% | +30.2% |
| 1986 | 11.1% | -9.7% |
| 1987 | 12.4% | +10.8% |
| 1988 | 15.7% | +26.7% |
| 1989 | 13.2% | -15.4% |
| 1990 | 10.6% | -19.6% |
| 1991 | 11.4% | +7.4% |
| 1992 | 14.4% | +26.3% |
| 1993 | 19.3% | +33.5% |
| 1994 | 17.2% | -11.0% |
| 1995 | 16.2% | -5.3% |
| 1996 | 15.8% | -2.7% |
| 1997 | 14.9% | -5.4% |
| 1998 | 14.0% | -6.5% |
| 1999 | 15.2% | +9.0% |
| 2000 | 18.3% | +20.4% |
| 2001 | 18.0% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 19.8% | +10.2% |
| 2003 | 24.5% | +23.3% |
| 2004 | 28.0% | +14.5% |
| 2005 | 28.0% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 28.0% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 26.4% | -6.0% |
| 2008 | 24.6% | -6.6% |
| 2009 | 20.1% | -18.4% |
| 2010 | 23.1% | +15.1% |
| 2011 | 23.8% | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 22.4% | -5.8% |
| 2013 | 21.8% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 21.0% | -3.5% |
| 2015 | 17.8% | -15.4% |
| 2016 | 17.0% | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 17.6% | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 18.1% | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 17.3% | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 16.1% | -7.2% |
| 2021 | 17.2% | +7.1% |
| 2022 | 17.3% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 17.3% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 17.5% | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 16.9% | -3.6% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 16.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 43.0%, 39% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 16.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 63.3%, 27% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Imports of goods and services in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | +78.0% | 4.6% | 8.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.6% | 2.2% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.8% | 2.2% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.4% | 8.4% | 15.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.9% | 10.6% | 19.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.6% | 18.0% | 28.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.0% | 17.0% | 23.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.0% | 16.1% | 17.5% | 6 |
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 imports of goods and services in China?
- Imports of goods and services in China was 16.9% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 28.0% in 2006.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 1969.
- How does China rank for imports of goods and services?
- China ranks 183rd out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.