Primary income payments in China
China: Primary income payments was 452.23 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Primary income payments in China, 1982–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
China recorded 452.23 billion BoP, current US$ for primary income payments in 2025. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and up 63.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary income payments in China peaked at 452.23 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 295.00 million BoP, current US$, in 1983.
That places China 3rd out of 200 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary income payments in China, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 641.00 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1983 | 295.00 million BoP, current US$ | -54.0% |
| 1984 | 388.00 million BoP, current US$ | +31.5% |
| 1985 | 546.00 million BoP, current US$ | +40.7% |
| 1986 | 924.00 million BoP, current US$ | +69.2% |
| 1987 | 1.19 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.9% |
| 1988 | 1.63 billion BoP, current US$ | +36.9% |
| 1989 | 1.67 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 1.96 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.8% |
| 1991 | 2.88 billion BoP, current US$ | +46.7% |
| 1992 | 5.35 billion BoP, current US$ | +85.7% |
| 1993 | 5.67 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.1% |
| 1994 | 6.78 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.4% |
| 1995 | 16.97 billion BoP, current US$ | +150.4% |
| 1996 | 19.75 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.4% |
| 1997 | 16.71 billion BoP, current US$ | -15.4% |
| 1998 | 22.23 billion BoP, current US$ | +33.0% |
| 1999 | 22.80 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 27.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.4% |
| 2001 | 28.56 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.9% |
| 2002 | 23.29 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.5% |
| 2003 | 26.31 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.0% |
| 2004 | 25.69 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 55.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +115.6% |
| 2006 | 59.71 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.8% |
| 2007 | 75.43 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.3% |
| 2008 | 83.21 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.3% |
| 2009 | 116.78 billion BoP, current US$ | +40.4% |
| 2010 | 168.32 billion BoP, current US$ | +44.1% |
| 2011 | 214.59 billion BoP, current US$ | +27.5% |
| 2012 | 186.92 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.9% |
| 2013 | 262.42 billion BoP, current US$ | +40.4% |
| 2014 | 226.07 billion BoP, current US$ | -13.8% |
| 2015 | 276.01 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.1% |
| 2016 | 281.53 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 306.18 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.8% |
| 2018 | 329.86 billion BoP, current US$ | +7.7% |
| 2019 | 312.70 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.2% |
| 2020 | 363.69 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.3% |
| 2021 | 451.79 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.2% |
| 2022 | 424.69 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.0% |
| 2023 | 434.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 449.42 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.5% |
| 2025 | 452.23 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.6% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 452.23 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.01 billion BoP, current US$, 150.1× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- China's 452.23 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.58 billion BoP, current US$, 285.4× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary income payments in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +150.4% | 6.78 billion BoP, current US$ | 16.97 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 910.00 million BoP, current US$ | 295.00 million BoP, current US$ | 1.67 billion BoP, current US$ | 8 |
| 1990s | 12.11 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.96 billion BoP, current US$ | 22.80 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 52.16 billion BoP, current US$ | 23.29 billion BoP, current US$ | 116.78 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 256.46 billion BoP, current US$ | 168.32 billion BoP, current US$ | 329.86 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 429.31 billion BoP, current US$ | 363.69 billion BoP, current US$ | 452.23 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 1 United States 1.52 trillion BoP, current US$ compare
- 2 United Kingdom 576.88 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 4 Ireland 451.23 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 5 Netherlands 433.43 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 6 Luxembourg 413.92 billion BoP, current US$ 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)
- 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$), annual growth rate 8.47 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary income payments in China?
- Primary income payments in China was 452.23 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest primary income payments recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 452.23 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest primary income payments recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 295.00 million BoP, current US$ in 1983.
- How does China rank for primary income payments?
- China ranks 3rd out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary income payments rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 63.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Primary income payments (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Primary income payments refer to employee compensation paid to nonresident workers and investment income (payments on direct investment, portfolio investment, other investments).This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.