What is total factor productivity in China?

Total factor productivity in China was 1.01 in 2023, according to Feenstra et al. - Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.

What is the highest total factor productivity recorded in China?

The highest recorded value was 1.01 in 2023.

What is the lowest total factor productivity recorded in China?

The lowest recorded value was 0.2275 in 1961.

How does China rank for total factor productivity?

China ranks 29th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.

Is total factor productivity rising or falling in China?

Over the last ten years it is up 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this China data come from?

The figures come from Feenstra et al. - Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Total factor productivity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Total factor productivity in China

Name: Total factor productivity in China
Creator: Feenstra et al. - Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

China: Total factor productivity was 1.01 in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)

1.01

Change on year

up 1.8%

World rank

29th

of 120 countries

All-time high

1.01

in 2023

All-time low

0.2275

in 1961

Years of data

1956–2023

Total factor productivity in China, 1956–2023

Source: Feenstra et al. - Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.

Analysis

China recorded 1.01 for total factor productivity in 2023. That is the highest value across all 68 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 25.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total factor productivity in China peaked at 1.01 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.2275, in 1961.

China ranks 29th of 120 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1950s	0.2879	0.2735	0.294	4
1960s	0.2548	0.2275	0.2837	10
1970s	0.2556	0.2397	0.263	10
1980s	0.3056	0.2589	0.3583	10
1990s	0.4419	0.3519	0.5019	10
2000s	0.6132	0.5125	0.7532	10
2010s	0.8483	0.7595	0.9468	10
2020s	0.9921	0.9594	1.01	4

Countries ranked near China

26 Tunisia 1.02 compare
27 Albania 1.02 compare
28 Mongolia 1.02 compare
30 Poland 1.01 compare
31 Kyrgyzstan 1.01 compare
32 India 1.01 compare

See the full ranking of 120 places →

More economy & growth data for China

External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP 4.2% (2025)
Inflation of consumer prices 0.1% (2025)
GDP per capita 13,793 constant 2015 US$ (2025)
Share of manufacturing in gross domestic product (GDP) 24.7% (2025)
Gross domestic product (GDP) 19.40 trillion constant 2015 US$ (2025)
GDP per capita in international and market dollars 13,793 constant 2015 US$ (2025)
DEC alternative conversion factor 7.19 LCU per US$ (2025)
Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) 157.71 billion current LCU (2025)
Net secondary income (Net current transfers from abroad) 21.94 billion current US$ (2025)
Net primary income (Net income from abroad) -817.92 billion current LCU (2025)

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is total factor productivity in China?: Total factor productivity in China was 1.01 in 2023, according to Feenstra et al. - Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest total factor productivity recorded in China?: The highest recorded value was 1.01 in 2023.
What is the lowest total factor productivity recorded in China?: The lowest recorded value was 0.2275 in 1961.
How does China rank for total factor productivity?: China ranks 29th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
Is total factor productivity rising or falling in China?: Over the last ten years it is up 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China data come from?: The figures come from Feenstra et al. - Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Total factor productivity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 68 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Total factor productivity
Source: Feenstra et al. - Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 120 places, 6,892 data points, 1954–2023
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

This is the level of total factor productivity, relative to each country's value in 2021 (which is set to 1). This data is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.