Transport services in China
China: Transport services was 17.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Transport services in China, 1982–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of service imports, BoP.
Analysis
In 2025, transport services in China stood at 17.8%.
That represents a change of up 2.2% on the previous year and down 9.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, transport services in China peaked at 74.6% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 14.1%, in 2019.
China ranks 160th of 197 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 44 years of available data.
Transport services in China, year by year
| Year | % of service imports, BoP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 61.6% | — |
| 1983 | 67.9% | +10.1% |
| 1984 | 46.2% | -31.9% |
| 1985 | 60.4% | +30.6% |
| 1986 | 66.8% | +10.6% |
| 1987 | 66.1% | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 63.2% | -4.4% |
| 1989 | 70.4% | +11.4% |
| 1990 | 74.6% | +5.9% |
| 1991 | 60.9% | -18.4% |
| 1992 | 45.8% | -24.7% |
| 1993 | 45.5% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 46.8% | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 37.8% | -19.2% |
| 1996 | 45.7% | +20.9% |
| 1997 | 35.2% | -23.0% |
| 1998 | 24.9% | -29.3% |
| 1999 | 24.6% | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 28.7% | +16.5% |
| 2001 | 28.7% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 29.1% | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 32.8% | +12.8% |
| 2004 | 33.7% | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 33.9% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 34.1% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 33.3% | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 31.7% | -4.8% |
| 2009 | 29.3% | -7.4% |
| 2010 | 32.7% | +11.6% |
| 2011 | 32.5% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 30.5% | -6.0% |
| 2013 | 28.5% | -6.5% |
| 2014 | 22.2% | -22.1% |
| 2015 | 19.6% | -11.8% |
| 2016 | 18.2% | -6.8% |
| 2017 | 19.8% | +8.3% |
| 2018 | 20.8% | +5.1% |
| 2019 | 14.1% | -32.1% |
| 2020 | 17.8% | +26.4% |
| 2021 | 21.5% | +20.9% |
| 2022 | 22.3% | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 19.1% | -14.5% |
| 2024 | 17.4% | -8.8% |
| 2025 | 17.8% | +2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 62.8% | 46.2% | 70.4% | 8 |
| 1990s | 44.2% | 24.6% | 74.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 31.5% | 28.7% | 34.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.9% | 14.1% | 32.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.3% | 17.4% | 22.3% | 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)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 4.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1757 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 2,435 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) -0.3528 % change on previous year (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1671 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 2,221 current US$ per person (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 1.24 % change on previous year (2024)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 1.2 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is transport services in China?
- Transport services in China was 17.8% in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest transport services recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 74.6% in 1990.
- What is the lowest transport services recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.1% in 2019.
- How does China rank for transport services?
- China ranks 160th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is transport services rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Transport services (% of service imports, BoP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Transport services covers the process of carriage of people and objects from one location to another as well as related supporting and auxiliary services. Also included are postal and courier services. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of service imports which are services provided by non-residents to residents.