Beijing (TDI): China’s economy continued to show signs of stability in 2025, growing by 5.2 percent year on year over the first nine months, according to official figures released Monday.
Despite global uncertainties, multiple indicators point to steady progress and a buildup of positive economic momentum.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) reached 101.5 trillion yuan (approximately 14.3 trillion dollars) during the first three quarters of the year. In the third quarter alone, GDP grew 4.8 percent compared with the same period last year, while quarter-on-quarter growth stood at 1.1 percent.
Sector-wise, the service industry led the expansion, climbing 5.4 percent year on year, ahead of the primary sector’s 3.8 percent rise and the secondary industry’s 4.9 percent increase.
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An NBS spokesperson said China’s economy had “stood firm under pressure” and made “remarkable progress” this year, maintaining a pattern of stable and sustained growth, Xinhua reported.
From January to September, industrial production climbed 6.2 percent over the previous year, while September output alone advanced 6.5 percent, driven by strong performances in manufacturing and mining. Meanwhile, value-added services reached nearly 59.3 trillion yuan, accounting for 58.4 percent of total GDP, 0.8 percentage points higher than a year ago.
In the consumer sector, retail sales rose 4.5 percent year on year to 36.59 trillion yuan during the first three quarters. September retail figures also reflected resilience, up 3 percent to 4.2 trillion yuan.
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The average per capita disposable income stood at 32,509 yuan, a 5.2 percent increase in real terms. The urban unemployment rate averaged 5.2 percent, dipping 0.1 percentage point from August to September.
However, fixed-asset investment recorded a slight 0.5 percent decline to about 37.2 trillion yuan, reflecting ongoing structural adjustments and a cautious investment climate.
The NBS noted that third-quarter growth slowed modestly by 0.4 percentage points compared to the previous quarter, attributing it to complex global conditions and domestic transition pressures. Even so, China’s pace of expansion continued to outperform most major economies.
Between 2021 and 2024, under the 14th Five-Year Plan, China’s GDP increased from 103.5 trillion yuan to 134.9 trillion yuan, averaging 5.5 percent annual growth, well above the global average of 3.9 percent. Over the same period, China contributed roughly 30 percent of total global growth, reinforcing its position as a key driver of the world economy.
