China's economy successfully met its growth target for 2025, expanding by five percent over the previous year, according to official data released on Monday, January 19, 2026.
Annual Target Achieved Amid Challenges
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) confirmed that the world's second-largest economy grew at a rate of five percent year-on-year, hitting the government's annual goal of "around five percent." This performance culminated in a record gross domestic product (GDP) of 140.1879 trillion yuan, equivalent to approximately US$20.01 trillion.
Despite facing what officials described as a complex domestic and international environment, the Chinese economy advanced under significant pressure. The NBS noted that the country made fresh progress in high-quality development and fully achieved its main economic and social development goals for the year.
Quarterly Performance and Policy Support
A closer look at the quarterly data reveals that growth in the final three months of 2025 was 4.5 percent compared to the same period in 2024. On a quarter-to-quarter basis, the economy expanded by 1.2 percent.
NBS head Kang Yi attributed the stable performance to proactive government policies. He stated that in the face of abrupt changes externally and mounting domestic challenges, China adopted more effective macro policies. These measures helped offset adverse external shocks and stabilized the foundation for development.
Conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan
The 2025 results mark the successful conclusion of China's 14th Five-Year Plan period, which spanned from 2021 to 2025. Kang Yi emphasized the significance of this achievement, noting that for a super-large economy like China, maintaining such stable development is not easy when risks and challenges are intertwined.
The data underscores China's continued role as a major engine for the global economy, even as it navigates internal and external headwinds. The meeting of the growth target provides a measure of stability for regional and international markets connected to Chinese trade and investment.
