Map of China

In brief

The economy expanded by 7.4% year on year in the first quarter of 2014, down from 7.7% in the previous three months. Economic activity will pick up in the second quarter, but real GDP growth is still set to come in at just 7.3% in 2014 as a whole, the weakest since 1990. The president, Xi Jinping, has emerged as a confident and powerful leader, but his dominance could make him vulnerable to attacks from vested interests opposed to his economic reform and anti-corruption agenda.

Economic growth

Economic growth
(% unless otherwise indicated)
201320142015
US GDP1.92.53.0
OECD GDP1.32.12.5
World GDP2.12.92.9
World trade2.74.65.0
Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit

Expenditure on GDP

(% real change)
= 2014
= 2015
Private consumption
2014=8.0, 2015=7.8
Government consumption
2014=7.6, 2015=7.8
Gross fixed investment
2014=7.0, 2015=6.8
Exports of goods & services
2014=8.0, 2015=7.9
Imports of goods & services
2014=8.1, 2015=8.4
Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit