Country explorer: China

China's remarkable economic transformation is evidenced by a substantial increase in GDP per capita, significant reductions in poverty across various thresholds, stable unemployment rates, and controlled inflation, distinguishing it as a leading example of rapid economic development and poverty alleviation among upper-middle-income countries.

China has experienced a gradual population increase with a significant slowdown in recent years, accompanied by a persistent trend of net emigration, declining fertility rates, and consistently improving life expectancy, marking its demographic shifts significantly different from its rapidly growing neighbor India, and more akin to aging societies like Japan.

China has seen significant improvements in access to clean cooking fuels, electricity, and safely managed sanitation, mirroring its rapid economic growth and enhancing the quality of life in a manner consistent with upper-middle-income countries, though it still lags behind in safely managed drinking water data.

China has exhibited notable advancements in human development, characterized by a steady increase in the Human Development Index, significant reductions in child mortality rates, considerable improvements in literacy rates, and enhancements in the quality and quantity of education, outpacing many of its upper-middle-income peers and reflecting its rapid socio-economic transformation.

China shows a complex balance of rapid development and environmental conservation efforts. Per-capita CO₂ emissions have risen markedly in recent decades but remain below the average for high-income countries. In recent years China has led the world in both deployment of new renewable energy capacity _and_ new coal power capacity, with the renewable share growing rapidly. Concerted national efforts have also increased forest cover by 23% over two decades, a remarkable achievement.

China has experienced rapid technological and innovation growth, significantly increasing its internet and mobile phone usage, elevating its research and development spending close to the top global players, and massively boosting its scientific and technical journal publications, marking its transition into a global technology powerhouse.

China has experienced modest changes in its population's birthplace diversity, steady improvements in self-reported life satisfaction, notable progress in reducing gender inequality, and a gradual increase in its age dependency ratio, reflecting a society that is slowly aging yet showing signs of societal well-being and gender progress compared to its upper-middle-income peers.

China has experienced a notable decline in governance indicators, reflecting increased governmental control and decreased transparency, freedom, and rule of law, positioning it distinctively from democratic peers and closer to the lower governance standards commonly observed in upper-middle-income countries.