GeoRealityMatch
Tranquil reflection of traditional architecture and bridge in Beihai Park, Beijing.A stunning aerial view of the Forbidden City in Beijing, showcasing its historic architecture.

China

Asia · Eastern Asia

Medium safetyVery affordable cost of livingHigh development

Essential health services reach most people. The air is polluted.

vs Japanvs South Koreavs India
Safety

117th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.231lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#117 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
0.5per 100,000 people a yearVery lowUNODC / World Bank · 2020
Safety index
76.9Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferVery highNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$14,230national income per person, US dollarsHigh
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
10.4New York = 100AffordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
21.5years of median income to buy a median flatVery expensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 551% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 255% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$15K$30K$29,333 PPP$13,862Inflation, % a year6%0200620102015202020252006, $2,129 a person, $5,946 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2007, $2,735 a person, $6,935 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2008, $3,523 a person, $7,713 at PPP, inflation 5.9%2009, $3,898 a person, $8,448 at PPP, inflation -0.7%2010, $4,629 a person, $9,411 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2011, $5,704 a person, $10,457 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2012, $6,405 a person, $11,420 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2013, $7,147 a person, $12,228 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2014, $7,781 a person, $12,942 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2015, $8,175 a person, $13,463 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2016, $8,255 a person, $14,157 at PPP, inflation 2%2017, $8,980 a person, $15,022 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2018, $10,086 a person, $16,298 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2019, $10,343 a person, $17,601 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2020, $10,627 a person, $18,267 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2021, $12,887 a person, $20,843 at PPP, inflation 1%2022, $12,971 a person, $23,028 at PPP, inflation 2%2023, $12,951 a person, $25,200 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2024, $13,293 a person, $27,140 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2025, $13,862 a person, $29,333 at PPP$0$15K$30KInflation, % a year6%0200620102015202020252006, $2,129 a person, $5,946 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2007, $2,735 a person, $6,935 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2008, $3,523 a person, $7,713 at PPP, inflation 5.9%2009, $3,898 a person, $8,448 at PPP, inflation -0.7%2010, $4,629 a person, $9,411 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2011, $5,704 a person, $10,457 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2012, $6,405 a person, $11,420 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2013, $7,147 a person, $12,228 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2014, $7,781 a person, $12,942 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2015, $8,175 a person, $13,463 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2016, $8,255 a person, $14,157 at PPP, inflation 2%2017, $8,980 a person, $15,022 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2018, $10,086 a person, $16,298 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2019, $10,343 a person, $17,601 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2020, $10,627 a person, $18,267 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2021, $12,887 a person, $20,843 at PPP, inflation 1%2022, $12,971 a person, $23,028 at PPP, inflation 2%2023, $12,951 a person, $25,200 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2024, $13,293 a person, $27,140 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2025, $13,862 a person, $29,333 at PPP

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Above-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
78.0years, at birthHigh
#54 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
85WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
31.6PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Very fast home internet

Unemployment rate
4.6%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
212 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
464EF English Proficiency Index scoreLowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet212 MbpsVery fast
Mobile159 MbpsFast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

A stunning aerial view of the Forbidden City in Beijing, showcasing its historic architecture.
How it changed

China's Human Development Index

0.797High human development

78th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 19th of 43 in Asia.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #76Saint Vincent and the Grenadines0.798
  2. #76Thailand0.798
  3. #78China0.797
  4. #79Peru0.794
  5. #80Grenada0.791
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.491 in 1990 to 0.797 in 2023.

0.450.650.850.79719902000201020231990: 0.4911991: 0.4991992: 0.5111993: 0.5221994: 0.5321995: 0.5431996: 0.5551997: 0.5661998: 0.5761999: 0.5872000: 0.5982001: 0.6082002: 0.6192003: 0.6302004: 0.6422005: 0.6542006: 0.6662007: 0.6802008: 0.6892009: 0.7002010: 0.7102011: 0.7172012: 0.7252013: 0.7332014: 0.7422015: 0.7502016: 0.7582017: 0.7652018: 0.7742019: 0.7812020: 0.7862021: 0.7942022: 0.7962023: 0.7970.450.650.8519902000201020231990: 0.4911991: 0.4991992: 0.5111993: 0.5221994: 0.5321995: 0.5431996: 0.5551997: 0.5661998: 0.5761999: 0.5872000: 0.5982001: 0.6082002: 0.6192003: 0.6302004: 0.6422005: 0.6542006: 0.6662007: 0.6802008: 0.6892009: 0.7002010: 0.7102011: 0.7172012: 0.7252013: 0.7332014: 0.7422015: 0.7502016: 0.7582017: 0.7652018: 0.7742019: 0.7812020: 0.7862021: 0.7942022: 0.7962023: 0.797

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
78 years2024at birthUp 3.9 years from 74.1 years in 2005
Internet users
92%2025of people onlineUp 81 points from 11% in 2006
Urban population
66%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 22 points from 44% in 2006
Births per woman
1.012024births per womanDown 0.61 from 1.62 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
15%2021of energy usedDown 5 points from 20% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 2 points from 98% in 2005
Infant mortality
42024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 15 from 19 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
9.3 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 4.5 t from 4.8 t in 2005
Forest area
24%2023of land under forestUp 4 points from 20% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

World's second largest economy, with strict internet censorship and a rapidly growing middle class. The case for living here is wide access to essential health services. The case against is polluted air and little English among locals.

About China

China is a civilisation of unmatched historical depth and geographic variety, from the terraced rice paddies of Yunnan and the karst landscapes of Guilin to the hypermodern skylines of Shanghai and the ancient lanes of Xi'an. The sheer scale and pace of life here is unlike anywhere else, and the food culture alone could occupy a lifetime of exploration. Those who embrace the complexity and occasional friction of navigating a very different cultural logic will find it endlessly fascinating.

Practical facts

  • CapitalBeijing
  • LanguagesChinese
  • CurrencyChinese yuan (CNY)
  • Area9,388,210 km²
  • Plug typeType A/I
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is China's Human Development Index?

China's Human Development Index is 0.797 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #78 of 193 by UNDP.

Is China safe?

China scores 2.23 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #117 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is China?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts China at 30.5 (New York = 100); that is #32 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in China?

Life expectancy at birth in China is 78.0 yrs (World Bank), ranked #54 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in China?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores China at 134.8, ranked #52 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.