China
Asia · Eastern Asia
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World's second largest economy, with strict internet censorship and a rapidly growing middle class.
At a Glance
📈China's Human Development Index
0.788
High human development#74 of 191 countries worldwide, #17 of 43 in Asia.
Higher than 62% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
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.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →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.
- Has more English speakers than the United States.
- Invented paper, printing, gunpowder, and the compass — the four technologies that built the modern world.
- Shanghai's metro system is the world's longest — longer than the entire London Underground twice over.
Quick Facts
Capital
Beijing
Language
Chinese
Currency
¥ CNY
Area
9.39M km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
212Mbps
Mobile
159Mbps
GDP / Capita
$14K
PPP / Capita
$29K
Inflation
0.1%
Unemployment
4.6%
Innovation (GII)
56.6
GNI / Capita
$14K
Tax Revenue
7.0%
FDI Inflows
0.4%
Education Spend
3.9%
Cost of Living
30.5
Price Level Index
43rd pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.482 → 0.788 (+0.306)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about China for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
Find your match →Neighbouring Countries
China head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is China's Human Development Index?
China's Human Development Index is 0.788 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #74 of 191 countries.
Is China safe?
China scores 2.23 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #117 of 160 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.