2026.04.1602:00:00UTC+00China’s GDP Growth Accelerates to 5.0% in Q1 2026, Up From 4.5%

China’s economic growth picked up in the first quarter of 2026, with gross domestic product (GDP) expanding 5.0% year-over-year, according to data updated on 16 April 2026. This marks an acceleration from the 4.5% year-over-year growth recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The figures are based on a year-over-year comparison, meaning the current reading measures GDP growth in the first quarter of 2026 against the same period a year earlier. Likewise, the previous figure reflects the change in the fourth quarter of 2025 relative to the fourth quarter of 2024. The improvement from 4.5% to 5.0% signals a strengthening in China’s growth momentum as 2026 begins.