National Picture: 69.57 Trillion Yuan GDP
China's national GDP reached 69.57 trillion yuan in the first half of 2026, with the country's 31 provinces and municipalities all contributing to a broadly positive economic landscape. The national growth rate averaged 5.0% year-on-year for Q1 and 4.3% for Q2 — bringing H1 growth to approximately 4.7%, slightly below official full-year targets but within a credible recovery trajectory.
The regional economic order remained broadly stable at the top, though the gap between leading and lagging provinces narrowed meaningfully. Midwestern provinces continued to post above-average growth rates, reflecting successful industrial relocation policies and improving infrastructure connectivity.
Top Provinces: Guangdong and Jiangsu Neck-and-Neck
Guangdong province led the national rankings with 7.228 trillion yuan in GDP (USD ~1.01 trillion), followed by Jiangsu at 7.039 trillion yuan. The 189.4 billion yuan gap between China's two economic powerhouses is the narrowest in recent years, with Jiangsu's faster 5.2% growth rate steadily eating into Guangdong's lead. Shandong placed third at 5.317 trillion yuan (+5.6%), with Zhejiang fourth at 4.794 trillion yuan (+5.7%).
Middle-Tier Dynamics
Central and western provinces continued to post impressive growth figures. Henan, Sichuan, and Hubei — all in the 2–3 trillion yuan range — recorded growth rates between 5.0% and 6.0%, driven by manufacturing investment and infrastructure spending. Northeast provinces, while improving, remain below the national average, highlighting persistent structural challenges.
Regional Growth Highlights
| Province | GDP (trillion yuan) | H1 Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Guangdong | 72.28 | 4.5% |
| Jiangsu | 70.39 | 5.2% |
| Shandong | 53.17 | 5.6% |
| Zhejiang | 47.94 | 5.7% |
| Henan | ~32.0 | ~5.0% |
| Sichuan | ~29.0 | ~5.3% |
| Hubei (Wuhan) | 11.24 | 5.7% |
Source: National Bureau of Statistics; provincial statistical bureaus, H1 2026.