China’s economy maintained steady growth in the third quarter of 2026, with gross domestic product (GDP) expanding 4.5% year on year, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on October 19.
The latest figure represents a slight improvement from the 4.3% growth recorded in the second quarter, indicating that economic expansion gained modest momentum during the July–September period.
During the first nine months of 2026, China’s GDP increased 4.6% year on year, with total economic output reaching approximately 107.11 trillion yuan (US$15.94 trillion).
As the world’s second-largest economy, China continues to play an important role in global economic activity. The latest figures provide an indication of the country’s economic performance as it enters the final quarter of 2026.
The improvement in third-quarter growth, together with the overall expansion recorded during the first three quarters, highlights the continued development of China’s economy amid an evolving domestic and international economic environment.
