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When did China overtake France in GDP?

2005: China overtook France in GDP. China leads in 2025. Annual GDP in current US dollars.

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What the data shows

  • China: $361.56B in 1990, $19,498.04B in 2025 (54× higher).
  • France: $1,257.65B in 1990, $3,366.32B in 2025 (2.7× higher).

About this chart

China overtook France in 2005 in the annual GDP series. The change is visible between consecutive observations: in 2004, China stood at $1,984.2 billion, against France at $2,109.79 billion. In 2005, the order reversed, with China at $2,317.55 billion and France at $2,192.15 billion. This is the most recent upward crossing by China in the available record.

By 2025, China was ahead: China recorded $19,498.04 billion and France $3,366.32 billion. These World Bank figures measure total GDP in current US dollars. Exchange-rate movements and price changes can affect the ranking; this is neither a comparison of real economic growth nor a purchasing-power-adjusted measure of living standards.

The data

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD), GDP in current US$, current US$ billions. Retrieved November 5, 2026. Crossings compare adjacent annual observations; the highlighted year is the most recent upward crossing in this series. GDP is nominal, in current US dollars, not inflation-adjusted or purchasing-power adjusted.

China overtakes France, GDP, current US$ billions, 1990–2025, 1990–2025
Date🇨🇳 China🇫🇷 France
1990$361.56B$1,257.65B
1991$384.51B$1,258.96B
1992$428.50B$1,389.66B
1993$446.56B$1,314.38B
1994$566.93B$1,385.82B
1995$738.19B$1,595.22B
1996$868.52B$1,598.89B
1997$967.75B$1,449.39B
1998$1,037.13B$1,496.91B
1999$1,103.84B$1,486.92B
2000$1,223.76B$1,360.96B
2001$1,355.04B$1,370.38B
2002$1,489.82B$1,492.43B
2003$1,683.90B$1,835.10B
2004$1,984.20B$2,109.79B
2005$2,317.55B$2,192.15B
2006$2,791.50B$2,317.86B
2007$3,604.06B$2,655.82B
2008$4,667.35B$2,926.80B
2009$5,189.58B$2,700.08B
2010$6,192.57B$2,646.23B
2011$7,671.76B$2,870.41B
2012$8,673.67B$2,683.01B
2013$9,743.12B$2,816.08B
2014$10,674.53B$2,861.24B
2015$11,280.82B$2,442.48B
2016$11,456.02B$2,470.41B
2017$12,537.56B$2,588.87B
2018$14,147.77B$2,781.58B
2019$14,560.17B$2,722.79B
2020$14,996.41B$2,647.93B
2021$18,201.70B$2,966.43B
2022$18,316.77B$2,794.79B
2023$18,270.36B$3,056.25B
2024$18,729.67B$3,160.44B
2025$19,498.04B$3,366.32B

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Frequently asked questions

When did China overtake France in GDP?

China overtook France in 2005 in the annual GDP series. China was below France in 2004 and above it in 2005.

Which has the larger GDP in 2025?

By 2025, China was ahead: China recorded $19,498.04 billion and France $3,366.32 billion.

What does the GDP comparison measure?

These World Bank figures measure total GDP in current US dollars. Exchange-rate movements and price changes can affect the ranking; this is neither a comparison of real economic growth nor a purchasing-power-adjusted measure of living standards.

Where does this data come from?

World Bank, World Development Indicators (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD), GDP in current US$, current US$ billions. Retrieved November 5, 2026. Crossings compare adjacent annual observations; the highlighted year is the most recent upward crossing in this series. GDP is nominal, in current US dollars, not inflation-adjusted or purchasing-power adjusted. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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