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When did China overtake Japan in GDP?

2010: China overtook Japan in GDP. China leads in 2025. Annual GDP in current US dollars.

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What the data shows

  • China: $738.19B in 1995, $19,498.04B in 2025 (26× higher).
  • Japan: $5,639.65B in 1995, $4,435.16B in 2025. It peaked at $6,333.80B in 2012.

About this chart

China overtook Japan in 2010 in the annual GDP series. The change is visible between consecutive observations: in 2009, China stood at $5,189.58 billion, against Japan at $5,336.77 billion. In 2010, the order reversed, with China at $6,192.56 billion and Japan at $5,811.58 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 Japan $4,435.16 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 Japan, GDP, current US$ billions, 1995–2025, 1995–2025
Date🇨🇳 China🇯🇵 Japan
1995$738.19B$5,639.65B
1996$868.52B$5,021.44B
1997$967.75B$4,579.78B
1998$1,037.13B$4,150.36B
1999$1,103.84B$4,688.98B
2000$1,223.76B$5,042.38B
2001$1,355.04B$4,438.79B
2002$1,489.82B$4,245.95B
2003$1,683.90B$4,573.41B
2004$1,984.20B$4,941.49B
2005$2,317.55B$4,875.65B
2006$2,791.50B$4,648.06B
2007$3,604.06B$4,624.67B
2008$4,667.35B$5,160.20B
2009$5,189.58B$5,336.77B
2010$6,192.57B$5,811.58B
2011$7,671.76B$6,279.42B
2012$8,673.67B$6,333.80B
2013$9,743.12B$5,272.30B
2014$10,674.53B$4,985.76B
2015$11,280.82B$4,534.44B
2016$11,456.02B$5,110.36B
2017$12,537.56B$5,038.23B
2018$14,147.77B$5,154.29B
2019$14,560.17B$5,245.76B
2020$14,996.41B$5,189.20B
2021$18,201.70B$5,225.93B
2022$18,316.77B$4,447.98B
2023$18,270.36B$4,384.85B
2024$18,729.67B$4,190.01B
2025$19,498.04B$4,435.16B

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Frequently asked questions

When did China overtake Japan in GDP?

China overtook Japan in 2010 in the annual GDP series. China was below Japan in 2009 and above it in 2010.

Which has the larger GDP in 2025?

By 2025, China was ahead: China recorded $19,498.04 billion and Japan $4,435.16 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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