16 of China’s 31 provinces failed to meet their economic growth targets for 2025, reports Caixin. The figures demonstrate widening regional disparities even as the national economy expanded at a steady pace.
Guangdong, China’s largest provincial economy, grew 3.9% last year, missing its target of about 5%. In contrast, Jiangsu narrowed the gap with Guangdong, expanding 5.3% to reach a GDP of RMB 14.24 trillion ($2 trillion). Several other major provinces, including Shandong and Zhejiang, posted growth of 5.5% or higher, helping stabilize overall economic performance.
At the other end of the spectrum, Liaoning recorded one of the sharpest slowdowns, with growth slipping to 3.7% last year. The deceleration was driven by a steep drop in investment and mounting pressure on traditional manufacturing as demand shifted toward new-energy industries.