Guangdong province, China’s largest regional economy, expanded by 3.9% in 2025, reports Caixin. The number fell short of its official goal and saw the province far below the national average as the country’s top manufacturing hub continues to grapple with a prolonged property slump.
The province’s gross domestic product rose to RMB 14.58 trillion ($2.1 trillion) last year, Governor Meng Fanli told lawmakers on Monday. That performance lagged the national GDP growth of 5%, placing Guangdong near the bottom among the country’s key economic regions. At the start of 2025, officials had targeted a 5% increase.
Once a consistent double-digit growth engine, Guangdong—which contributes roughly one-tenth of national output—has seen its pace cool markedly as it shifts from an investment-driven model to one powered by high-tech manufacturing and consumption. From 2021 to 2025, the province posted average annual growth of about 4.7%, according to a report by the local development and reform commission, which noted a structural shift between economic scale and growth momentum.