China’s internet penetration rate surpassed 80 percent as of December 2025, with the total number of internet users reaching 1.125 billion, according to the latest Statistical Report on China's Internet Development released on Thursday.

The report highlights the steady growth of China's digital economy, with the added value of core industries now accounting for 10.5 percent of the country's GDP. This growth comes as the digital transformation of various industries continues to accelerate across the nation.

During China's 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), the country has prioritized innovation-driven development by building on new infrastructure, harnessing emerging technologies, and engaging a diverse range of market participants, ultimately creating a more cohesive and integrated approach to growth.

Progress in new digital infrastructure continued to strengthen the foundation for digital transformation. In mobile networks, China has built more than 4.8 million 5G base stations, with 5G coverage extending to all townships and 95 percent of administrative villages nationwide. 5G-advanced networks have been deployed in more than 330 cities.

In fixed networks, two-thirds of cities nationwide have met the standards for "gigabit cities". In terms of computing power infrastructure, 42 intelligent computing clusters with over 10,000 GPUs each have been completed, achieving a scale that places the country among the world's leaders in computing infrastructure and provides strong support for the rapid development of its artificial intelligence industry.

"With the internet penetration rate exceeding 80 percent, rural populations and the elderly are integrating into the digital society at an accelerated pace, significantly enhancing digital inclusivity," said Wang Changqing, deputy director of the Policy and International Cooperation Institute at the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC).

"Digital technology is deeply merging with the real economy and public services, driving digital reforms in fields such as government affairs, healthcare, and education. The national online platform for government services now serves 940 million users, making the efficient completion of administrative tasks a new norm. This reflects the value-oriented goal of internet development: serving the people with warmth and efficiency," Wang added.

The report also shows that by December 2025, generative AI users totaled 602 million, up 141.7 percent from the end of 2024, with a penetration rate of 42.8 percent, a year-on-year increase of 25.2 percentage points. It indicates that generative AI is rapidly integrating into everyday life and production, becoming a key driver of China's digital and intelligent transformation.