China's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2026, 0.5 percentage points faster than that of the fourth quarter of 2025, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Thursday.
Mao Shengyong, Deputy Commissioner of the NBS, briefed the media on the key economic indicators of the first quarter at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.

"Preliminary calculations show that the GDP for the first quarter reached 33.4193 trillion yuan (about 4.9 trillion U.S. dollars), up by 5.0 percent year on year at constant prices, 0.5 percentage points faster than the fourth quarter of the previous year. By industry, the value added of the primary industry was 1.1941 trillion yuan, up by 3.8 percent year on year; that of the secondary industry was 11.6135 trillion yuan, up by 4.9 percent; and that of the tertiary industry was 20.6117 trillion yuan, up by 5.2 percent. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the GDP grew by 1.3 percent in the first quarter," he said.

Mao said that in the first quarter, the growth of production and supply had accelerated, market demand continued to improve, employment was generally stable, market prices picked up moderately, and high-quality development advanced with new and positive momentum. He noted that the national economy got off to a good start, with development showing greater resilience and vitality.

China's GDP grew 5 percent year on year last year. The country has targeted 2026 growth at 4.5 to 5 percent and will strive for better in practice.