China's 31 Regions Post H1 Economic Results as Major Provinces Drive Growth

All 31 of China's provincial-level regions reported positive economic growth for the first half of the year, with a majority exceeding a 4.5 percent GDP growth rate against a national average of 4.7 percent, according to People's Daily. Guangdong and Jiangsu maintained their positions at the top of the economic rankings, both exceeding 7 trillion yuan in regional GDP. Meanwhile, Zhejiang led major economic provinces with 5.7 percent growth, and Tibet posted the highest overall growth rate nationwide at 6.3 percent.

Mid-year provincial economic data offers an essential snapshot of China's macroeconomic performance and regional industrial dynamics. The steady performance of established economic strongholds alongside accelerating growth in central and western provinces underscores structural resilience and ongoing industrial upgrading.

All 31 provincial-level administrative regions in China posted positive economic growth in the first half of the year, with most exceeding a 4.5 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate, according to reporting by People's Daily. The national average GDP growth stood at 4.7 percent for the period. Guangdong and Jiangsu remained the top two provincial economies, both surpassing 7 trillion yuan in mid-year GDP. Guangdong ranked first nationwide with 7.23 trillion yuan, followed closely by Jiangsu with 7.04 trillion yuan. Shandong and Zhejiang ranked third and fourth with 5.32 trillion yuan and 4.79 trillion yuan, respectively. Central and western provinces also maintained strong standing in the national top ten, led by Sichuan (3.36 trillion yuan), Henan (3.35 trillion yuan), and Hubei (3.13 trillion yuan). Growth rates among major economic powerhouses showed resilience, with Zhejiang leading large provinces at 5.7 percent growth. Shandong, Shanghai, and Anhui all recorded 5.6 percent expansion, while Jiangsu grew 5.2 percent and both Henan and Hubei expanded by 5.0 percent. Tibet recorded the highest overall GDP growth rate in the nation at 6.3 percent. Anhui reached a total GDP of 2.74 trillion yuan, solidifying its place among the top ten provincial economies. Zhang Linshan, a researcher at the Macroeconomic Research Institute under the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), noted in an interview with People's Daily that major provinces continue to function as the ballast of national growth while undergoing intensified head-to-head competition. Zhang highlighted that Jiangsu is closing the structural gap with Guangdong through sustained investment in advanced manufacturing, including high-end equipment and new energy sectors. In central China, industrial upgrading and foreign trade showed significant momentum. Anhui surpassed Sichuan to become the largest foreign trade province in the central and western regions, driven by a 1.1-fold surge in exports of high-tech and green products such as electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and solar panels. Meanwhile, Henan reported a 26.1 percent increase in value-added output from high-tech manufacturing, demonstrating broader progress in regional industrial transformation.