Merchandise imports (current US$), per square kilometre in China
China: Merchandise imports (current US$), per square kilometre was 272,356 current US$ per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
272,356 current US$ per square kilometre
Change on year
down 5.5%
World rank
97th
of 205 countries
All-time high
288,288 current US$ per square kilometre
in 2022
All-time low
146.25 current US$ per square kilometre
in 1962
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Merchandise imports (current US$), per square kilometre in China, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current US$ per square kilometre.
Analysis
China recorded 272,356 current US$ per square kilometre for merchandise imports (current us$), per square kilometre in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.5% on the previous year and up 31.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports (current us$), per square kilometre in China peaked at 288,288 current US$ per square kilometre in 2022 and was at its lowest, 146.25 current US$ per square kilometre, in 1962.
China ranks 97th of 205 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports (current US$), per square kilometre in China, year by year
| Year | current US$ per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 186.08 current US$ per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 146.25 current US$ per square kilometre | -21.4% |
| 1963 | 154.45 current US$ per square kilometre | +5.6% |
| 1964 | 182.14 current US$ per square kilometre | +17.9% |
| 1965 | 239.24 current US$ per square kilometre | +31.3% |
| 1966 | 264.37 current US$ per square kilometre | +10.5% |
| 1967 | 231.03 current US$ per square kilometre | -12.6% |
| 1968 | 220.28 current US$ per square kilometre | -4.7% |
| 1969 | 204.19 current US$ per square kilometre | -7.3% |
| 1970 | 242.75 current US$ per square kilometre | +18.9% |
| 1971 | 226.77 current US$ per square kilometre | -6.6% |
| 1972 | 303.68 current US$ per square kilometre | +33.9% |
| 1973 | 554.74 current US$ per square kilometre | +82.7% |
| 1974 | 829.87 current US$ per square kilometre | +49.6% |
| 1975 | 844.25 current US$ per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 709.4 current US$ per square kilometre | -16.0% |
| 1977 | 761.38 current US$ per square kilometre | +7.3% |
| 1978 | 1,186 current US$ per square kilometre | +55.7% |
| 1979 | 1,664 current US$ per square kilometre | +40.3% |
| 1980 | 2,124 current US$ per square kilometre | +27.7% |
| 1981 | 2,345 current US$ per square kilometre | +10.4% |
| 1982 | 2,054 current US$ per square kilometre | -12.4% |
| 1983 | 2,278 current US$ per square kilometre | +10.9% |
| 1984 | 2,920 current US$ per square kilometre | +28.1% |
| 1985 | 4,501 current US$ per square kilometre | +54.1% |
| 1986 | 4,570 current US$ per square kilometre | +1.5% |
| 1987 | 4,603 current US$ per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 5,887 current US$ per square kilometre | +27.9% |
| 1989 | 6,300 current US$ per square kilometre | +7.0% |
| 1990 | 5,682 current US$ per square kilometre | -9.8% |
| 1991 | 6,795 current US$ per square kilometre | +19.6% |
| 1992 | 8,584 current US$ per square kilometre | +26.3% |
| 1993 | 11,073 current US$ per square kilometre | +29.0% |
| 1994 | 12,315 current US$ per square kilometre | +11.2% |
| 1995 | 14,069 current US$ per square kilometre | +14.2% |
| 1996 | 14,788 current US$ per square kilometre | +5.1% |
| 1997 | 15,165 current US$ per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 14,938 current US$ per square kilometre | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 17,650 current US$ per square kilometre | +18.2% |
| 2000 | 23,976 current US$ per square kilometre | +35.8% |
| 2001 | 25,942 current US$ per square kilometre | +8.2% |
| 2002 | 31,440 current US$ per square kilometre | +21.2% |
| 2003 | 43,966 current US$ per square kilometre | +39.8% |
| 2004 | 59,780 current US$ per square kilometre | +36.0% |
| 2005 | 70,296 current US$ per square kilometre | +17.6% |
| 2006 | 84,304 current US$ per square kilometre | +19.9% |
| 2007 | 101,842 current US$ per square kilometre | +20.8% |
| 2008 | 120,637 current US$ per square kilometre | +18.5% |
| 2009 | 107,147 current US$ per square kilometre | -11.2% |
| 2010 | 148,724 current US$ per square kilometre | +38.8% |
| 2011 | 185,710 current US$ per square kilometre | +24.9% |
| 2012 | 193,690 current US$ per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 207,706 current US$ per square kilometre | +7.2% |
| 2014 | 208,690 current US$ per square kilometre | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 178,902 current US$ per square kilometre | -14.3% |
| 2016 | 169,140 current US$ per square kilometre | -5.5% |
| 2017 | 196,394 current US$ per square kilometre | +16.1% |
| 2018 | 227,493 current US$ per square kilometre | +15.8% |
| 2019 | 221,383 current US$ per square kilometre | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 220,059 current US$ per square kilometre | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 285,402 current US$ per square kilometre | +29.7% |
| 2022 | 288,288 current US$ per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 272,356 current US$ per square kilometre | -5.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 272,356 current US$ per square kilometre is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 272,058 current US$ per square kilometre, 1.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 272,356 current US$ per square kilometre is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 426,087 current US$ per square kilometre, 64% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 203.11 current US$ per square kilometre | 146.25 current US$ per square kilometre | 264.37 current US$ per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 732.23 current US$ per square kilometre | 226.77 current US$ per square kilometre | 1,664 current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 3,758 current US$ per square kilometre | 2,054 current US$ per square kilometre | 6,300 current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 12,106 current US$ per square kilometre | 5,682 current US$ per square kilometre | 17,650 current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 66,933 current US$ per square kilometre | 23,976 current US$ per square kilometre | 120,637 current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 193,783 current US$ per square kilometre | 148,724 current US$ per square kilometre | 227,493 current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 266,526 current US$ per square kilometre | 220,059 current US$ per square kilometre | 288,288 current US$ per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 94 Guatemala 282,923 current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 95 Finland 273,398 current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 96 Norway 273,229 current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 98 Sri Lanka 271,759 current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 99 Moldova 263,438 current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 100 Gambia 241,897 current US$ per square kilometre compare
More private sector data for China
- Merchandise trade 32.6% (2025)
- Food imports 8.1% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 49.3% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 2.58 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 2.4% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 91.2% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 3.77 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 2,682 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1934 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 5.48 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports (current us$), per square kilometre in China?
- Merchandise imports (current us$), per square kilometre in China was 272,356 current US$ per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest merchandise imports (current us$), per square kilometre recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 288,288 current US$ per square kilometre in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports (current us$), per square kilometre recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 146.25 current US$ per square kilometre in 1962.
- How does China rank for merchandise imports (current us$), per square kilometre?
- China ranks 97th out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports (current us$), per square kilometre rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Merchandise imports (current US$), per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Merchandise imports (current US$) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Merchandise imports (current US$) ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Merchandise imports World Trade Organization (WTO)
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Merchandise imports (current US$) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.