Transport services (% of commercial service exports) in China
China: Transport services (% of commercial service exports) was 18.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Transport services in China, 1982–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of commercial service exports.
Analysis
China recorded 18.4% for transport services in 2025.
That represents a change of down 12.7% on the previous year and up 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, transport services in China peaked at 54.4% in 1983 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 1999.
China ranks 78th of 198 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.
Transport services (% of commercial service exports) in China, year by year
| Year | % of commercial service exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 53.0% | — |
| 1983 | 54.4% | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 45.0% | -17.2% |
| 1985 | 44.5% | -1.1% |
| 1986 | 36.4% | -18.2% |
| 1987 | 31.8% | -12.7% |
| 1988 | 43.7% | +37.5% |
| 1989 | 38.9% | -10.8% |
| 1990 | 47.1% | +20.9% |
| 1991 | 29.3% | -37.8% |
| 1992 | 22.8% | -22.1% |
| 1993 | 17.6% | -23.1% |
| 1994 | 18.8% | +7.2% |
| 1995 | 18.2% | -3.4% |
| 1996 | 14.9% | -17.9% |
| 1997 | 5.1% | -65.6% |
| 1998 | 3.7% | -28.3% |
| 1999 | 3.7% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 4.7% | +27.7% |
| 2001 | 5.2% | +10.4% |
| 2002 | 5.6% | +8.7% |
| 2003 | 13.8% | +145.5% |
| 2004 | 15.3% | +11.1% |
| 2005 | 19.8% | +29.2% |
| 2006 | 22.5% | +13.6% |
| 2007 | 23.2% | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 23.6% | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 16.5% | -30.0% |
| 2010 | 19.3% | +16.7% |
| 2011 | 17.8% | -7.9% |
| 2012 | 19.4% | +9.2% |
| 2013 | 18.3% | -5.7% |
| 2014 | 17.5% | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 17.8% | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 16.3% | -8.5% |
| 2017 | 17.6% | +8.1% |
| 2018 | 18.2% | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 14.6% | -20.1% |
| 2020 | 18.1% | +24.2% |
| 2021 | 25.9% | +43.0% |
| 2022 | 27.2% | +4.9% |
| 2023 | 19.5% | -28.1% |
| 2024 | 21.1% | +8.1% |
| 2025 | 18.4% | -12.7% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 18.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 13.8%, 1.3× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- China's 18.4% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 14.1%, 1.3× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Transport services (% of commercial service exports) in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +145.5% | 5.6% | 13.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 43.5% | 31.8% | 54.4% | 8 |
| 1990s | 18.1% | 3.7% | 47.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.0% | 4.7% | 23.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.7% | 14.6% | 19.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.7% | 18.1% | 27.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More private sector data for China
- Merchandise trade 32.6% (2025)
- Food imports 8.0% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 50.9% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 2.58 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 619.60 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 2.3% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 90.5% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 3.77 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 383.15 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 2,682 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is transport services in China?
- Transport services in China was 18.4% in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest transport services recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 54.4% in 1983.
- What is the lowest transport services recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 1999.
- How does China rank for transport services?
- China ranks 78th out of 198 countries with data for 2025.
- Is transport services rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Transport services (% of commercial service exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Transport is the process of carriage of people and objects from one location to another as well as related supporting and auxiliary services. Also included are postal and courier services. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of service exports which are commercial services provided by residents to non-residents.