China's net secondary income (net current transfers from abroad) (current LCU) was 157.71 billion in 2025, the latest year in the World Bank's World Development Indicators. That is up 298.69% from -79.38 billion in 2015.
Key figures
| Value | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Latest | 157.71 billion | 2025 |
| Five years earlier | 57.11 billion | 2020 |
| Ten years earlier | -79.38 billion | 2015 |
| Highest | 299.88 billion | 2008 |
| Lowest | -80.36 billion | 2017 |
| Average since 2016 | 55.61 billion | 2016–2025 |
| First recorded | 1.45 billion |
What the numbers say
In 2025, China's net secondary income (net current transfers from abroad) (current LCU) rose 48.9 billion on 2024 (from 108.81 billion to 157.71 billion).
Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was +3.24 billion and a typical year strayed about 55.58 billion from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.8 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.
On record, the biggest yearly rise was 83.98 billion in 2019 and the biggest yearly fall was 137.78 billion in 2012. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.
From 2016 to 2025 the straight-line trend is upward, about 24.43 billion a year. A straight line explains 82% of the movement over 10 observed years.
Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.
How it compares
In 2025, China had the 48th highest value of the 130 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.
Closest to China in the 2025 ranking
- Chile — 44th of 130: 196.97 billion
- Benin — 45th of 130: 178.36 billion
- Congo, Rep. — 46th of 130: 172.96 billion
- North Macedonia — 48th of 130: 150.08 billion
- Armenia — 49th of 130: 134.65 billion
- Morocco — 50th of 130: 133.89 billion
What this measures
Net secondary income (from abroad) comprises transfers of income between residents of the reporting country and the rest of the world that carry no provisions for repayment. Net secondary income is equal to the unrequited transfers of income from nonresidents to residents minus the unrequited transfers from residents to nonresidents. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.
All 45 values
| Year | Net secondary income (net current transfers from abroad) (current LCU) |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 157,711,670,900 |
| 2024 | 108,808,320,300 |
| 2023 | 81,378,054,900 |
| 2022 | 135,591,647,500 |
| 2021 | 102,183,229,700 |
| 2020 | 57,108,313,900 |
| 2019 | 70,647,161,700 |
| 2018 | -13,334,056,400 |
| 2017 | -80,360,168,000 |
| 2016 | -63,680,387,300 |
Net secondary income (net current transfers from abroad) (current LCU) in nearby economies
- Australia — -521 million (2025)
- Brunei Darussalam — -939.28 million (2025)
- Cambodia — 9.94 trillion (2025)
- Fiji — 1.13 billion (2025)
- French Polynesia — 65.57 billion (2024)
- Hong Kong SAR, China — -23.47 billion (2025)
- Indonesia — 110.72 trillion (2025)
- Japan — -4.25 trillion (2024)
More economic policy & debt data for China
- Exports of goods and services (current US$) — US$4.11 trillion (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current LCU) — 29.54 trillion (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) — 21.07% (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$) — US$3.29 trillion (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU) — 23.67 trillion (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (% of GDP) — 16.89% (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current US$) — US$816.19 billion (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (current LCU) — 5.87 trillion (2025)
- External balance on goods and services (% of GDP) — 4.19% (2025)
Reading data like this
Questions people ask
- What is China's net secondary income (net current transfers from abroad) (current LCU)?
- 157.71 billion in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).
- How has it changed since 1981?
- It is up 10,803% from 1.45 billion in 1981 (11.25% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 299.88 billion in 2008 and the lowest -80.36 billion in 2017.
- How does China rank?
- 48th highest of 130 economies with data for 2025.
- Is the latest change in net secondary income (net current transfers from abroad) (current LCU) unusual for China?
- In 2025, China's net secondary income (net current transfers from abroad) (current LCU) rose 48.9 billion on 2024 (from 108.81 billion to 157.71 billion). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was +3.24 billion and a typical year strayed about 55.58 billion from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.8 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.
Source
World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator NY.TRF.NCTR.CN, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs); National Accounts data files, Central Banks; Staff estimates, World Bank (WB) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.
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