China's 31 Provinces Announce Q1 GDP: More Than Half Below National Growth Rate
Data from China's 31 provinces for Q1 2026 shows that 16 provinces grew slower than the national average of 5.0%. While export-heavy coastal regions like Shandong and Zhejiang performed well, inland areas and those dependent on domestic demand struggled, highlighting a growing economic divide.
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 13:48
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 14:01 (13 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 14:32 (31 min after Collected)
China’s 31 provinces and municipalities recently released their GDP data for the first quarter, showing that 16 provinces had growth rates lower than the national average of 5%. The gap between major economic provinces and less developed regions has widened further. Experts believe this trend aligns with China's overall economic structure of 'strong exports and weak domestic demand.'
According to a report by Chinese media 'Yicai' on the 27th, China's GDP grew by 5% in the first quarter of this year. Among the 31 provinces that have released their figures, 15 had growth rates of 5% or higher. The top five were Tibet (6.1%), Shandong (6.0%), Zhejiang (6.0%), Shanghai (5.9%), and Beijing (5.9%).
On the other hand, 16 provinces underperformed the national average, including Hebei (4.9%), Guangdong (4.6%), Chongqing (4.5%), and Hainan (3.8%). The lowest-performing province among the 31 was Liaoning, at only 2.8%.
The report noted that in the first quarter of 2025, only 10 provinces grew slower than the national average, but this number increased to 16 this year. Regionally, the eastern regions led the country, with only Guangdong and Hainan growing slower than the national average; provinces like Shandong, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Beijing, Jiangsu, Fujian, and Tianjin all outperformed the average, including most major economic powerhouses.
Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao quoted Professor Yao Shujie of Chongqing University on the 27th, stating that while more provinces failed to meet expectations, their weight in the overall economy is small. Most major economic provinces, which carry more weight, exceeded expectations, ensuring that the Chinese economy as a whole maintains a steady growth trend.
Xu Tianchen, a senior analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), said that China's exports exceeded expectations in the first quarter, benefiting provinces with high export shares and competitiveness, such as Jiangsu, Shandong, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. In contrast, domestic demand was weaker, with slow growth in retail and a slight recovery in investment, putting pressure on provinces oriented toward domestic consumption.
Xu added that the prosperity of the automotive industry has a significant impact on provincial economies. This year, the industry faced heavy pressure on domestic sales, affecting Shaanxi, Chongqing, and Guangdong. However, Anhui's growth was higher because its automotive production is mainly for export.
Xu also mentioned that due to China's extreme competitiveness in the industrial sector, its strong export advantage is expected to continue. The '15th Five-Year Plan' (2026-2030) also emphasizes restructuring and promoting domestic demand, and a recovery in domestic demand is expected to manifest slowly over the coming years.
According to a report by Chinese media 'Yicai' on the 27th, China's GDP grew by 5% in the first quarter of this year. Among the 31 provinces that have released their figures, 15 had growth rates of 5% or higher. The top five were Tibet (6.1%), Shandong (6.0%), Zhejiang (6.0%), Shanghai (5.9%), and Beijing (5.9%).
On the other hand, 16 provinces underperformed the national average, including Hebei (4.9%), Guangdong (4.6%), Chongqing (4.5%), and Hainan (3.8%). The lowest-performing province among the 31 was Liaoning, at only 2.8%.
The report noted that in the first quarter of 2025, only 10 provinces grew slower than the national average, but this number increased to 16 this year. Regionally, the eastern regions led the country, with only Guangdong and Hainan growing slower than the national average; provinces like Shandong, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Beijing, Jiangsu, Fujian, and Tianjin all outperformed the average, including most major economic powerhouses.
Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao quoted Professor Yao Shujie of Chongqing University on the 27th, stating that while more provinces failed to meet expectations, their weight in the overall economy is small. Most major economic provinces, which carry more weight, exceeded expectations, ensuring that the Chinese economy as a whole maintains a steady growth trend.
Xu Tianchen, a senior analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), said that China's exports exceeded expectations in the first quarter, benefiting provinces with high export shares and competitiveness, such as Jiangsu, Shandong, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. In contrast, domestic demand was weaker, with slow growth in retail and a slight recovery in investment, putting pressure on provinces oriented toward domestic consumption.
Xu added that the prosperity of the automotive industry has a significant impact on provincial economies. This year, the industry faced heavy pressure on domestic sales, affecting Shaanxi, Chongqing, and Guangdong. However, Anhui's growth was higher because its automotive production is mainly for export.
Xu also mentioned that due to China's extreme competitiveness in the industrial sector, its strong export advantage is expected to continue. The '15th Five-Year Plan' (2026-2030) also emphasizes restructuring and promoting domestic demand, and a recovery in domestic demand is expected to manifest slowly over the coming years.