Graphics: High-quality development of China's county economy

The economic development of counties plays a crucial role as a fundamental unit in the growth of a nation's economy. Studying county economic development is vital for understanding the overall health and progress of the national economy.

Exemplified by the "100-billion-yuan GDP counties," the rapid progress of county economies highlights the vitality of China's overall economy. Leading the list are Kunshan, Jiangyin and Zhangjiagang – all from Jiangsu Province – as the top three county-level economies with the highest GDP in 2023, followed by Jinjiang from Fujian Province and Changshu from Jiangsu Province. In 2023, Kunshan's GDP exceeded 500 billion yuan ($70 billion), with Jiangyin close behind at 496.05 billion yuan.

Featuring distinct local conditions and unique advantages, county economies are believed to play a significant role in supporting rural revitalization and urban-rural integrated development. China added five new counties with a GDP exceeding 100 billion yuan in 2023, bringing the total to 59. In 2013, only nine counties and county-level cities had reached this milestone. These 59 counties collectively contributed 9.6 trillion yuan to the national GDP, accounting for 7.6 percent of the total. They are also key drivers of county-level economic growth, with their major enterprises generating over 13 trillion yuan in industrial output, representing more than 10 percent of China's total.

Consultancy firm McKinsey predicts that by 2030, county economies will contribute to more than 66 percent of China's personal consumption growth.