Digital Economy Emerges as Key Growth Pillar, Nearing 40 Trillion Yuan in Revenue
The latest “National Informatization Development Report (2025)” released by the Cyberspace Administration of China reveals a significant leap forward in the country's digital transformation. A standout figure is the core digital economy's value-added accounting for over 10.5% of GDP, signaling its transition from a dynamic emerging sector to a fundamental pillar of the national economy.
Dual Engines: Industrial Scale and Consumer Market
In 2025, China's digital industry generated total revenue of 39.6 trillion yuan, marking a steady year-on-year increase of 8.8%. This massive scale is a testament to the deep integration of digital technologies with the real economy. Concurrently, residential digital consumption demonstrated robust vitality, reaching 25.3 trillion yuan, up 8.7% year-on-year, forming a solid domestic demand foundation for digital growth.
Qualitative Leap in Network Infrastructure
The robust expansion of the digital economy is underpinned by substantial advancements in foundational infrastructure. The report highlights milestone achievements in China's network construction for 2025.
Accelerated 5G and Gigabit Network Penetration
By the end of 2025, the total number of 5G base stations built and operational across the country reached 4.838 million, consolidating China's position as having the world's largest and most advanced 5G network. Notably, over two-thirds of prefecture-level cities have now met the "Gigabit City" standard, enabling widespread access to ultra-high-speed fiber-optic networks for households and businesses. This infrastructure supports applications like HD video, remote collaboration, and industrial internet.
Decisive Progress in IPv6 Large-scale Deployment
China is also a global leader in deploying next-generation internet protocols. The report states that the number of active IPv6 users in China has grown to 869 million. The large-scale adoption of IPv6 not only addresses the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses but also lays a critical foundation for future scenarios requiring massive connectivity, such as the Internet of Things and smart cities.
Outlook: Digital Economy Leads a New Chapter in High-Quality Development
In summary, the report outlines a clear blueprint for digital economic development, powered by robust infrastructure and driven by industrial innovation and consumer spending. Key metrics—including exceeding 10% of GDP contribution, nearly 40 trillion yuan in industry revenue, and close to 900 million next-generation internet users—collectively demonstrate that the digital economy is now deeply embedded in China's economic fabric. It serves as a core force driving industrial upgrading and shaping new national competitive advantages. Looking ahead, with the further penetration of technologies like AI and big data, the digital economy is poised to unlock even greater growth potential.