Guangdong's economic output surpassed 12 trillion, 13 trillion, and 14 trillion yuan successively between 2021 and 2024, reaching 14.16 trillion yuan in 2024, ranking the highest in China for the 36th consecutive year, according to a press conference on November 6. Over the first four years of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the province's GDP recorded an average annual growth rate of 4.7%.
2025 marks the final year of China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). The five-year plans serve as a comprehensive blueprint for China's economic and social advancement, outlining goals, strategies, and priorities for each planning cycle. Each province formulates its five-year plan accordingly. The press conference marked the first briefing on the achievements of Guangdong during the 14th Five-Year Plan.
According to the press conference, Guangdong's targets and tasks under the 14th Five-Year Plan are progressing steadily. Guangdong's local general public budget revenue reached 1.35 trillion yuan in 2024, ranking first nationwide for 34 consecutive years. The province also led in industrial operating revenue (19.41 trillion yuan) and service sector added value (8.14 trillion yuan).
The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) continued to deliver results. The "Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou" innovation cluster rose to the top of the global innovation index this year. Infrastructure connectivity accelerated, forming a network of cross-sea and cross-river corridors. Progress was also made in mutual recognition of professional qualifications, cross-border talent, vehicle access, and data sharing. Major cooperation platforms such as Hengqin, Qianhai, Nansha, and Hetao advanced steadily.
The province has led China in overall regional innovation capacity for eight consecutive years. Guangdong also ranks first in R&D spending, high-value invention patents, and the number of high-tech enterprises. It has built nine industrial clusters, each exceeding 1 trillion yuan in output. Among them, the AI industry reached 220 billion yuan, about one-third of China's total. The digital economy ranks first nationwide, while its new energy vehicle output (3.618 million units, 25% of China's total) and industrial robot production (247,000 units, 43.5%) both lead the country.
Guangdong remains a leader in opening up. The province's total import and export volume exceeded 9 trillion yuan, maintaining its national lead for 39 consecutive years. From 2021 to 2024, Guangdong utilized 626.26 billion yuan in foreign investment and made outbound investments totaling 83.939 billion US dollars. The province's ports connect with more than 230 ports in over 80 countries and regions.
The "High-Quality Development Project for Counties, Towns, and Villages" has enhanced coordinated regional development. The income gap between urban and rural residents has narrowed. Guangdong's marine economy reached 2 trillion yuan in 2024, ranking first nationwide for 30 years.
The province maintained top-tier performance in forest coverage and water-soil conservation, achieving a rate of 90.7%. The greenway spans 7,200 kilometers. Air quality reached its best level on record, with 95.8% of days rated good or excellent in 2024.
Reporter | Dai Bosi
Photo | Nanfang Plus
Editor | Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
