China confirms GDP rose 5.2% in 2023 on higher government spending

Result matches Premier Li's early revelation; Beijing reinstates youth jobless figure

A housing construction site Hangzhou, China: The government has taken a number of steps to revive the ailing real estate market in the country. © Getty Images

CK TAN, Nikkei staff writer

January 17, 2024 11:02 JST

Updated on January 17, 2024 17:50 JST

SHANGHAI -- China's economy grew 5.2% on the year in 2023, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday, confirming an unusual early revelation Premier Li Qiang had made the previous day.

The result beat an official forecast of a roughly 5% expansion, set after pandemic lockdowns caused growth to slow to 3% in 2022.