China

China has successfully achieved 100% access to electricity across its vast territory. This monumental achievement underscores massive infrastructure investment and is a crucial enabler for continued economic development and improved quality of life, especially in rural areas.

Despite being an upper-middle-income country, China exhibits health indicators comparable to many high-income nations. Life expectancy is high at nearly 78 years, and the infant mortality rate is exceptionally low at 4.5 per 1,000 live births, reflecting successful public health campaigns and improved medical access.

The inflation rate stands at a remarkably low 0.235%, suggesting significant deflationary pressures within the economy. While low inflation can protect consumers, such a near-zero rate often signals weak domestic demand and potential economic stagnation, contrasting sharply with high inflation seen globally in 2023.

China faces a severe demographic challenge indicated by an extremely low fertility rate of just 1.00. This rate is significantly below the replacement level (2.1) and suggests that the working-age population will shrink rapidly, creating massive pressure on social security and economic growth in the coming decades.