China’s Data Industry Hits $1 Trillion in 2025 Amid AI Boom
China's data industry continued its rapid expansion throughout 2025, fueled by the increasingly vital role of data in driving the accelerated growth of the artificial intelligence (AI) sector. The figures were released on Friday during the opening ceremony of the 2026 China International Big Data Industry Expo.
Official data revealed that the scale of China's data industry reached 6.78 trillion yuan (approximately $1 trillion) in 2025, marking a 15.7% year-on-year growth.
The total output value of data-related software products—encompassing AI application software and data resource products, including base "token" services—amounted to roughly 4.99 trillion yuan, accounting for 73.6% of the industry's total volume.
As of this month, more than 126,000 high-quality datasets have been generated across China, with a total volume exceeding 1,815 petabytes. This represents a staggering increase of over 89% compared to March.
Advancing Artificial Intelligence
"The development of artificial intelligence relies heavily on data. Wherever AI advances, we push forward with the construction and application of high-quality datasets," stated Liu Liehong, head of China's National Data Bureau.
Held in Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province in southwestern China, the expo is themed "Tokens: A New Path to the Value of Data Elements." The event has attracted 372 domestic and international enterprises, alongside more than 16,000 registered guests.
As of late July, Guizhou Province had become home to 50 major data centers, cementing its status as a critical hub for the nation's digital infrastructure.