Paper and paperboard — Production in China
China: Paper and paperboard — Production was 140.30 million t in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Paper and paperboard — Production in China, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in t.
Analysis
The most recent figure for paper and paperboard — production in China is 140.30 million t, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.
The figure is up 4.9% on the previous year and up 29.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, paper and paperboard — production in China peaked at 140.30 million t in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.48 million t, in 1967.
China ranks 1st of 152 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Paper and paperboard — Production in China, year by year
| Year | t | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2.53 million t | — |
| 1962 | 2.74 million t | +8.4% |
| 1963 | 3.00 million t | +9.4% |
| 1964 | 3.09 million t | +2.9% |
| 1965 | 3.19 million t | +3.3% |
| 1966 | 3.34 million t | +4.7% |
| 1967 | 2.48 million t | -25.8% |
| 1968 | 2.63 million t | +6.3% |
| 1969 | 2.79 million t | +5.8% |
| 1970 | 2.91 million t | +4.3% |
| 1971 | 3.06 million t | +5.2% |
| 1972 | 3.37 million t | +10.2% |
| 1973 | 4.12 million t | +22.1% |
| 1974 | 3.93 million t | -4.6% |
| 1975 | 4.13 million t | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 4.21 million t | +2.1% |
| 1977 | 4.66 million t | +10.6% |
| 1978 | 5.37 million t | +15.2% |
| 1979 | 6.32 million t | +17.7% |
| 1980 | 6.84 million t | +8.2% |
| 1981 | 6.95 million t | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 7.46 million t | +7.4% |
| 1983 | 8.45 million t | +13.2% |
| 1984 | 9.55 million t | +13.1% |
| 1985 | 11.24 million t | +17.7% |
| 1986 | 12.64 million t | +12.5% |
| 1987 | 14.27 million t | +12.9% |
| 1988 | 15.74 million t | +10.3% |
| 1989 | 16.53 million t | +5.0% |
| 1990 | 17.41 million t | +5.3% |
| 1991 | 18.29 million t | +5.1% |
| 1992 | 20.29 million t | +11.0% |
| 1993 | 21.97 million t | +8.3% |
| 1994 | 25.74 million t | +17.1% |
| 1995 | 28.52 million t | +10.8% |
| 1996 | 31.00 million t | +8.7% |
| 1997 | 31.92 million t | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 32.20 million t | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 33.63 million t | +4.4% |
| 2000 | 35.18 million t | +4.6% |
| 2001 | 36.53 million t | +3.8% |
| 2002 | 42.06 million t | +15.1% |
| 2003 | 47.42 million t | +12.7% |
| 2004 | 54.07 million t | +14.0% |
| 2005 | 60.41 million t | +11.7% |
| 2006 | 69.39 million t | +14.9% |
| 2007 | 77.97 million t | +12.4% |
| 2008 | 83.69 million t | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 90.19 million t | +7.8% |
| 2010 | 96.55 million t | +7.0% |
| 2011 | 103.23 million t | +6.9% |
| 2012 | 106.57 million t | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 105.15 million t | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 108.75 million t | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 111.15 million t | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 112.60 million t | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 115.35 million t | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 108.40 million t | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 111.70 million t | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 117.15 million t | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 125.15 million t | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 128.37 million t | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 133.70 million t | +4.2% |
| 2024 | 140.30 million t | +4.9% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 140.30 million t is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 130,000 t, 1079.2× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- China's 140.30 million t is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.72 million t, 51.7× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Paper and paperboard — Production in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | -25.8% | 3.34 million t | 2.48 million t |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.87 million t | 2.48 million t | 3.34 million t | 9 |
| 1970s | 4.21 million t | 2.91 million t | 6.32 million t | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.97 million t | 6.84 million t | 16.53 million t | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.10 million t | 17.41 million t | 33.63 million t | 10 |
| 2000s | 59.69 million t | 35.18 million t | 90.19 million t | 10 |
| 2010s | 107.94 million t | 96.55 million t | 115.35 million t | 10 |
| 2020s | 128.93 million t | 117.15 million t | 140.30 million t | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 2 China, mainland 136.25 million t compare
- 3 United States 62.46 million t compare
- 4 India 22.36 million t compare
More environment data for China
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.279 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.92 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 5.29 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8065 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -0.2517 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is paper and paperboard — production in China?
- Paper and paperboard — production in China was 140.30 million t in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest paper and paperboard — production recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 140.30 million t in 2024.
- What is the lowest paper and paperboard — production recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.48 million t in 1967.
- How does China rank for paper and paperboard — production?
- China ranks 1st out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
- Is paper and paperboard — production rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Paper and paperboard — Production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO).
About this data
The database contains data on the production and trade in roundwood and in primary wood and paper products for all countries and territories in the world.The main types of primary forest products included in this database are roundwood, sawnwood, wood-based panels, pulp, and paper and paperboard. These products are detailed further and defined in the Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire (JFSQ) (https://www.fao.org/statistics/data-collection/forestry/en). The database contains details of the following topics: - roundwood removals (production) by coniferous and non-coniferous wood and assortments, - production and trade in industrial roundwood, sawnwood, wood-based panels, wood charcoal, pulp, paper and paperboard, and other products. More detailed information on wood products, including definitions, can be found at: https://www.fao.org/statistics/data-collection/forestry/en