Guangdong province in South China has solidified its status as a market leader, boasting over 20 million registered market entities. This impressive figure underscores the region’s dynamic economic landscape and vibrant business environment.
Key Figures in Guangdong’s Economic Growth
The provincial capital, Guangzhou, plays a pivotal role in this achievement. It is home to approximately 4.22 million active market entities, reflecting a remarkable 16 percent increase from the previous year. This growth positions Guangzhou as the second-largest city in China by market entities.
- Guangzhou: 4.22 million active market entities
- Shenzhen: Nearly 4.6 million registered business entities by September 2025
- Overall registered market entities in Guangdong: Over 20 million
Sector Highlights
Guangzhou’s economic expansion is significantly driven by strategic and emerging industries. Notable growth has been observed in various sectors:
- Low-altitude economy and aerospace: 161.7% increase in new registrations
- Artificial intelligence: 109% growth
- Fashion consumer goods: 100.9% rise
Future industries are also thriving. The following sectors saw substantial increases in registrations:
- Future networks and quantum technology: 243.4% increase
- Deep-sea and aerospace: 160.2% increase
- Intelligent unmanned systems: 122.5% increase
Shenzhen’s Business Landscape
Shenzhen, another critical city in Guangdong, reported nearly 4.6 million registered business entities as of September 2025. This represents a 5.3 percent increase, further cementing its leadership position at the national level.
According to the Guangdong Provincial Market Supervision Bureau, the province reached nearly 20.02 million registered market entities by early September 2025. This marks a net increase of 953,100 from the end of 2024, indicating a 5 percent growth rate. Notably, Guangdong accounts for approximately one-tenth of China’s total market entities.
Economic Organization and Future Outlook
The province’s registered enterprises have surpassed 9 million, resulting in a business-to-individual ratio of 0.83:1. This ratio is a significant indicator of economic structure and modernization.
Lin Jiang, an economics professor at Sun Yat-sen University’s Lingnan College, emphasizes the importance of focusing on the quality of market entities as Guangdong continues to grow. “This reflects the quality behind the 20 million entities,” he stated.
As Guangdong moves forward, cultivating the quality of its market entities will be essential for sustaining its economic vitality and competitive edge.
