China says economy grew 5% last year, among slowest in decades

China's economy expanded five percent in 2025, Beijing said Monday, one of its slowest rates of growth in decades as it struggles with persistently low consumer spending and a debt crisis in its property sector.

Leaders set a growth target of "around five percent" for last year, following a five percent rise in 2024. The economy grew at 4.5 percent between October and December last year, in line with expectations but marking a significant slowdown towards the end of the year.