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Cost of moneyChina

Real policy rate in China

Does money at the central bank’s rate actually beat inflation?

China's real policy rate is 2.94 % — #7 of 53 countries on the atlas (higher is better). Period 2026-08.

2.94%

Checked 8 Sept 2026Period 2026-08

Source: Fiatmap derived metrics (own calculation from separately sourced components)

Positive: money in the bank in China currently grows 2.9 pp faster than prices.

Among 53 countries

2 of 53 countries between -2.17 % and -1.86 %1 of 53 countries between -1.86 % and -1.55 %3 of 53 countries between -1.55 % and -1.24 %1 of 53 countries between -1.24 % and -0.93 %1 of 53 countries between -0.93 % and -0.62 %3 of 53 countries between -0.62 % and -0.31 %10 of 53 countries between -0.31 % and 0.00 %4 of 53 countries between 0.00 % and 0.31 %1 of 53 countries between 0.31 % and 0.62 %3 of 53 countries between 0.62 % and 0.93 %4 of 53 countries between 0.93 % and 1.24 %6 of 53 countries between 1.24 % and 1.56 %3 of 53 countries between 1.87 % and 2.18 %3 of 53 countries between 2.49 % and 2.80 %2 of 53 countries between 2.80 % and 3.11 %1 of 53 countries between 3.11 % and 3.42 %2 of 53 countries between 3.73 % and 4.04 %3 of 53 countries between 4.97 % and 5.28 %median 0.63 %China: ahead of 87 % of the 53 countries with a published real policy rateChina 2.94 %-2.17 %5.28 %
Half of all 53 countries sit between -0.15 % and 1.91 %. China is ahead of 87 % of them. Axis trimmed to the 2nd–98th percentile; 3 values beyond it sit in the end bars.
Rank
#7 of 53
higher is better
Ranked behind
87 %
46 of 53 countries

In Asia: #3 of 12vs median 0.63 %: +2.31 pp (better)

The neighbourhood

#CountryReal policy ratevs China
5 South Africa3.79 %+0.85 pp
6 Philippines3.34 %+0.40 pp
7 China2.94 %—
8 India2.85 %−0.09 pp
9 Peru2.72 %−0.22 pp

Policy rate minus annual CPI inflation — positive means money in the bank beats inflation. Our calculation from separately sourced components.

How to read this figure

Our own calculation: the central bank policy rate minus annual CPI inflation. It answers one question — does parked money beat rising prices? Both components are separately sourced official figures, and we never compute it when either leg is missing.

Next, about China

Inflation rate
Real policy rate, all countries ranked →Compare China with another country →Everything about China →Methodology →
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