中国更富有了，但多数国人仍然拮据

    毫无疑问，中国在过去十年间取得了令人瞩目的经济增长。不过即便中国在过去几年间年平均增长率高达10%，这并不意味着普通中国公民一定比普通的德国人或法国人吃得更好，睡得更香。实际上，根据世界银行2009年的数据，2009年，中国人均国内生产总值为3,744美元，在164个国家中仅排在第86位。这比总规模小得多的经济体如突尼斯、阿尔巴尼亚和约旦还落后。

    日本尽管在GDP总量上已经输给中国了，但日本的普通公民还是普遍要殷实得多。2009年，日本的人均国内生产总值为39,727美元，排在第19位。此外，虽然美国经济总量只比中国排名高一位，它还是以2009年人均国内生产总值45,989美元稳居世界最富有国家之列。2010年，日本的人均国内生产总值增至42,500美元，而美国则增至47,100美元。

    虽然比起多数发达国家来，中国人还是没有摆脱贫困，但肯定有不少中国人感觉自己钱袋鼓了起来。从美国中央情报局的世界各国概况（CIA Factbook）数据看，2010年，中国的人均国内生产总值从2009年的3,744美元增至2010年的4,300美元，增幅达到15%。

    毋庸置疑，中国经济总量最终将超越美国，这主要是基于其规模——中国人口为13亿，而美国仅有3亿。自2000年起步以来，中国经济就开始了其超越世界前十大经济体的雄心勃勃的征程，并终于超过了许多世界领先的经济体。2000年，中国甩开意大利，成为世界第六大经济体。5年后，中国让法国拱手让座，登上世界第五大经济体宝座。2006年，胜过英国，2007年，又把德国抛在了身后。

    从2007年直至2010年，中国在世界第三的位置上停留了三年。2010年，受困于需求疲弱和快速老龄化，日本经济在第四财季收缩了0.3%，这是该国经济五个财季以来首次出现收缩。

    译者：清远

   There is no doubt China has achieved impressive growth over the past decade. But even though the country has averaged about 10% growth over the past several years, that doesn't mean the average Chinese citizen is necessarily eating or sleeping better than the average German or Frenchman. In fact, with GDP per capita at $3,744 in 2009, China placed #86 out of 164 countries ranked according to 2009 World Bank data. This was just below much smaller economies such as Tunisia, Albania and Jordan.

   While Japan might have lost its place to China, the average citizen there is still generally much richer. In 2009, Japan's GDP per capita, at $39,727, ranked it 19. What's more, even while the size of the U.S. economy ranks just one notch above China's, it's nevertheless one of the richest countries in the world with GDP per capita in 2009 at $45,989. In 2010, Japan's GDP per capita rose to $42,500 while in the U.S. it rose to $47,100.

   Even while China's population is still poor relative to most developed countries, many of its citizens must be feeling flush with wealth. Its GDP per capita surged from just $3,744 in 2009 to $4,300 in 2010, according to the CIA Factbook, a 15% jump.

   There is little doubt that China's economy will eventually surpass the U.S., mostly because of its sheer size -- its population is 1.3 billion, versus just 300 million in the U.S. Starting in 2000, China's economy began its aggressive climb through the top ten economies, surpassing many of the world's most advanced economies. In 2000, it bumped Italy to become the sixth-biggest economy in the world. Five years later, China unseated France, rising its way to be the fifth-largest economy. Then in 2006, it trumped the United Kingdom, then Germany the next year.

   China stayed in third place for the next three years until 2010. It was the year when Japan's economy – hampered by weak demand and a rapidly aging population – contracted by 0.3% during the fourth quarter, marking the first time in five quarters that its economy has ever contracted.