??? 毫無疑問，中國在過去十年間取得了令人矚目的經濟增長。不過即便中國在過去幾年間年平均增長率高達10%，這并不意味著普通中國公民一定比普通的德國人或法國人吃得更好，睡得更香。實際上，根據世界銀行2009年的數據，2009年，中國人均國內生產總值為3,744美元，在164個國家中僅排在第86位。這比總規模小得多的經濟體如突尼斯、阿爾巴尼亞和約旦還落后。

??? 日本盡管在GDP總量上已經輸給中國了，但日本的普通公民還是普遍要殷實得多。2009年，日本的人均國內生產總值為39,727美元，排在第19位。此外，雖然美國經濟總量只比中國排名高一位，它還是以2009年人均國內生產總值45,989美元穩居世界最富有國家之列。2010年，日本的人均國內生產總值增至42,500美元，而美國則增至47,100美元。

??? 雖然比起多數發達國家來，中國人還是沒有擺脫貧困，但肯定有不少中國人感覺自己錢袋鼓了起來。從美國中央情報局的世界各國概況（CIA Factbook）數據看，2010年，中國的人均國內生產總值從2009年的3,744美元增至2010年的4,300美元，增幅達到15%。

??? 毋庸置疑，中國經濟總量最終將超越美國，這主要是基于其規模——中國人口為13億，而美國僅有3億。自2000年起步以來，中國經濟就開始了其超越世界前十大經濟體的雄心勃勃的征程，并終于超過了許多世界領先的經濟體。2000年，中國甩開意大利，成為世界第六大經濟體。5年后，中國讓法國拱手讓座，登上世界第五大經濟體寶座。2006年，勝過英國，2007年，又把德國拋在了身后。

??? 從2007年直至2010年，中國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齡化，日本經濟在第四財季收縮了0.3%，這是該國經濟五個財季以來首次出現收縮。

??? 譯者：清遠

???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.