TalkingChina participated in the compilation of the “2025 China Translation Industry Development Report” and the “2025 Global Translation Industry Development Report”

This report is led by the China Translation Association and systematically summarizes the development achievements and trends of the Chinese translation industry in the past year. The 2025 Report on the Development of China's Translation Industry shows that the overall translation industry in China will show a steady growth trend in 2024, with a total output value of 70.8 billion yuan and a workforce of 6.808 million. The total number of translation enterprises in operation has exceeded 650000, and the number of enterprises mainly engaged in translation business has increased to 14665. The market competition is more active, and the industry is further segmented. In terms of service demand, the proportion of independent translation by the demand side has increased, and conferences and exhibitions, education and training, and intellectual property have become the top three sub sectors in terms of translation business volume.

The report also pointed out that private enterprises dominate the translation service market, with Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong accounting for over half of the country's translation enterprises. The demand for highly educated and versatile talents has significantly increased, and the integration of translation talent training with specialized fields has been strengthened. The role of translation in economic and social development is becoming increasingly prominent. In terms of technological development, the number of enterprises mainly engaged in translation technology has doubled, and the number of related enterprises in Guangdong Province continues to lead the country. The application scope of translation technology continues to expand, and more than 90% of enterprises actively layout artificial intelligence and large model technology. 70% of universities have already offered related courses.

At the same time, the 2025 Report on the Development of the Global Translation Industry pointed out that the market size of the global translation industry has grown, and the category and proportion of services based on Internet and machine translation have increased significantly. North America has the largest market, and the proportion of leading translation companies in Asia has further increased. The development of technology has increased the demand for highly skilled translators in the market. About 34% of freelance translators worldwide have obtained a master's or doctoral degree in translation, and improving their professional reputation and obtaining training are the main demands of translators. In terms of the application of artificial intelligence technology, generative artificial intelligence is reshaping the workflow and competitive landscape of the translation industry. Global translation companies are gradually improving their understanding of generative artificial intelligence technology, with 54% of companies believing that artificial intelligence is beneficial to business development, and the ability to apply artificial intelligence has become a necessary skill for practitioners.

In terms of enterprise operation practice, the global translation industry is in a critical period of innovation and transformation. 80% of the world's top translation companies have deployed generative artificial intelligence tools, exploring the transformation towards multimodal localization, artificial intelligence data annotation and other value-added services. Technology innovation enterprises are active in mergers and acquisitions.