A "China+1" destination (or China Plus One) refers to a country that global companies select to build secondary manufacturing, assembly, or sourcing hubs alongside their primary operations in China. It is not a total exit from China. Instead, it is a risk-mitigation strategy.

Rising Stars

International
Young workforces and shifting supply chains are moving growth toward the Global South.
What Drives Each
India  ~1.48B people
China+1 Manufacturing
Large public infrastructure spending and digital public infrastructure, including the UPI payments network, position India as a leading China+1 destination.
🔌 Electronics💊 Pharmaceuticals💻 Tech Services☀️ Renewables💳 Fintech
Indonesia  ~288M people
Nickel and EV Supply Chain
Indonesia is channeling its nickel reserves into domestic battery processing, supported by a growing urban middle class and digital economy.
🔋 EV Batteries⛏️ Mineral Processing🛒 E-Commerce
Vietnam  ~102M people
Manufacturing Migration
An early beneficiary of supply chains moving beyond China, with a strong labor-cost-to-productivity ratio and trade access through the CPTPP.
🔌 Electronics🔬 Semiconductor Packaging🧵 Textiles🚢 Logistics
Mexico  ~133M people
USMCA Nearshoring
North American firms shortening supply chains from Asia are expanding industrial capacity in Mexico under the USMCA.
🚗 Automotive and EV⚙️ Industrial Machinery🩺 Medical Devices✈️ Aerospace
Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Population Prospects 2024 (medium variant, 2026 estimates). Drivers and industries: Poolside editorial summary.

The Working-Age Advantage

International
How the population divides by age across five emerging economies.
27.9%
under 15 in the Philippines, the youngest of the five
68.2%
of working age in India, the highest share
9.0%
aged 65 and older in Vietnam, the oldest profile
Share of Population by Age, 2024
 Under 15     Working age (15–64)     65 and older
The Philippines Median age 26.6 · ~118M
     
Under 15: 27.9% · 15–64: 66.6% · 65+: 5.5%
India Median age 29.2 · ~1.48B
     
Under 15: 24.6% · 15–64: 68.2% · 65+: 7.1%
Mexico Median age 30.0 · ~133M
     
Under 15: 24.5% · 15–64: 67.2% · 65+: 8.2%
Indonesia Median age 30.7 · ~288M
     
Under 15: 24.6% · 15–64: 68.1% · 65+: 7.3%
Vietnam Median age 33.9 · ~102M
     
Under 15: 23.2% · 15–64: 67.7% · 65+: 9.0%
In all five economies, about two in every three people are of working age. That is the core of the demographic advantage heading into 2030.
Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Population Prospects 2024 (medium variant). Age shares are 2024 estimates. Median age and population are 2026 estimates. Shares may not total 100 percent due to rounding.

Bonus Markets

International
Three more regions where a young population is shaping growth.
Median Age, 2026 (Years)
Uganda
17.1
Philippines
26.6
Saudi Arabia
29.7
The Philippines  ~118M people
An English-proficient workforce supports business process outsourcing, consumer demand, and remittance inflows.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE
Sovereign wealth is funding renewables, AI, and logistics under Saudi Vision 2030 and parallel UAE national strategies.
East Africa
Kenya is a digital services hub built on mobile money such as M-Pesa. Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world.
Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Population Prospects 2024 (medium variant, 2026 estimates). Regional drivers: Poolside editorial summary.

Sources

Key Terms

  • China+1 (China Plus One): A risk-mitigation strategy in which global companies add manufacturing, assembly, or sourcing operations in at least one other country while keeping their primary operations in China. It is not a full exit from China. A "China+1 destination" is a country selected for that secondary base.
  • MIT Sloan School of Management. What Is China + 1? Working Definitions series.

Demographic Data

India

Indonesia

Vietnam

Mexico

The Philippines

Saudi Arabia and the UAE

East Africa