The fourth Chinese economic census, conducted in 2019, played an important role in identifying the economic potential, problems and prospects for the development of the national economy at the final stage of the 13th five-year plan (2016–2020).The base time for the census was December 31, 2018. The census covered all entities with the status of a legal entity operating on the territory of China, in the secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy — in industry, construction and numerous service industries, and subordinate production and economic structures and organizations, as well as individual farms registered as physical entities, in 31 regions of the country.One of the main places in the census is devoted to the analysis of the current state of private and individual enterprises, which make up the vast majority in the secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy. As a separate subject of research, medium-sized, small and micro-enterprises with the status of a legal entity, as well as individual farms are identified. Their priority importance in ensuring high-quality and sustainable development of the country, expanding employment channels, and improving the material well-being of citizens is shown.