China has formally overtaken Japan as the world's second largest economy.
Latest official figures from Tokyo show Japan's gross domestic product increased by just under 4% in 2010, a far slower rate of growth than China's and not enough to keep its economy ahead.
The BBC reports Japan's economy was worth $US5.474 trillion at the end of 2010. China's economy was closer to $US5.8 trillion in the same period.
Japan has been hit by a drop in exports and consumer demand, while China has seen a manufacturing boom.
At its current rate of growth, analysts see China replacing the United States as the world's top economy in about a decade.
