Baotou has prioritized development since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012. The comprehensive strength of the city has gradually increased, and the total size of its economy has continued to increase.

In 2021, the city's GDP reached a record 329.3 billion yuan ($46.95 billion), nearly doubling from 2012.

From 2013 to 2021, calculated at constant prices, the city's GDP increased by an average of 6.8 percent annually, realizing consistent economic growth. In 2021, Baotou also entered the ranks of the top 100 cities in GDP, jumping from 103rd in 2020 to 92nd.

The development quality of Baotou has significantly improved as well. The city's living standards has been improving year by year, and the per capita GDP increased by 6.5 percent annually from 2013 to 2021. Since 2019, it has exceeded 100,000 yuan for three consecutive years.

In addition, the quality and quantity of the city's fiscal revenue have increased. In 2021, the city's general public budget revenue was 16.11 billion yuan, of which tax revenue was 12.41 billion yuan, accounting for nearly 80 percent of general public budget revenue, an increase of 9.6 percentage points from 2012.