2022 China Database Industry Analysis Report – Market Overview, Trends, and Product Landscape

1. Relational databases dominate Chinese popularity rankings, NoSQL rises

Since 2019, the Mo Tianlun community has compiled a monthly popularity ranking of Chinese database products, evaluating nearly 50 dimensions such as search‑engine data, patents, and job postings. By April 2022 the ranking includes 205 database products, with relational databases occupying the top ten positions while NoSQL databases gradually gain ground.

The NoSQL segment is split among key‑value, graph, and time‑series databases, which together form the top‑10 NoSQL entries on the Mo Tianlun ranking.

2. Database fundamentals and classification

A database system (DBS) consists of the database itself and a database management system (DBMS). The DBMS provides application support upward and accesses various data sources (text, images, audio) downward, leveraging compute, network, and storage resources.

(1) Relational, NoSQL, and NewSQL databases

Relational databases are based on the relational model and are categorized by workload into OLTP, OLAP, and HTAP. Deployment models include on‑premise and cloud‑native, while architectural styles span single‑node, cluster, and distributed designs.

NoSQL databases address the challenges of massive data volumes and heterogeneous data types, providing scalable solutions for big‑data applications.

NewSQL combines the ACID guarantees of relational databases with the horizontal scalability of NoSQL, delivering high‑performance OLTP workloads.

(2) Open‑source concepts and licenses

Open‑source software provides source code that can be freely studied, modified, and redistributed, typically under licenses that define permissible use. Common open‑source licenses are illustrated in the accompanying diagram.

3. Challenges and opportunities for China’s database industry

Capital inflow surged from 2019, with over 20 financing rounds and more than CNY 3 billion invested in 2021, creating a vibrant ecosystem of domestic vendors. Nevertheless, gaps remain in product capability, standards, ecosystem tools, and talent compared with leading foreign providers.

Geopolitical tensions, exemplified by sanctions on Russia, highlight the strategic importance of self‑reliance and drive Chinese firms to accelerate independent innovation.

4. Representative Chinese database products

More than 205 domestic database products are listed, covering relational, key‑value, time‑series, and graph NoSQL categories. Notable examples include PolarDB, OceanBase, MogDB, Dameng, GBase, TiDB, TcaplusDB, TDengine, and GalaxyBase, each described with architecture, advantages, solutions, and typical application scenarios.

The report concludes with a comprehensive set of links to additional white‑papers, technical guides, and case studies for further reference.