China said Friday its economy slowed to its lowest rate in nearly three years.

The National Bureau of Statistics said the gross domestic product grew by 8.1 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, compared with 8.9 percent year-on-year expansion in the last quarter of 2011. It was the lowest quarterly growth rate since the second quarter of 2009.

Analysts say global demand for China's exports may remain sluggish, with much of the euro zone seen in recession and concerns about the strength of the U.S. economic recovery.