(Yicai Global) Feb. 4 -- China ranked second globally as home to 171 "gazelle companies," or start-ups with high-growth potentials, according to the Hurun Global Gazelle Index list for 2021.

Gazelle companies refer to those start-ups founded in the 2000s, worth over 500 million U.S. dollars and not yet listed on a public exchange. These companies are also most likely to become "unicorns" valued over 1 billion U.S. dollars within three years.

Globally, a total of 525 unicorn companies were on the list, according to the list released by the Shanghai-based Hurun Research Institute.

The United States topped the list with 201 gazelle companies in total.