Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in China
China: Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) was 61.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in China, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in China is 61.6%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in China peaked at 76.8% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 61.6%, in 2025.
China ranks 61st of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 76.8% | — |
| 1992 | 76.4% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 75.7% | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 75.0% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 74.5% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 73.9% | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 73.3% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 72.8% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 72.3% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 71.8% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 71.1% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 70.4% | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 69.9% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 69.7% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 69.3% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 69.1% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 68.8% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 68.3% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 67.9% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 67.7% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 67.6% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 67.2% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 66.8% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 66.4% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 66.1% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 65.7% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 65.3% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 64.9% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 64.3% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 62.4% | -2.9% |
| 2021 | 64.1% | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 62.5% | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 62.8% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 61.9% | -1.3% |
| 2025 | 61.6% | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 74.5% | 72.3% | 76.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 69.6% | 67.9% | 71.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.2% | 64.3% | 67.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.5% | 61.6% | 64.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 58 Japan 61.9% compare
- 59 Ireland 61.8% compare
- 60 Saint Lucia 61.8% compare
- 62 Dominican Republic 61.5% compare
- 63 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 61.5% compare
- 64 Zimbabwe 61.4% compare
More work & labour data for China
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.65 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1.74 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.57 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.11 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.0615 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 1.12 million 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 275,362 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 319,567 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 326,230 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 645,797 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in China?
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in China was 61.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 76.8% in 1991.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.6% in 2025.
- How does China rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%)?
- China ranks 61st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed.