Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in China

China: Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) was 67.3% in 2019. ▼ Falling

Latest (2019)
67.3%
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
31st
of 178 countries
All-time high
75.3%
in 2001
All-time low
67.3%
in 2019
Years of data
20
2000–2019

Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in China, 2000–2019

0204060802000200920192000: 71.42001: 75.32002: 74.42003: 73.82004: 73.22005: 72.82006: 72.42007: 722008: 71.42009: 70.92010: 69.22011: 68.92012: 68.72013: 68.62014: 68.52015: 68.42016: 68.22017: 67.92018: 67.72019: 67.3

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

In 2019, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in China stood at 67.3%. That is the lowest value across all 20 years on record.

The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 5.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in China peaked at 75.3% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 67.3%, in 2019.

China ranks 31st of 178 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 20 years of available data.

Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in China, year by year

Annual values for Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate) in China, 2000 to 2019.
Year Value Change
2000 71.4%
2001 75.3% +5.5%
2002 74.4% -1.2%
2003 73.8% -0.8%
2004 73.2% -0.8%
2005 72.8% -0.6%
2006 72.4% -0.5%
2007 72.0% -0.6%
2008 71.4% -0.8%
2009 70.9% -0.8%
2010 69.2% -2.4%
2011 68.9% -0.4%
2012 68.7% -0.2%
2013 68.6% -0.2%
2014 68.5% -0.2%
2015 68.4% -0.2%
2016 68.2% -0.3%
2017 67.9% -0.4%
2018 67.7% -0.4%
2019 67.3% -0.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 72.8% 70.9% 75.3% 10
2010s 68.3% 67.3% 69.2% 10

Countries ranked near China

  1. 28 Oman 68.3% compare
  2. 29 Bahamas 67.5% compare
  3. 30 Belarus 67.5% compare
  4. 32 San Marino 67.0% compare
  5. 33 New Zealand 66.8% compare
  6. 34 Thailand 66.6% compare

See the full ranking of 209 places →

More work & labour data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in China?
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in China was 67.3% in 2019, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 75.3% in 2001.
What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 67.3% in 2019.
How does China rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%)?
China ranks 31st out of 178 countries with data for 2019.
Is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this China data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in China. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/employment-to-population-ratio-15-total-percent-national-estimate/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
209 places, 4,960 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed.