Female employment rate in Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong, China: Female employment rate was 51.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female employment rate in Hong Kong, China, 1975–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female employment rate in Hong Kong, China is 51.1%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female employment rate in Hong Kong, China peaked at 53.9% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 42.1%, in 1979.
Hong Kong, China ranks 87th of 172 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 47 years of available data.
Female employment rate in Hong Kong, China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 42.7% | — |
| 1979 | 42.1% | -1.4% |
| 1980 | 43.2% | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 46.8% | +8.4% |
| 1982 | 46.0% | -1.9% |
| 1983 | 45.9% | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 47.3% | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 47.2% | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 47.6% | +0.8% |
| 1987 | 47.6% | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 47.3% | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 46.2% | -2.4% |
| 1990 | 46.0% | -0.5% |
| 1991 | 47.0% | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 45.4% | -3.6% |
| 1993 | 45.6% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 46.3% | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 46.2% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 46.7% | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 47.0% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 46.6% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 47.1% | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 48.7% | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 48.9% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 48.4% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 48.9% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 49.6% | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 50.7% | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 51.3% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 51.6% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 50.9% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 50.1% | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 51.5% | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 52.1% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 52.9% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 52.9% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 53.0% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 53.1% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 53.6% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 53.9% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 53.8% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 51.8% | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 51.9% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 51.0% | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 51.0% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 51.1% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 51.1% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 42.4% | 42.1% | 42.7% | 2 |
| 1980s | 46.5% | 43.2% | 47.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 46.3% | 45.4% | 47.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 49.6% | 47.1% | 51.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.7% | 50.1% | 53.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.3% | 51.0% | 51.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong, China
More work & labour data for Hong Kong, China
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 2,981 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 55.13 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 3,663 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 149,185 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 100,833 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 53.6 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.56 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate -1.12 % change on previous year (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female employment rate in Hong Kong, China?
- Female employment rate in Hong Kong, China was 51.1% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female employment rate recorded in Hong Kong, China?
- The highest recorded value was 53.9% in 2018.
- What is the lowest female employment rate recorded in Hong Kong, China?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.1% in 1979.
- How does Hong Kong, China rank for female employment rate?
- Hong Kong, China ranks 87th out of 172 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female employment rate rising or falling in Hong Kong, China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Hong Kong, China data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are employed. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.