Female labor force by age in China
China: Female labor force by age was 18.65 million people in 2024. ▲ Rising
Female labor force by age in China, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, female labor force by age in China stood at 18.65 million people. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and up 62.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force by age in China peaked at 18.65 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.86 million people, in 1990.
That places China 1st out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.85 million people | 2.86 million people | 7.43 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.86 million people | 8.21 million people | 9.46 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.07 million people | 9.61 million people | 15.38 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.57 million people | 15.79 million people | 18.65 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More work & labour data for China
- 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)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 64.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 69.9% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 84.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 59.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 74.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 69.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force by age in China?
- Female labor force by age in China was 18.65 million people in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force by age recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 18.65 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest female labor force by age recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.86 million people in 1990.
- How does China rank for female labor force by age?
- China ranks 1st out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female labor force by age rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 62.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed).