Female labor force by age in China
China: Female labor force by age was 18.65 million people in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
18.65 million people
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
1st
of 188 countries
All-time high
18.65 million people
in 2024
All-time low
2.86 million people
in 1990
Years of data
35
1990–2024
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.
Female labor force by age in China, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2.86 million people | — |
| 1991 | 3.19 million people | +11.6% |
| 1992 | 3.55 million people | +11.4% |
| 1993 | 3.96 million people | +11.5% |
| 1994 | 4.41 million people | +11.4% |
| 1995 | 4.91 million people | +11.2% |
| 1996 | 5.45 million people | +11.0% |
| 1997 | 6.04 million people | +10.8% |
| 1998 | 6.70 million people | +10.9% |
| 1999 | 7.43 million people | +10.8% |
| 2000 | 8.21 million people | +10.6% |
| 2001 | 8.38 million people | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 8.54 million people | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 8.68 million people | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 8.80 million people | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 8.93 million people | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 9.07 million people | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 9.21 million people | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 9.33 million people | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 9.46 million people | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 9.61 million people | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 10.07 million people | +4.7% |
| 2012 | 10.47 million people | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 10.92 million people | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 11.45 million people | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 12.07 million people | +5.4% |
| 2016 | 12.75 million people | +5.7% |
| 2017 | 13.55 million people | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 14.45 million people | +6.7% |
| 2019 | 15.38 million people | +6.4% |
| 2020 | 15.79 million people | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 17.34 million people | +9.8% |
| 2022 | 17.63 million people | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 18.43 million people | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 18.65 million people | +1.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 18.65 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 28,662 people, 650.5× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 18.65 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 79,298 people, 235.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
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
- 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 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.
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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).