Female labor force participation rate in China
China: Female labor force participation rate was 59.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Female labor force participation rate in China, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, female labor force participation rate in China stood at 59.1%. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in China peaked at 73.1% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 59.1%, in 2025.
China ranks 54th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 73.1% | — |
| 1991 | 72.6% | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 72.1% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 71.6% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 71.1% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 70.6% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 70.0% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 69.5% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 69.0% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 68.5% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 67.9% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 67.5% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 67.1% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 66.7% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 66.2% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 65.8% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 65.4% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 65.0% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 64.5% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 64.1% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 63.7% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 63.7% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 63.3% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 63.0% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 62.8% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 62.6% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 62.3% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 62.0% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 61.6% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 61.3% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 59.7% | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 61.2% | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 60.1% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 60.2% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 59.4% | -1.3% |
| 2025 | 59.1% | -0.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 59.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 51.1%, 1.2× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 59.1% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 55.9%, 1.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 70.8% | 68.5% | 73.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 66.0% | 64.1% | 67.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 62.6% | 61.3% | 63.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.0% | 59.1% | 61.2% | 6 |
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 participation rate in China?
- Female labor force participation rate in China was 59.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 73.1% in 1990.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.1% in 2025.
- How does China rank for female labor force participation rate?
- China ranks 54th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the female working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).