Labor force participation rate by age in China
China: Labor force participation rate by age was 49.51 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
49.51
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
52nd
of 188 countries
All-time high
78.29
in 1990
All-time low
47.88
in 2020
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Labor force participation rate by age in China, 1990–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
China recorded 49.51 for labor force participation rate by age in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and down 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in China peaked at 78.29 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 47.88, in 2020.
China ranks 52nd of 188 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate by age in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 78.29 | — |
| 1991 | 77.21 | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 76.08 | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 74.93 | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 73.73 | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 72.5 | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 71.22 | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 69.92 | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 68.58 | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 67.21 | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 65.8 | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 65 | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 64.18 | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 63.35 | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 62.52 | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 61.68 | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 60.83 | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 59.98 | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 59.12 | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 58.25 | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 57.38 | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 56.46 | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 55.72 | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 54.99 | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 54.28 | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 53.6 | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 52.94 | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 52.28 | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 51.61 | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 51.02 | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 47.88 | -6.1% |
| 2021 | 48.84 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 50.22 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 49.86 | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 49.51 | -0.7% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 49.51 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 38.94, 1.3× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 49.51 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 39.77, 1.2× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 72.97 | 67.21 | 78.29 | 10 |
| 2000s | 62.07 | 58.25 | 65.8 | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.03 | 51.02 | 57.38 | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.26 | 47.88 | 50.22 | 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 labor force participation rate by age in China?
- Labor force participation rate by age in China was 49.51 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 78.29 in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.88 in 2020.
- How does China rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- China ranks 52nd out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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