Labor force participation rate by age in China
China: Labor force participation rate by age was 49.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in China, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
China recorded 49.5% 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 78.3% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 47.9%, 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 73.0% | 67.2% | 78.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 62.1% | 58.3% | 65.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.0% | 51.0% | 57.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.3% | 47.9% | 50.2% | 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 labor force participation rate by age in China?
- Labor force participation rate by age in China was 49.5% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 78.3% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.9% 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 International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by 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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About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).