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.
Labor force participation rate by age in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 78.3% | — |
| 1991 | 77.2% | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 76.1% | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 74.9% | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 73.7% | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 72.5% | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 71.2% | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 69.9% | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 68.6% | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 67.2% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 65.8% | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 65.0% | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 64.2% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 63.4% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 62.5% | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 61.7% | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 60.8% | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 60.0% | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 59.1% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 58.3% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 57.4% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 56.5% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 55.7% | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 55.0% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 54.3% | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 53.6% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 52.9% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 52.3% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 51.6% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 51.0% | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 47.9% | -6.1% |
| 2021 | 48.8% | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 50.2% | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 49.9% | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 49.5% | -0.7% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 49.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 38.9%, 1.3× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 49.5% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 39.8%, 1.2× the median. (29 countries reporting)
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
- 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 49.5% 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).