Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in China
China: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 69.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in China, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
China recorded 69.6% for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in 2025.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in China peaked at 79.2% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 68.6%, in 2020.
China ranks 60th of 187 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.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 79.2% | — |
| 1991 | 78.7% | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 78.1% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 77.6% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 77.1% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 76.6% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 76.1% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 75.5% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 74.9% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 74.4% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 73.8% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 73.4% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 73.1% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 72.7% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 72.3% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 71.9% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 71.5% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 71.1% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 70.7% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 70.4% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 70.0% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 70.1% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 69.9% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 69.8% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 69.8% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 69.9% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 69.9% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 69.9% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 69.9% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 70.0% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 68.6% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 70.7% | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 69.9% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 70.5% | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 69.8% | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 69.6% | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 76.8% | 74.4% | 79.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 72.1% | 70.4% | 73.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.9% | 69.8% | 70.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.9% | 68.6% | 70.7% | 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 labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in China?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in China was 69.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 79.2% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 68.6% in 2020.
- How does China rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- China ranks 60th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.