Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in China
China: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) was 78.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in China, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in China stood at 78.2%. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and down 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in China peaked at 88.7% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 78.2%, in 2025.
That places China 93rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 88.7% | — |
| 1991 | 88.3% | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 87.9% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 87.6% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 87.2% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 86.8% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 86.4% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 86.0% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 85.6% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 85.1% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 84.7% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 84.6% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 84.5% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 84.4% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 84.2% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 84.1% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 84.0% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 83.8% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 83.7% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 83.6% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 83.5% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 83.4% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 83.0% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 82.5% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 82.3% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 82.0% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 81.7% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 81.3% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 80.8% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 80.5% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 79.1% | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 80.9% | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 79.4% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 79.6% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 78.6% | -1.3% |
| 2025 | 78.2% | -0.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 78.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 78.6%, 100% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 78.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 78.2%, 1.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 86.9% | 85.1% | 88.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 84.2% | 83.6% | 84.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 82.1% | 80.5% | 83.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 79.3% | 78.2% | 80.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 90 Georgia 78.6% compare
- 91 Benin 78.4% compare
- 92 United States of America 78.2% compare
- 94 Angola 78.2% compare
- 95 Brunei Darussalam 77.9% compare
- 96 Luxembourg 77.9% compare
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, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in China?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in China was 78.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 88.7% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 78.2% in 2025.
- How does China rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64)?
- China ranks 93rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.7%. 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, male (% of male population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.