Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in China
China: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 64.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in China, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
China recorded 64.6% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and down 6.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in China peaked at 79.2% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 64.6%, in 2025.
That places China 68th 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, total (% of total population ages 15+) in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 79.2% | — |
| 1991 | 78.7% | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 78.2% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 77.8% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 77.3% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 76.8% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 76.3% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 75.8% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 75.2% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 74.7% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 74.2% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 73.9% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 73.6% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 73.2% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 72.9% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 72.6% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 72.3% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 72.0% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 71.6% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 71.3% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 71.0% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 70.9% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 70.4% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 70.0% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 69.7% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 69.3% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 68.9% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 68.3% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 67.8% | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 67.4% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 65.7% | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 67.1% | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 65.8% | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 65.8% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 64.9% | -1.4% |
| 2025 | 64.6% | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 77.0% | 74.7% | 79.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 72.8% | 71.3% | 74.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.4% | 67.4% | 71.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 65.7% | 64.6% | 67.1% | 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, total (% of total population ages 15+) in China?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in China was 64.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 79.2% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.6% in 2025.
- How does China rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- China ranks 68th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.9%. 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, total (% of total population ages 15+) (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 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.