Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in China
China: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 70.3% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in China, 1982–2018
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2018, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in China stood at 70.3%. That is the lowest value across all 20 years on record.
The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 3.5% 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, 70.3%, in 2018.
That places China 36th out of 199 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 20 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 78.7% | — |
| 1990 | 79.2% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 74.2% | -6.3% |
| 2001 | 76.5% | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 75.7% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 75.0% | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 74.2% | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 74.2% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 73.7% | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 73.2% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 72.8% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 72.5% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 71.0% | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 70.8% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 70.7% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 70.7% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 70.6% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 70.7% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 70.9% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 70.3% | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 78.7% | 78.7% | 78.7% | 1 |
| 1990s | 79.2% | 79.2% | 79.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 74.2% | 72.5% | 76.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 70.7% | 70.3% | 71.0% | 8 |
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 70.3% in 2018, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 70.3% in 2018.
- How does China rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- China ranks 36th out of 199 countries with data for 2018.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national 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.