Labor force participation rate in China
China: Labor force participation rate was 64.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate in China, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate in China stood at 64.6%. 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 in China peaked at 79.2% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 64.6%, in 2025.
That places China 68th out of 186 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.
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
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 64.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 69.9% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 84.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 59.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 74.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 69.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in China?
- Labor force participation rate in China was 64.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 79.2% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.6% in 2025.
- How does China rank for labor force participation rate?
- China ranks 68th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate 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, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).