Productivity: output per hour worked in China
China: Productivity: output per hour worked was 17.69 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
17.69 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour
Change on year
up 4.7%
World rank
82nd
of 130 countries
All-time high
17.69 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour
in 2023
All-time low
0.5035 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour
in 1952
Years of data
72
1952–2023
Productivity: output per hour worked in China, 1952–2023
Source: Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices per hour.
Analysis
The most recent figure for productivity: output per hour worked in China is 17.69 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 72 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.7% on the previous year and up 81.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, productivity: output per hour worked in China peaked at 17.69 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.5035 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour, in 1952.
That places China 82nd out of 130 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Productivity: output per hour worked in China, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | 0.5035 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | — |
| 1953 | 0.528 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +4.9% |
| 1954 | 0.5333 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +1.0% |
| 1955 | 0.5313 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -0.4% |
| 1956 | 0.5529 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +4.1% |
| 1957 | 0.5595 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +1.2% |
| 1958 | 0.559 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -0.1% |
| 1959 | 0.52 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -7.0% |
| 1960 | 0.5917 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +13.8% |
| 1961 | 0.5289 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -10.6% |
| 1962 | 0.5504 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +4.1% |
| 1963 | 0.5599 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +1.7% |
| 1964 | 0.6158 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +10.0% |
| 1965 | 0.6761 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +9.8% |
| 1966 | 0.7079 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +4.7% |
| 1967 | 0.6737 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -4.8% |
| 1968 | 0.6251 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -7.2% |
| 1969 | 0.6553 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +4.8% |
| 1970 | 0.6897 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.3% |
| 1971 | 0.7125 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +3.3% |
| 1972 | 0.7192 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +0.9% |
| 1973 | 0.7577 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.4% |
| 1974 | 0.7572 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 0.7855 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +3.7% |
| 1976 | 0.7509 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -4.4% |
| 1977 | 0.7927 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.6% |
| 1978 | 0.8741 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +10.3% |
| 1979 | 0.897 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 0.916 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 0.9019 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -1.5% |
| 1982 | 0.9233 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 0.9986 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +8.2% |
| 1984 | 1.14 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +14.2% |
| 1985 | 1.29 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +13.0% |
| 1986 | 1.35 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +4.5% |
| 1987 | 1.43 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +6.5% |
| 1988 | 1.53 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +6.6% |
| 1989 | 1.52 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 1.53 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 1.65 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +7.9% |
| 1992 | 1.87 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +13.7% |
| 1993 | 2.11 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +12.9% |
| 1994 | 2.31 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +9.5% |
| 1995 | 2.5 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +8.3% |
| 1996 | 2.73 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +8.9% |
| 1997 | 2.86 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +4.8% |
| 1998 | 3.03 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.9% |
| 1999 | 3.25 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +7.4% |
| 2000 | 3.5 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +7.7% |
| 2001 | 3.76 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +7.4% |
| 2002 | 4.04 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +7.4% |
| 2003 | 4.39 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +8.8% |
| 2004 | 4.85 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +10.5% |
| 2005 | 5.27 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +8.6% |
| 2006 | 5.68 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +7.8% |
| 2007 | 6.49 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +14.2% |
| 2008 | 7.1 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +9.4% |
| 2009 | 7.62 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +7.3% |
| 2010 | 8.04 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 8.91 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +10.8% |
| 2012 | 9.5 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +6.6% |
| 2013 | 9.73 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 10.33 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +6.1% |
| 2015 | 10.87 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.2% |
| 2016 | 11.4 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.0% |
| 2017 | 12.22 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +7.2% |
| 2018 | 13.14 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +7.5% |
| 2019 | 14.17 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +7.9% |
| 2020 | 15.13 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +6.8% |
| 2021 | 16.5 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +9.0% |
| 2022 | 16.9 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 17.69 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +4.7% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 17.69 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 20.42 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour, 87% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- China's 17.69 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 24.39 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour, 73% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.5359 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 0.5035 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 0.5595 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 8 |
| 1960s | 0.6185 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 0.5289 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 0.7079 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.7736 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 0.6897 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 0.897 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.2 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 0.9019 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 1.53 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.38 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 1.53 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 3.25 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.27 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 3.5 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 7.62 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.83 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 8.04 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 14.17 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.56 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 15.13 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 17.69 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 79 Venezuela 18.44 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour compare
- 80 Botswana 18.36 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour compare
- 81 Albania 17.84 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour compare
- 83 Moldova 17.57 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour compare
- 84 Sri Lanka 17.55 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour compare
- 85 Tunisia 16.8 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour 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 productivity: output per hour worked in China?
- Productivity: output per hour worked in China was 17.69 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour in 2023, according to Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest productivity: output per hour worked recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 17.69 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour in 2023.
- What is the lowest productivity: output per hour worked recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5035 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour in 1952.
- How does China rank for productivity: output per hour worked?
- China ranks 82nd out of 130 countries with data for 2023.
- Is productivity: output per hour worked rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 81.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Productivity: output per hour worked. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Productivity is calculated as GDP divided by the total number of hours worked in the economy. This data is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.