Labor share of gross domestic product (GDP) in China

China: Labor share of gross domestic product (GDP) was 50.7% in 2020. ▬ Flat

Latest (2020)
50.7%
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
68th
of 187 countries
All-time high
51.7%
in 2012
All-time low
50.3%
in 2007
Years of data
17
2004–2020

Labor share of gross domestic product (GDP) in China, 2004–2020

02040602004201220202004: 51.5 %2005: 51.1 %2006: 50.7 %2007: 50.3 %2008: 51.4 %2009: 51.5 %2010: 51.1 %2011: 51.3 %2012: 51.7 %2013: 51.7 %2014: 51.7 %2015: 51.6 %2016: 51.5 %2017: 51.3 %2018: 51.2 %2019: 51.4 %2020: 50.7 %

Source: International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2020, labor share of gross domestic product (gdp) in China stood at 50.7%.

That represents a change of down 1.4% on the previous year and down 0.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor share of gross domestic product (gdp) in China peaked at 51.7% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 50.3%, in 2007.

That places China 68th out of 187 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.

Labor share of gross domestic product (GDP) in China, year by year

Annual values for Labor share of gross domestic product (GDP) in China, 2004 to 2020.
Year % Change
2004 51.5% —
2005 51.1% -0.8%
2006 50.7% -0.8%
2007 50.3% -0.8%
2008 51.4% +2.2%
2009 51.5% +0.2%
2010 51.1% -0.8%
2011 51.3% +0.4%
2012 51.7% +0.8%
2013 51.7% +0.0%
2014 51.7% +0.0%
2015 51.6% -0.2%
2016 51.5% -0.2%
2017 51.3% -0.4%
2018 51.2% -0.2%
2019 51.4% +0.4%
2020 50.7% -1.4%

China compared with similar countries

  • China's 50.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 45.7%, 1.1× the median. (53 countries reporting)
  • China's 50.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 46.5%, 1.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 51.1% 50.3% 51.5% 6
2010s 51.5% 51.1% 51.7% 10
2020s 50.7% 50.7% 50.7% 1

Countries ranked near China

  1. 65 Bulgaria 51.2% compare
  2. 66 Belarus 51.1% compare
  3. 67 Argentina 51.0% compare
  4. 69 Belize 50.4% compare
  5. 69 Suriname 50.4% compare
  6. 71 Armenia 50.3% compare
  7. 71 Singapore 50.3% compare

See the full ranking of 187 places →

More work & labour data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor share of gross domestic product (gdp) in China?
Labor share of gross domestic product (gdp) in China was 50.7% in 2020, according to International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest labor share of gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 51.7% in 2012.
What is the lowest labor share of gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 50.3% in 2007.
How does China rank for labor share of gross domestic product (gdp)?
China ranks 68th out of 187 countries with data for 2020.
Is labor share of gross domestic product (gdp) rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is down 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this China data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor share of gross domestic product (GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor share of gross domestic product (GDP) in China. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 25 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-share-of-gdp/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor share of gross domestic product (GDP)
Unit
%
Source
International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
187 places, 3,644 data points, 2004–2025
Last refreshed

Labour share of GDP (%).