Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 55.13 in 2027. ▼ Falling
Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Hong Kong, 1990–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Hong Kong is 55.13, measured in 2027. That is the lowest value across all 38 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.2% on the previous year and down 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Hong Kong peaked at 63.44 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 55.13, in 2027.
That places Hong Kong 138th out of 188 countries with data for 2027, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 38 years of available data.
Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 63.22 | — |
| 1991 | 63.44 | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 62.4 | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 61.99 | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 61.82 | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 61.67 | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 61.38 | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 61.18 | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 61.15 | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 60.93 | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 60.7 | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 60.97 | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 61.25 | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 60.75 | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 60.68 | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 60.57 | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 60.54 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 60.56 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 60.08 | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 59.98 | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 58.82 | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 59.33 | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 59.74 | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 60.49 | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 60.33 | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 60.47 | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 60.4 | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 60.47 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 60.65 | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 59.99 | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 58.98 | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 58.74 | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 57.85 | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 57.22 | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 56.84 | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 56.36 | -0.8% |
| 2026 | 55.79 | -1.0% |
| 2027 | 55.13 | -1.2% |
Hong Kong compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong's 55.13 is below the median for high income countries, which is 62.3, 88% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong's 55.13 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 63.77, 86% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 61.92 | 60.93 | 63.44 | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.61 | 59.98 | 61.25 | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.07 | 58.82 | 60.65 | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.11 | 55.13 | 58.98 | 8 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
More work & labour data for Hong Kong
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 2,981 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 3,663 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 2.78 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.06 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 149,185 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 100,833 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 53.6 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.56 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate -1.12 % change on previous year (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Hong Kong?
- Labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Hong Kong was 55.13 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 63.44 in 1991.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 55.13 in 2027.
- How does Hong Kong rank for labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
- Hong Kong ranks 138th out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
- Is labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Hong Kong data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 38 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The labour force participation rate is the labour force as a percent of the working-age population. The labour force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.