Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 56.99 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Hong Kong, 1961–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Hong Kong is 56.99, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Hong Kong peaked at 66.2 in 1984 and was at its lowest, 56.97, in 2024.
That places Hong Kong 144th out of 210 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 52 years of available data.
Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 64.1 | — |
| 1966 | 63.56 | -0.8% |
| 1971 | 64.02 | +0.7% |
| 1975 | 65.26 | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 64.22 | -1.6% |
| 1979 | 62.45 | -2.8% |
| 1980 | 63.8 | +2.2% |
| 1981 | 65.96 | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 64.79 | -1.8% |
| 1983 | 65.17 | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 66.2 | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 64.85 | -2.0% |
| 1986 | 65.09 | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 64.76 | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 64.49 | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 63.55 | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 62.99 | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 63.44 | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 62.28 | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 62.45 | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 62.49 | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 61.97 | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 61.78 | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 61.77 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 62 | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 61.3 | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 60.68 | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 61.43 | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 61.83 | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 61.35 | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 61.27 | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 60.99 | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 61.27 | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 61.22 | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 60.88 | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 60.77 | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 59.59 | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 60.07 | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 60.5 | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 61.22 | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 61.06 | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 61.14 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 61.05 | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 61.12 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 61.27 | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 60.67 | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 59.71 | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 59.38 | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 58.21 | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 57.33 | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 56.97 | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 56.99 | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 63.83 | 63.56 | 64.1 | 2 |
| 1970s | 63.99 | 62.45 | 65.26 | 4 |
| 1980s | 64.87 | 63.55 | 66.2 | 10 |
| 1990s | 62.25 | 61.3 | 63.44 | 10 |
| 2000s | 61.17 | 60.68 | 61.83 | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.77 | 59.59 | 61.27 | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.1 | 56.97 | 59.71 | 6 |
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 participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 55.13 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 3,663 (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 (2023)
- Criminal penalties or civil remedies sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 56.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Hong Kong?
- Labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Hong Kong was 56.99 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 66.2 in 1984.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.97 in 2024.
- How does Hong Kong rank for labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- Hong Kong ranks 144th out of 210 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.8%. 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 (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. 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 Labour Force Statistics (LFS and STLFS) database description.