Male labor participation rate in China
China: Male labor participation rate was 69.85 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
69.85
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
92nd
of 186 countries
All-time high
85.11
in 1990
All-time low
69.85
in 2025
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Male labor participation rate in China, 1990–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for male labor participation rate in China is 69.85, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 7.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, male labor participation rate in China peaked at 85.11 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 69.85, in 2025.
China ranks 92nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Male labor participation rate in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 85.11 | — |
| 1991 | 84.68 | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 84.24 | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 83.79 | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 83.32 | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 82.85 | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 82.37 | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 81.88 | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 81.38 | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 80.87 | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 80.35 | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 80.13 | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 79.91 | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 79.69 | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 79.47 | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 79.24 | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 79.02 | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 78.79 | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 78.56 | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 78.32 | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 78.09 | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 77.9 | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 77.33 | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 76.76 | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 76.32 | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 75.85 | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 75.29 | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 74.61 | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 73.9 | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 73.33 | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 71.61 | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 72.92 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 71.39 | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 71.33 | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 70.27 | -1.5% |
| 2025 | 69.85 | -0.6% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 69.85 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 71.64, 98% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 69.85 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 72, 97% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 83.05 | 80.87 | 85.11 | 10 |
| 2000s | 79.35 | 78.32 | 80.35 | 10 |
| 2010s | 75.94 | 73.33 | 78.09 | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.23 | 69.85 | 72.92 | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
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 male labor participation rate in China?
- Male labor participation rate in China was 69.85 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest male labor participation rate recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 85.11 in 1990.
- What is the lowest male labor participation rate recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 69.85 in 2025.
- How does China rank for male labor participation rate?
- China ranks 92nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is male labor participation rate rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Male labor participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).