Male labor participation rate in China
China: Male labor participation rate was 69.85 in 2025. ▼ Falling
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.
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
- 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+) 64.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 69.9% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 84.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 59.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 74.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 69.6% (2025)
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.
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CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).