Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in China

China: Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) was 438,475 in 2027. ▲ Rising

Latest (2027)
438,475
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
2nd
of 188 countries
All-time high
438,475
in 2027
All-time low
171,093
in 1990
Years of data
38
1990–2027

Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in China, 1990–2027

0100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k1990200820271990: 171.1k1991: 177.9k1992: 184.6k1993: 191.4k1994: 198.3k1995: 205.7k1996: 213.4k1997: 221.6k1998: 230.0k1999: 238.4k2000: 247.2k2001: 254.5k2002: 262.2k2003: 270.0k2004: 277.8k2005: 286.1k2006: 293.8k2007: 300.6k2008: 307.1k2009: 313.5k2010: 320.0k2011: 323.7k2012: 331.1k2013: 338.3k2014: 344.0k2015: 350.1k2016: 357.0k2017: 365.0k2018: 373.1k2019: 379.9k2020: 401.1k2021: 386.7k2022: 404.0k2023: 405.5k2024: 418.3k2025: 424.7k2026: 430.8k2027: 438.5k

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

In 2027, persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in China stood at 438,475. That is the highest value across all 38 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 20.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in China peaked at 438,475 in 2027 and was at its lowest, 171,093, in 1990.

China ranks 2nd of 188 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.

Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in China, year by year

Annual values for Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in China, 1990 to 2027.
Year Value Change
1990 171,093
1991 177,886 +4.0%
1992 184,607 +3.8%
1993 191,366 +3.7%
1994 198,337 +3.6%
1995 205,651 +3.7%
1996 213,366 +3.8%
1997 221,593 +3.9%
1998 229,954 +3.8%
1999 238,363 +3.7%
2000 247,249 +3.7%
2001 254,507 +2.9%
2002 262,201 +3.0%
2003 269,990 +3.0%
2004 277,834 +2.9%
2005 286,050 +3.0%
2006 293,776 +2.7%
2007 300,557 +2.3%
2008 307,067 +2.2%
2009 313,531 +2.1%
2010 319,984 +2.1%
2011 323,674 +1.2%
2012 331,093 +2.3%
2013 338,310 +2.2%
2014 344,035 +1.7%
2015 350,099 +1.8%
2016 356,960 +2.0%
2017 364,970 +2.2%
2018 373,058 +2.2%
2019 379,852 +1.8%
2020 401,083 +5.6%
2021 386,669 -3.6%
2022 403,958 +4.5%
2023 405,456 +0.4%
2024 418,315 +3.2%
2025 424,654 +1.5%
2026 430,757 +1.4%
2027 438,475 +1.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 203,222 171,093 238,363 10
2000s 281,276 247,249 313,531 10
2010s 348,204 319,984 379,852 10
2020s 413,671 386,669 438,475 8

Countries ranked near China

  1. 1 India 504,987 compare
  2. 3 United States of America 113,208 compare
  3. 4 Pakistan 81,158 compare
  4. 5 Indonesia 71,005 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in China?
Persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) in China was 438,475 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 438,475 in 2027.
What is the lowest persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 171,093 in 1990.
How does China rank for persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates)?
China ranks 2nd out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
Is persons outside the labour force (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is up 20.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this China data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in China. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/persons-outside-the-labour-force-ilo-modelled-estimates-15/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 10,464 data points, 1990–2027
Last refreshed

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. Persons outside the labour force comprise all persons of working age who, during the specified reference period, were not in the labour force (that is, were not employed or unemployed). For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.