Female share of the labor force in Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong, China: Female share of the labor force was 51.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female share of the labor force in Hong Kong, China, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, female share of the labor force in Hong Kong, China stood at 51.2%. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female share of the labor force in Hong Kong, China peaked at 51.2% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 36.9%, in 1990.
That places Hong Kong, China 6th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Female share of the labor force in Hong Kong, China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 36.9% | — |
| 1991 | 37.6% | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 37.5% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 37.6% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 38.3% | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 38.9% | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 39.5% | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 40.0% | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 40.7% | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 41.2% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 41.8% | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 42.9% | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 43.9% | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 44.1% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 44.6% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 45.2% | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 45.8% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 46.4% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 46.9% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 47.3% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 47.2% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 48.0% | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 48.3% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 48.7% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 49.1% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 49.3% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 49.6% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 50.0% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 50.0% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 50.4% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 50.6% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 50.8% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 50.7% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 50.8% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 51.2% | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 51.2% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 38.8% | 36.9% | 41.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 44.9% | 41.8% | 47.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.0% | 47.2% | 50.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.9% | 50.6% | 51.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong, China
- 3 Mozambique 51.7% compare
- 4 Burundi 51.6% compare
- 5 Togo 51.3% compare
- 7 Macau, China 51.0% compare
- 8 Bahamas 50.7% compare
- 9 Azerbaijan 49.9% compare
More work & labour data for Hong Kong, China
- 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)
- 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)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female share of the labor force in Hong Kong, China?
- Female share of the labor force in Hong Kong, China was 51.2% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female share of the labor force recorded in Hong Kong, China?
- The highest recorded value was 51.2% in 2025.
- What is the lowest female share of the labor force recorded in Hong Kong, China?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.9% in 1990.
- How does Hong Kong, China rank for female share of the labor force?
- Hong Kong, China ranks 6th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female share of the labor force rising or falling in Hong Kong, China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Hong Kong, China data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female share of the labor force. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population economically active (employed or unemployed) who are female.