Share of workers in vulnerable employment in China
China: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 33.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in China, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
China recorded 33.4% for share of workers in vulnerable employment in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 10.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in China peaked at 53.8% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 33.4%, in 2025.
China ranks 82nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 53.8% | — |
| 1992 | 53.3% | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 52.6% | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 51.9% | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 51.2% | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 50.5% | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 49.8% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 49.2% | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 48.6% | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 48.0% | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 47.4% | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 46.7% | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 46.0% | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 45.2% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 44.5% | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 43.7% | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 42.8% | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 42.0% | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 41.2% | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 40.5% | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 39.8% | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 39.1% | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 38.5% | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 37.9% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 37.4% | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 36.8% | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 36.3% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 35.8% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 35.3% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 35.4% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 35.1% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 34.7% | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 34.2% | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 33.8% | -1.2% |
| 2025 | 33.4% | -1.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 33.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 29.8%, 1.1× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 33.4% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 33.6%, 99% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 51.2% | 48.6% | 53.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 44.8% | 41.2% | 48.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.7% | 35.3% | 40.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.4% | 33.4% | 35.4% | 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 share of workers in vulnerable employment in China?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in China was 33.4% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 53.8% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.4% in 2025.
- How does China rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- China ranks 82nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).