Share of male vs. female employment in agriculture in China
China: Share of male vs. female employment in agriculture was 24.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of male vs. female employment in agriculture in China, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of male vs. female employment in agriculture in China is 24.2%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of male vs. female employment in agriculture in China peaked at 64.1% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 24.2%, in 2025.
That places China 78th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of male vs. female employment in agriculture in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 64.1% | — |
| 1992 | 62.8% | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 60.8% | -3.2% |
| 1994 | 58.8% | -3.2% |
| 1995 | 56.9% | -3.3% |
| 1996 | 55.3% | -2.9% |
| 1997 | 54.5% | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 54.1% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 54.0% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 53.6% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 53.3% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 53.0% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 52.0% | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 50.0% | -3.8% |
| 2005 | 47.9% | -4.1% |
| 2006 | 45.8% | -4.5% |
| 2007 | 43.9% | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 42.7% | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 41.1% | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 39.7% | -3.5% |
| 2011 | 37.8% | -4.6% |
| 2012 | 36.6% | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 34.6% | -5.5% |
| 2014 | 32.8% | -5.1% |
| 2015 | 31.7% | -3.5% |
| 2016 | 30.8% | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 29.9% | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 29.0% | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 27.9% | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 26.7% | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 25.6% | -4.0% |
| 2022 | 26.6% | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 25.4% | -4.7% |
| 2024 | 24.8% | -2.4% |
| 2025 | 24.2% | -2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57.9% | 54.0% | 64.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 48.3% | 41.1% | 53.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.1% | 27.9% | 39.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.5% | 24.2% | 26.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 75 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 24.9% compare
- 76 Peru 24.3% compare
- 77 Uzbekistan 24.2% compare
- 79 Namibia 23.3% compare
- 80 Armenia 23.3% compare
- 81 Turkmenistan 22.1% compare
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 male vs. female employment in agriculture in China?
- Share of male vs. female employment in agriculture in China was 24.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of male vs. female employment in agriculture recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 64.1% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of male vs. female employment in agriculture recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.2% in 2025.
- How does China rank for share of male vs. female employment in agriculture?
- China ranks 78th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of male vs. female employment in agriculture rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of male vs. female employment in agriculture. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of total employment working in the agriculture sector.