Unemployment rate for young people in China
China: Unemployment rate for young people was 15.79 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rate for young people in China, 1991–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
China recorded 15.79 for unemployment rate for young people in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 5.0% on the previous year and up 47.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate for young people in China peaked at 15.79 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 4.37, in 1991.
That places China 73rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate for young people in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.37 | — |
| 1992 | 4.43 | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 5.12 | +15.5% |
| 1994 | 5.62 | +9.8% |
| 1995 | 5.92 | +5.3% |
| 1996 | 6.26 | +5.7% |
| 1997 | 6.57 | +4.9% |
| 1998 | 6.67 | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 6.77 | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 6.84 | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 7.99 | +16.9% |
| 2002 | 8.92 | +11.6% |
| 2003 | 9.62 | +7.9% |
| 2004 | 9.43 | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 9.49 | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 9.33 | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 9.22 | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 9.8 | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 10.15 | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 9.82 | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 9.98 | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 10.15 | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 10.32 | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 10.51 | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 10.68 | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 10.57 | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 10.43 | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 9.67 | -7.3% |
| 2019 | 10.68 | +10.4% |
| 2020 | 12.65 | +18.4% |
| 2021 | 12.4 | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 14.67 | +18.3% |
| 2023 | 15.56 | +6.1% |
| 2024 | 15.04 | -3.3% |
| 2025 | 15.79 | +5.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.75 | 4.37 | 6.77 | 9 |
| 2000s | 9.08 | 6.84 | 10.15 | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.28 | 9.67 | 10.68 | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.35 | 12.4 | 15.79 | 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 unemployment rate for young people in China?
- Unemployment rate for young people in China was 15.79 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate for young people recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 15.79 in 2025.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate for young people recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.37 in 1991.
- How does China rank for unemployment rate for young people?
- China ranks 73rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate for young people rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate for young people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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