Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in China
China: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 4.6% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in China, 1978–2022
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
China recorded 4.6% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.6% on the previous year and up 64.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in China peaked at 5.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 1985.
That places China 111th out of 187 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 1.3% | — |
| 1979 | 1.4% | +4.8% |
| 1980 | 1.3% | -7.5% |
| 1981 | 1.0% | -21.1% |
| 1982 | 0.8% | -16.7% |
| 1983 | 0.6% | -30.1% |
| 1984 | 0.5% | -16.0% |
| 1985 | 0.5% | -2.1% |
| 1986 | 0.5% | +7.3% |
| 1987 | 0.5% | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 0.5% | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 0.7% | +25.3% |
| 1990 | 2.2% | +218.9% |
| 1991 | 0.9% | -58.1% |
| 1992 | 0.9% | +3.9% |
| 1993 | 1.0% | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 1.0% | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 1.1% | +14.9% |
| 1996 | 1.2% | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 1.4% | +18.5% |
| 1998 | 2.0% | +45.3% |
| 1999 | 1.9% | -4.6% |
| 2000 | 3.7% | +93.2% |
| 2001 | 1.5% | -60.3% |
| 2002 | 1.6% | +10.6% |
| 2003 | 1.6% | -3.6% |
| 2004 | 1.4% | -13.1% |
| 2005 | 1.9% | +42.0% |
| 2006 | 1.8% | -9.5% |
| 2007 | 1.6% | -9.8% |
| 2008 | 1.9% | +21.7% |
| 2009 | 2.2% | +12.8% |
| 2010 | 2.9% | +34.2% |
| 2011 | 2.7% | -5.6% |
| 2012 | 2.8% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 2.9% | +5.5% |
| 2014 | 3.1% | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 3.3% | +7.8% |
| 2016 | 3.8% | +16.2% |
| 2017 | 3.8% | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 4.9% | +30.6% |
| 2019 | 5.2% | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 5.6% | +8.9% |
| 2021 | 5.1% | -8.9% |
| 2022 | 4.6% | -10.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.4% | 2 |
| 1980s | 0.7% | 0.5% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.4% | 0.9% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.9% | 1.4% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.5% | 2.7% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.1% | 4.6% | 5.6% | 3 |
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, total (% of total labor force) in China?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in China was 4.6% in 2022, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 5.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 1985.
- How does China rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- China ranks 111th out of 187 countries with data for 2022.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 64.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.