Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in China
China: Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) was 14.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in China, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in China stood at 14.2%. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.6% on the previous year and up 48.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in China peaked at 14.2% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 1991.
That places China 87th out of 187 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, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.8% | — |
| 1992 | 3.8% | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 4.4% | +15.7% |
| 1994 | 4.9% | +10.1% |
| 1995 | 5.2% | +5.5% |
| 1996 | 5.5% | +5.9% |
| 1997 | 5.7% | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 5.8% | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 5.9% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 6.0% | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 7.0% | +16.9% |
| 2002 | 7.8% | +11.6% |
| 2003 | 8.5% | +8.0% |
| 2004 | 8.3% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 8.4% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 8.2% | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 8.1% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 8.7% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | 9.0% | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 8.7% | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 8.9% | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 9.0% | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 9.2% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 9.4% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 9.5% | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 9.5% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 9.3% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 8.7% | -7.2% |
| 2019 | 9.6% | +10.5% |
| 2020 | 11.4% | +18.6% |
| 2021 | 11.1% | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 13.2% | +18.1% |
| 2023 | 13.9% | +5.9% |
| 2024 | 13.5% | -3.4% |
| 2025 | 14.2% | +5.6% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 14.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.7%, 72% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 14.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 8.6%, 1.6× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.0% | 3.8% | 5.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 8.0% | 6.0% | 9.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.2% | 8.7% | 9.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.9% | 11.1% | 14.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 84 Paraguay 15.2% compare
- 85 Azerbaijan 14.7% compare
- 86 Guam 14.3% compare
- 88 Channel Islands 14.1% compare
- 89 Hungary 13.9% compare
- 90 New Zealand 13.7% 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 unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in China?
- Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in China was 14.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 14.2% in 2025.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 1991.
- How does China rank for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24)?
- China ranks 87th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.