Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in China
China: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 17.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in China, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in China is 17.1%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.6% on the previous year and up 47.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in China peaked at 17.1% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 4.9%, in 1991.
China ranks 63rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.9% | — |
| 1992 | 5.0% | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 5.8% | +15.3% |
| 1994 | 6.3% | +9.7% |
| 1995 | 6.7% | +5.1% |
| 1996 | 7.0% | +5.5% |
| 1997 | 7.4% | +4.7% |
| 1998 | 7.5% | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 7.5% | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 7.6% | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 8.9% | +16.7% |
| 2002 | 9.9% | +11.4% |
| 2003 | 10.7% | +7.8% |
| 2004 | 10.4% | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 10.5% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 10.3% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 10.2% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 10.8% | +6.1% |
| 2009 | 11.1% | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 10.8% | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 10.9% | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 11.1% | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 11.2% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 11.4% | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 11.6% | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 11.4% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 11.3% | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 10.4% | -7.4% |
| 2019 | 11.5% | +10.3% |
| 2020 | 13.6% | +18.2% |
| 2021 | 13.4% | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 15.9% | +18.7% |
| 2023 | 16.9% | +6.2% |
| 2024 | 16.3% | -3.2% |
| 2025 | 17.1% | +4.6% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 17.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 14.4%, 1.2× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 17.1% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 8.8%, 1.9× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.5% | 4.9% | 7.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 10.0% | 7.6% | 11.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.2% | 10.4% | 11.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.5% | 13.4% | 17.1% | 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, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in China?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in China was 17.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 17.1% in 2025.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.9% in 1991.
- How does China rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- China ranks 63rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.4%. 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 male (% of male 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.