Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in China
China: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 15.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in China, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in China stood at 15.8%. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.0% on the previous year and up 47.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in China peaked at 15.8% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 4.4%, in 1991.
That places China 73rd 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 total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.4% | — |
| 1992 | 4.4% | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 5.1% | +15.5% |
| 1994 | 5.6% | +9.8% |
| 1995 | 5.9% | +5.3% |
| 1996 | 6.3% | +5.7% |
| 1997 | 6.6% | +4.9% |
| 1998 | 6.7% | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 6.8% | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 6.8% | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 8.0% | +16.9% |
| 2002 | 8.9% | +11.6% |
| 2003 | 9.6% | +7.9% |
| 2004 | 9.4% | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 9.5% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 9.3% | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 9.2% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 9.8% | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 10.2% | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 9.8% | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 10.0% | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 10.2% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 10.3% | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 10.5% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 10.7% | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 10.6% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 10.4% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 9.7% | -7.3% |
| 2019 | 10.7% | +10.4% |
| 2020 | 12.7% | +18.4% |
| 2021 | 12.4% | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 14.7% | +18.3% |
| 2023 | 15.6% | +6.1% |
| 2024 | 15.0% | -3.3% |
| 2025 | 15.8% | +5.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 15.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.8%, 1.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 15.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9.0%, 1.8× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.7% | 4.4% | 6.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 9.1% | 6.8% | 10.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.3% | 9.7% | 10.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.4% | 12.4% | 15.8% | 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 total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in China?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in China was 15.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 15.8% in 2025.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.4% in 1991.
- How does China rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- China ranks 73rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) 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 ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth total (% of total 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.