Labor force, total, annual growth rate in China
China: Labor force, total, annual growth rate was -0.012 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Labor force, total, annual growth rate in China, 1991–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, total, annual growth rate in China stood at -0.012 % change on previous year.
That represents a change of up 98.6% on the previous year and down 113.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total, annual growth rate in China peaked at 2.67 % change on previous year in 2021 and was at its lowest, -1.94 % change on previous year, in 2020.
That places China 148th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Labor force, total, annual growth rate in China, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 0.9898 % change on previous year | — |
| 1992 | 0.975 % change on previous year | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 0.8861 % change on previous year | -9.1% |
| 1994 | 0.9474 % change on previous year | +6.9% |
| 1995 | 1 % change on previous year | +6.0% |
| 1996 | 1.06 % change on previous year | +5.7% |
| 1997 | 1.2 % change on previous year | +12.7% |
| 1998 | 1.1 % change on previous year | -8.2% |
| 1999 | 0.9251 % change on previous year | -15.8% |
| 2000 | 0.9147 % change on previous year | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 1.29 % change on previous year | +40.6% |
| 2002 | 1.4 % change on previous year | +8.7% |
| 2003 | 1.34 % change on previous year | -4.0% |
| 2004 | 1.26 % change on previous year | -6.3% |
| 2005 | 1.28 % change on previous year | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 0.9933 % change on previous year | -22.3% |
| 2007 | 0.5943 % change on previous year | -40.2% |
| 2008 | 0.4296 % change on previous year | -27.7% |
| 2009 | 0.3067 % change on previous year | -28.6% |
| 2010 | 0.2243 % change on previous year | -26.9% |
| 2011 | 0.569 % change on previous year | +153.6% |
| 2012 | 0.096 % change on previous year | -83.1% |
| 2013 | 0.0293 % change on previous year | -69.5% |
| 2014 | 0.1436 % change on previous year | +390.6% |
| 2015 | 0.0906 % change on previous year | -36.9% |
| 2016 | -0.0184 % change on previous year | -120.3% |
| 2017 | -0.2261 % change on previous year | +1126.6% |
| 2018 | -0.2949 % change on previous year | +30.4% |
| 2019 | -0.1211 % change on previous year | -58.9% |
| 2020 | -1.94 % change on previous year | +1501.3% |
| 2021 | 2.67 % change on previous year | -237.6% |
| 2022 | -1.42 % change on previous year | -153.1% |
| 2023 | 0.5837 % change on previous year | -141.2% |
| 2024 | -0.8319 % change on previous year | -242.5% |
| 2025 | -0.012 % change on previous year | -98.6% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's -0.012 % change on previous year is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.14 % change on previous year. (53 countries reporting)
- China's -0.012 % change on previous year is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.7314 % change on previous year. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Labor force, total, annual growth rate in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -1501.3% | -0.1211 % change on previous year | -1.94 % change on previous year |
| 2017 | -1126.6% | -0.0184 % change on previous year | -0.2261 % change on previous year |
| 2014 | +390.6% | 0.0293 % change on previous year | 0.1436 % change on previous year |
| 2021 | +237.6% | -1.94 % change on previous year | 2.67 % change on previous year |
| 2024 | -242.5% | 0.5837 % change on previous year | -0.8319 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.01 % change on previous year | 0.8861 % change on previous year | 1.2 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 2000s | 0.9802 % change on previous year | 0.3067 % change on previous year | 1.4 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0492 % change on previous year | -0.2949 % change on previous year | 0.569 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.158 % change on previous year | -1.94 % change on previous year | 2.67 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 145 Croatia 0.1068 % change on previous year compare
- 146 South Korea 0.1002 % change on previous year compare
- 147 France 0.0097 % change on previous year compare
- 149 Japan -0.0357 % change on previous year compare
- 150 Mauritius -0.041 % change on previous year compare
- 151 Lithuania -0.0425 % change on previous year compare
More education data for China
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.41 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 7,020 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 21.58 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 19.36 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 97.98 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 108.57 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9587 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0771 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total, annual growth rate in China?
- Labor force, total, annual growth rate in China was -0.012 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest labor force, total, annual growth rate recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 2.67 % change on previous year in 2021.
- What is the lowest labor force, total, annual growth rate recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.94 % change on previous year in 2020.
- How does China rank for labor force, total, annual growth rate?
- China ranks 148th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total, annual growth rate rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 113.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Labor force, total, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Labor force, total. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Labor force, total International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Labor force, total. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.