Population ages 15-64 in China
China: Population ages 15-64 was 69.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population ages 15-64 in China, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, population ages 15-64 in China stood at 69.7%.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and down 2.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population ages 15-64 in China peaked at 72.9% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 54.9%, in 1966.
That places China 27th out of 217 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Population ages 15-64 in China, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 55.7% | — |
| 1961 | 56.2% | +0.8% |
| 1962 | 56.2% | +0.1% |
| 1963 | 55.6% | -1.0% |
| 1964 | 55.1% | -1.0% |
| 1965 | 54.9% | -0.4% |
| 1966 | 54.9% | -0.1% |
| 1967 | 55.1% | +0.4% |
| 1968 | 55.3% | +0.4% |
| 1969 | 55.4% | +0.1% |
| 1970 | 55.5% | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 55.6% | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 55.8% | +0.4% |
| 1973 | 56.0% | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 56.0% | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 55.8% | -0.3% |
| 1976 | 55.7% | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 56.1% | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 57.3% | +2.1% |
| 1979 | 58.5% | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 59.5% | +1.7% |
| 1981 | 60.4% | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 61.2% | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 62.0% | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 63.0% | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 63.9% | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 64.6% | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 65.2% | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 65.6% | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 65.8% | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 65.9% | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 65.9% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 66.0% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 66.1% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 66.3% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 66.5% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 66.8% | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 67.3% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 67.7% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 68.0% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 68.4% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 69.0% | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 69.7% | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 70.4% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 71.1% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 71.8% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 72.4% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 72.6% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 72.8% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 72.9% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 72.9% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 72.8% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 72.6% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 72.3% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 72.0% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 71.6% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 71.2% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 70.7% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 70.2% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 69.7% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 69.4% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 69.2% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 69.1% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 69.1% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 69.3% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 69.7% | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 55.4% | 54.9% | 56.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 56.2% | 55.5% | 58.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 63.1% | 59.5% | 65.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 66.6% | 65.9% | 68.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 71.1% | 68.4% | 72.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.6% | 69.7% | 72.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.3% | 69.1% | 69.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 24 Antigua and Barbuda 70.2% compare
- 25 Saint Kitts and Nevis 69.9% compare
- 26 Colombia 69.8% compare
- 28 Azerbaijan 69.6% compare
- 29 French Polynesia 69.6% compare
- 30 Trinidad and Tobago 69.6% compare
More education data for China
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 2.11 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 5.02 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.72 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 30.19 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.79 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 30.48 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 2.42 % change on previous year (2024)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population ages 15-64 in China?
- Population ages 15-64 in China was 69.7% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population ages 15-64 recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 72.9% in 2010.
- What is the lowest population ages 15-64 recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.9% in 1966.
- How does China rank for population ages 15-64?
- China ranks 27th out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population ages 15-64 rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population ages 15-64 (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population between the ages 15 to 64 as a percentage of the total population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.