Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in China
China: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 4.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in China, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
China recorded 4.0% for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and down 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in China peaked at 4.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 1992.
China ranks 129th 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, female (% of female labor force) in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.1% | — |
| 1992 | 2.1% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 2.3% | +13.5% |
| 1994 | 2.5% | +7.8% |
| 1995 | 2.6% | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 2.7% | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 2.8% | +3.5% |
| 1998 | 2.8% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 2.8% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 2.8% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 3.3% | +16.5% |
| 2002 | 3.7% | +11.5% |
| 2003 | 4.0% | +8.0% |
| 2004 | 3.9% | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 3.9% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 3.8% | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 3.8% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 4.0% | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 4.1% | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 3.9% | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 3.9% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 4.0% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 4.0% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 4.0% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 4.0% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 4.0% | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 3.9% | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 3.7% | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 4.0% | +5.8% |
| 2020 | 4.3% | +9.6% |
| 2021 | 4.0% | -9.0% |
| 2022 | 4.3% | +9.5% |
| 2023 | 4.1% | -6.2% |
| 2024 | 4.0% | -1.7% |
| 2025 | 4.0% | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.5% | 2.1% | 2.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 3.7% | 2.8% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.9% | 3.7% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.1% | 4.0% | 4.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 126 Netherlands 4.1% compare
- 127 Maldives 4.1% compare
- 128 Australia 4.0% compare
- 130 Kyrgyzstan 4.0% compare
- 130 Tajikistan 4.0% compare
- 132 Nigeria 3.9% 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 unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in China?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in China was 4.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 4.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 1992.
- How does China rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- China ranks 129th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.8%. 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, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.