Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in China
China: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 4.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in China, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
China recorded 4.6% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2025.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and down 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in China peaked at 5.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 1991.
That places China 112th 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, total (% of total labor force) in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.4% | — |
| 1992 | 2.4% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 2.7% | +13.5% |
| 1994 | 2.9% | +7.8% |
| 1995 | 3.0% | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 3.1% | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 3.2% | +3.5% |
| 1998 | 3.2% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 3.2% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 3.3% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 3.8% | +16.6% |
| 2002 | 4.2% | +11.6% |
| 2003 | 4.6% | +8.0% |
| 2004 | 4.5% | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 4.5% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 4.4% | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 4.3% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 4.6% | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 4.7% | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 4.5% | -4.0% |
| 2011 | 4.5% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 4.6% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 4.6% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 4.6% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 4.7% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 4.6% | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 4.5% | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 4.3% | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 4.6% | +5.8% |
| 2020 | 5.0% | +9.6% |
| 2021 | 4.5% | -9.0% |
| 2022 | 5.0% | +9.5% |
| 2023 | 4.7% | -6.2% |
| 2024 | 4.6% | -1.7% |
| 2025 | 4.6% | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.9% | 2.4% | 3.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.3% | 3.3% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.5% | 4.3% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.7% | 4.5% | 5.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More education data for China
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 108.57 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.9587 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in China?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in China was 4.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 5.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 1991.
- How does China rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- China ranks 112th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total 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, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.