Labor force, female in China
China: Labor force, female was 348.52 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, female in China, 1990–2025
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, female in China stood at 348.52 million.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in China peaked at 352.43 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 292.00 million, in 1990.
China ranks 1st of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, female in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 292.00 million | — |
| 1991 | 294.66 million | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 297.32 million | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 299.74 million | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 302.39 million | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 305.24 million | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 308.29 million | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 311.77 million | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 314.99 million | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 317.69 million | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 320.37 million | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 323.89 million | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 327.76 million | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 331.47 million | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 334.92 million | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 338.44 million | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 341.04 million | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 342.32 million | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 343.04 million | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 343.34 million | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 343.35 million | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 345.71 million | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 346.45 million | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 347.03 million | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 348.04 million | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 348.89 million | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 349.41 million | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 349.31 million | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 349.01 million | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 349.26 million | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 342.05 million | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 352.43 million | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 348.12 million | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 350.77 million | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 348.35 million | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 348.52 million | +0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 348.52 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.49 million, 233.9× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 348.52 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.70 million, 204.6× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 304.41 million | 292.00 million | 317.69 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 334.66 million | 320.37 million | 343.34 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 347.65 million | 343.35 million | 349.41 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 348.37 million | 342.05 million | 352.43 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More gender data for China
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 169,741 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -5.36 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 1.23 million (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 1.23 million (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.4481 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 4.15 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 4.56 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 4.18 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 4.62 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 4.32 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in China?
- Labor force, female in China was 348.52 million in 2025, according to World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 352.43 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 292.00 million in 1990.
- How does China rank for labor force, female?
- China ranks 1st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division, published as part of Labor force, female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Female labor force comprises women ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.