Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in China

China: Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) was 21.2% in 2016. ▲ Rising

Latest (2016)
21.2%
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
89th
of 187 countries
All-time high
21.2%
in 2016
All-time low
11.1%
in 1991
Years of data
26
1991–2016

Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in China, 1991–2016

051015201991200320161991: 11.11992: 11.61993: 11.81994: 12.41995: 12.91996: 13.21997: 13.31998: 13.51999: 13.72000: 13.92001: 14.22002: 14.72003: 15.12004: 15.92005: 16.32006: 172007: 17.92008: 182009: 18.42010: 19.12011: 19.42012: 19.72013: 20.22014: 20.52015: 20.92016: 21.2

Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017.

Analysis

The most recent figure for own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in China is 21.2%, measured in 2016. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.

The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 24.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in China peaked at 21.2% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 11.1%, in 1991.

That places China 89th out of 187 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.

Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in China, year by year

Annual values for Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in China, 1991 to 2016.
Year Value Change
1991 11.1%
1992 11.6% +4.6%
1993 11.8% +1.9%
1994 12.4% +5.2%
1995 12.9% +3.3%
1996 13.2% +2.9%
1997 13.3% +0.9%
1998 13.5% +1.2%
1999 13.7% +1.2%
2000 13.9% +1.7%
2001 14.2% +2.3%
2002 14.7% +3.2%
2003 15.1% +3.0%
2004 15.9% +5.0%
2005 16.3% +2.9%
2006 17.0% +4.0%
2007 17.9% +5.6%
2008 18.0% +0.4%
2009 18.4% +2.4%
2010 19.1% +3.6%
2011 19.4% +1.9%
2012 19.7% +1.5%
2013 20.2% +2.2%
2014 20.5% +1.5%
2015 20.9% +1.9%
2016 21.2% +1.5%

China compared with similar countries

  • China's 21.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 23.0%, 92% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
  • China's 21.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 17.4%, 1.2× the median. (29 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 12.6% 11.1% 13.7% 9
2000s 16.1% 13.9% 18.4% 10
2010s 20.1% 19.1% 21.2% 7

Countries ranked near China

  1. 86 Georgia 21.9% compare
  2. 87 United States Virgin Islands 21.7% compare
  3. 88 Guyana 21.3% compare
  4. 90 Chile 20.7% compare
  5. 91 Azerbaijan 20.7% compare
  6. 92 Uruguay 20.5% compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More gender data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in China?
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in China was 21.2% in 2016, according to International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017.
What is the highest own-account workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 21.2% in 2016.
What is the lowest own-account workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 11.1% in 1991.
How does China rank for own-account workers, female (% of female employment)?
China ranks 89th out of 187 countries with data for 2016.
Is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is up 24.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this China data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017, published as part of Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in China. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/stat/own-account-workers-female-percent-of-female-employment-modeled-ilo-estimate/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate)
Source
International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
213 places, 5,537 data points, 1991–2016
Last refreshed

Own-account workers are workers who, working on their own account or with one or more more partners, hold the types of jobs defined as "self-employment jobs" and have not engaged on a continuous basis any employees to work for them. Own account workers are a subcategory of "self-employed".