In 2022, about 984.3 million people in China were estimated by the UN to be at a working age between 15 and 64 years. After a steep increase in the second half of the 20th century, the size of the working-age population reached a turning point in 2015 and figures started to decrease thereafter.
Changes in the working-age population
China's demographic development is characterized by a rapid change from a high fertility rate to a low one. This has caused the development of an arc shaped graph of the working age population: quickly increasing numbers before 2010, a gradual turn with a minor second peak until around 2030, and a steep decline thereafter. The expected second maximum of the graph results from the abolishment of birth control measures after 2010, which proved less successful in increasing birth figures than expected. The same turn can be seen in the number of people eligible for work, with an accelerated downturn in the years of the coronavirus pandemic, where many people left the labor force. It is very likely that the size of the labor force will rebound slightly in the upcoming years, but the extent of the rebound, which parallels the second maximum of the working age population, might be limited.
China's labor market
China's labor market was once defined by its abundant and cheap labor force, but competition for talent has been getting increasingly tense in recent years. This development is very likely to further intensify and extend itself into the less skilled ranks of the labor market. As the number of people who fall within the retirement age group is increasing and adding to the burden on the economy, steps to keep labor participation high are necessary. Raising the retirement age and providing incentives to stay in the labor force, are measures being implemented by Chinese government. Strategies to increase labor productivity would be ideal to mitigate the pressure on the Chinese economy, however, realizing such strategies is challenging.
Estimated size of the population aged 15 to 64 years in China from 1980 to 2050
(in millions)
Characteristic
Number of people aged 15 to 64 in millions
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Exclusive Premium Statistic
To access all Premium Statistics, you need a paid Statista Account
This statistic uses the internationally common definition of working age from 15 to 64 years. In China, the present retirement age for men is 60, while for women working as civil servants it is 55 and other working women 50 as of 2020.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
UN DESA. (July 11, 2022). Estimated size of the population aged 15 to 64 years in China from 1980 to 2050 (in millions) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 03, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1219212/china-number-of-working-age-persons/
UN DESA. "Estimated size of the population aged 15 to 64 years in China from 1980 to 2050 (in millions)." Chart. July 11, 2022. Statista. Accessed July 03, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1219212/china-number-of-working-age-persons/
UN DESA. (2022). Estimated size of the population aged 15 to 64 years in China from 1980 to 2050 (in millions). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 03, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1219212/china-number-of-working-age-persons/
UN DESA. "Estimated Size of The Population Aged 15 to 64 Years in China from 1980 to 2050 (in Millions)." Statista, Statista Inc., 11 Jul 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1219212/china-number-of-working-age-persons/
UN DESA, Estimated size of the population aged 15 to 64 years in China from 1980 to 2050 (in millions) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1219212/china-number-of-working-age-persons/ (last visited July 03, 2024)
Estimated size of the population aged 15 to 64 years in China from 1980 to 2050 (in millions) [Graph], UN DESA, July 11, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1219212/china-number-of-working-age-persons/