Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — China

Youth unemployment in China in 2025 — 15.8%. Ranked 114 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 11.43 pp.

2025 15.8% +0.75 pp vs 2024
World rank 114of 182
Period maximum 15.8%2025
Period minimum 4.37%1991

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of labor force aged 15–24

Youth unemployment — China, 1991–20250510152019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 4.37%1992: 4.43%1993: 5.12%1994: 5.62%1995: 5.92%1996: 6.26%1997: 6.57%1998: 6.67%1999: 6.77%2000: 6.84%2001: 7.99%2002: 8.92%2003: 9.62%2004: 9.43%2005: 9.5%2006: 9.33%2007: 9.22%2008: 9.8%2009: 10.15%2010: 9.82%2011: 9.98%2012: 10.15%2013: 10.32%2014: 10.51%2015: 10.68%2016: 10.57%2017: 10.43%2018: 9.67%2019: 10.68%2020: 12.65%2021: 12.4%2022: 14.67%2023: 15.56%2024: 15.04%2025: 15.8%
Change over the period: +11.43 pp Annual average: 0.34 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: China

China 15.8%
World 13.41%
Eastern Asia computed 14.37%
Youth unemployment — China, by year China All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 15.8 +0.75 pp
2024 15.04 −0.52 pp
2023 15.56 +0.89 pp
2022 14.67 +2.27 pp
2021 12.4 −0.25 pp
2020 12.65 +1.97 pp
2019 10.68 +1.01 pp
2018 9.67 −0.76 pp
2017 10.43 −0.14 pp
2016 10.57 −0.11 pp
2015 10.68 +0.17 pp
2014 10.51 +0.19 pp
2013 10.32 +0.16 pp
2012 10.15 +0.18 pp
2011 9.98 +0.15 pp
2010 9.82 −0.33 pp
2009 10.15 +0.35 pp
2008 9.8 +0.58 pp
2007 9.22 −0.11 pp
2006 9.33 −0.16 pp
2005 9.5 +0.06 pp
2004 9.43 −0.19 pp
2003 9.62 +0.71 pp
2002 8.92 +0.93 pp
2001 7.99 +1.15 pp
2000 6.84 +0.07 pp
1999 6.77 +0.1 pp
1998 6.67 +0.1 pp
1997 6.57 +0.31 pp
1996 6.26 +0.34 pp
1995 5.92 +0.3 pp
1994 5.62 +0.5 pp
1993 5.12 +0.69 pp
1992 4.43 +0.07 pp
1991 4.37

Eastern Asia, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The share of the economically active population aged 15–24 that is unemployed. In almost every country youth unemployment runs two to three times above the overall rate: the young have no experience, and their first entry into the labor market puts them up against more qualified workers. A sharp gap with the overall rate points to structural problems in the transition from school to work.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.