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China vs Germany Unemployment
China moved above Germany in 2015. In 1991 Germany stood at roughly 224% of China’s Unemployment; today the figure is about 80%, and the pair was closest in 2015 (99%).
| Year | China | Germany | Germany as % of China |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.37% | 5.32% | 224% |
| 1970 | 2.37% | 5.32% | 224% |
| 1980 | 2.37% | 5.32% | 224% |
| 1990 | 2.37% | 5.32% | 224% |
| 2000 | 3.26% | 7.92% | 243% |
| 2010 | 4.53% | 7.04% | 155% |
| 2020 | 5% | 3.88% | 78% |
| 2025 | 4.62% | 3.71% | 80% |
Frequently asked questions
When did China move above Germany in Unemployment?
In 2015. China’s published Unemployment rose above Germany’s that year.
How do China and Germany compare today?
China is ahead: 4.62% against 3.71% — the trailing economy stands at about 80% of the leader.
Are these Unemployment figures nominal or adjusted?
The series is a share expressed in % of total labor force, exactly as the World Bank publishes it; movements are percentage points, not percent.
Full series
Every published year for both economies, with charts, downloads and citations: