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US vs China Unemployment
China moved above United States in 2017. In 1991 United States stood at roughly 287% of China’s Unemployment; today the figure is about 91%, and the pair was closest in 2017 (97%).
| Year | United States | China | China as % of US |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.37% | 6.8% | 287% |
| 1970 | 2.37% | 6.8% | 287% |
| 1980 | 2.37% | 6.8% | 287% |
| 1990 | 2.37% | 6.8% | 287% |
| 2000 | 3.26% | 3.99% | 122% |
| 2010 | 4.53% | 9.63% | 213% |
| 2020 | 5% | 8.06% | 161% |
| 2025 | 4.62% | 4.2% | 91% |
Frequently asked questions
When did China move above United States in Unemployment?
In 2017. China’s published Unemployment rose above United States’s that year.
How do United States and China compare today?
China is ahead: 4.62% against 4.2% — the trailing economy stands at about 91% 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: