Hong Kong SAR, China — Labor participation
Labor Force Participation Rate for Hong Kong SAR, China, 1990–2025.
Labor participation for Hong Kong SAR, China was 56.36% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 36 years, from 1990 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 63.44% in 1991. Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -0.33% per year.
Hong Kong SAR, China ranks 132 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 71%. The median for East Asia & Pacific is 64.35%, so Hong Kong SAR, China sits below it. It peaked in 1991 and has fallen 11% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 7%. Within East Asia & Pacific it ranks 24 of 29 economies; Myanmar (55.09%) is just below it. That is 4% below this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
World ranking. Slipped: 80th of 187 in 1990 → 97th of 187 in 2000 → 120th of 187 in 2010 → 103rd of 187 in 2020 → 131st of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2025
| Year | % of population ages 15+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 56.36% | -0.5 pp |
| 2024 | 56.84% | -0.4 pp |
| 2023 | 57.22% | -0.6 pp |
| 2022 | 57.85% | -0.9 pp |
| 2021 | 58.74% | -0.2 pp |
| 2020 | 58.98% | -1.0 pp |
| 2019 | 60% | -0.7 pp |
| 2018 | 60.65% | +0.2 pp |
| 2017 | 60.47% | +0.1 pp |
| 2016 | 60.4% | -0.1 pp |
| 2015 | 60.47% | +0.1 pp |
| 2014 | 60.33% | -0.2 pp |
| 2013 | 60.49% | +0.7 pp |
| 2012 | 59.74% | +0.4 pp |
| 2011 | 59.33% | +0.5 pp |
| 2010 | 58.82% | -1.2 pp |
| 2009 | 59.98% | -0.1 pp |
| 2008 | 60.08% | -0.5 pp |
| 2007 | 60.57% | +0.0 pp |
| 2006 | 60.54% | -0.0 pp |
| 2005 | 60.57% | -0.1 pp |
| 2004 | 60.68% | -0.1 pp |
| 2003 | 60.75% | -0.5 pp |
| 2002 | 61.25% | +0.3 pp |
| 2001 | 60.97% | +0.3 pp |
| 2000 | 60.71% | -0.2 pp |
| 1999 | 60.93% | -0.2 pp |
| 1998 | 61.15% | -0.0 pp |
| 1997 | 61.18% | -0.2 pp |
| 1996 | 61.39% | -0.3 pp |
| 1995 | 61.67% | -0.2 pp |
| 1994 | 61.82% | -0.2 pp |
| 1993 | 62% | -0.4 pp |
| 1992 | 62.4% | -1.0 pp |
| 1991 | 63.44% | +0.2 pp |
| 1990 | 63.22% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Hong Kong SAR, China’s Labor participation in 1991?
63.44% (1991). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of population ages 15+, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Hong Kong SAR, China’s Labor participation growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -10.9% in total — about 0.3% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 56.36%; 2024: 56.84%; 2023: 57.22%; 2022: 57.85%; 2021: 58.74%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SL.TLF.CACT.ZS — Labor Force Participation Rate. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.