Working-Age Population

Ratio of China's working-age population (15–64) to US working-age population. 1.0 = parity.

4.50×

Trend YoY growth is -0.9%, slowing by 4 bps/year over the last 32Y. Latest: -1.5%, 63 bps below trend, a 1.0σ deviation. At current levels, YoY would rise to +0.0% by Jan '24 as comparisons ease.

Level

YoY %

y = 0.5% 4 bps/yr · t

Deviation from trend

Forecast

Projected value by forecast vintage (×)

Projected value (×)

Forecast made in201620172018201920202021202220232024202520262027MAPE
20164.814.784.744.704.664.634.574.514.444.374.304.2320%
20174.784.754.714.684.654.594.534.464.424.384.3428%
20184.744.704.674.634.584.524.444.384.324.2522%
20194.714.674.644.594.534.464.424.374.3232%
20204.684.644.594.534.464.424.384.3335%
20214.634.594.524.454.404.344.2829%
20224.574.514.444.374.304.2215%
20234.504.424.334.234.12
20244.424.334.234.12

YoY change forecast

Forecast made in201620172018201920202021202220232024202520262027MAPE
2016-0.4%-0.7%-0.8%-0.9%-1.0%-1.1%-1.2%-1.3%-1.4%-1.5%-1.6%-1.7%20%
2017-0.6%-0.6%-0.7%-0.7%-0.7%-0.8%-0.8%-0.9%-0.9%-1.0%-1.0%28%
2018-0.8%-0.8%-0.9%-1.0%-1.1%-1.2%-1.3%-1.4%-1.4%-1.5%22%
2019-0.6%-0.8%-0.8%-0.8%-0.9%-0.9%-1.0%-1.0%-1.1%32%
2020-0.6%-0.8%-0.8%-0.9%-0.9%-1.0%-1.0%-1.1%35%
2021-1.1%-1.0%-1.0%-1.1%-1.2%-1.3%-1.3%29%
2022-1.3%-1.3%-1.4%-1.6%-1.7%-1.8%15%
2023-1.5%-1.8%-2.0%-2.3%-2.5%
2024-1.8%-2.0%-2.3%-2.5%

Forecasts use ordinary least-squares linear regression fitted to the YoY change series over a rolling 5Y window. Each row shows a vintage — the forecast as it would have appeared at that point in time. Projected values apply the forecasted YoY change to the prior year's level, chaining forward where actuals are unavailable. MAPE measures forecast accuracy against realized values. These are mechanical trend extrapolations, not economic models.