4. Continuous Improvement in Social Security
China has established the world's largest social security system. Built on the principle of ensuring universal coverage for all eligible individuals, the system aims to narrow urban-rural disparities, improve social security policies for key groups, strengthen support for women in difficulty, and steadily raise benefit levels. As a result of this system, women now enjoy more comprehensive, reliable and equitable social security.
Medical and old-age insurance systems achieved full coverage. China's healthcare security system has been continuously improved, supported by increased government subsidies for individual contributions to basic medical insurance among rural and non-working urban residents.
In 2024, 651 million women were covered by basic medical insurance, accounting for 49.1 percent of all participants. Additionally, 260 million women were covered by basic pension insurance for rural and non-working urban residents, representing 48 percent of all enrollees, while 260 million women participated in the basic pension scheme for urban employees, constituting 48.2 percent of the total.
More women are protected against unemployment and work-related injuries. Efforts have been made to safeguard employees' employment security, occupational safety, and health protections. By the end of 2024, approximately 105 million women were enrolled in unemployment insurance, accounting for 42.7 percent of all participants and reflecting a 70 percent increase since 2012. Additionally, about 117 million women were covered by work-related injury insurance, comprising 38.6 percent of all enrollees, and reflecting a 60 percent increase since 2012.
Specific measures have been introduced to ensure that workers in new forms of employment receive effective assistance and compensation in case of occupational injuries. Real-time settlement of medical expenses for work-related injuries incurred outside the provincial-level unit where the patient is insured has been fully implemented, protecting the rights and interests of female workers and better meeting their healthcare needs.
Maternity protection for women has improved significantly. The integrated implementation of maternity insurance and basic medical insurance for employees has been fully advanced, and continuous efforts have been made to expand employer participation in maternity insurance and to gradually extend its coverage. Regions with the necessary conditions have been guided to include flexibly employed people in maternity insurance. For unemployed women, the unemployment insurance fund pay their maternity insurance contributions on their behalf during their period of unemployment benefit eligibility, while non-working women are covered for maternity medical benefits through their participation in the basic medical insurance scheme for rural and non-working urban residents. By the end of 2024, 111 million women were covered by maternity insurance. All 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government, as well as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, have included eligible assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in their medical insurance schemes.
Social security for women in need is further strengthened. Subsistence allowance standards have continued to rise, with the national average urban and rural subsistence allowance standards in 2024 140 percent and 240 percent higher than those of 2012, respectively.
Financial assistance or premium payments are provided for women from eligible disadvantaged groups, such as those receiving subsistence allowances or classified as extremely impoverished individuals, to participate in basic medical and pension insurance schemes for rural and non-working urban residents.
A comprehensive system of living subsidies for persons with disabilities facing financial difficulties and nursing subsidies for those with severe disabilities has been established. In 2024, about 9.40 million women received these subsidies, accounting for 46 percent of all recipients.
Targeted assistance and support initiatives have been implemented for rural stay-behind women in difficult circumstances, including efforts to establish records, ensure basic living standards, promote employment and income generation, and enrich cultural lives.
(Source: SCIO White Paper China's Achievements in Women's Well-Rounded Development in the New Era)
Editor: Cui Rui
