China’s annual National Civil Service Exam, known as the “Guo Kao,” took place today (November 30, 2025) on the mainland of China. Each year, the national exam is a highly competitive event likened to “a thousand soldiers crossing a single-log bridge.” This year saw a record number of applicants, with the fiercest competition witnessed in certain positions reaching a staggering ratio of 6470 candidates per one available spot.
The written exam for public administration professionals in central government agencies and their affiliated institutions was held on November 30, 2025. The morning session from 9:00 to 11:00 included tests on administrative professional ability assessment, followed by the essay exam in the afternoon from 14:00 to 17:00.
In terms of popular job positions, the Execution Team Level-One Police Chief and below (Thirteen) at the National Immigration Administration Ruli Repatriation Center had an overwhelming number of applicants. Prior to the deadline for registration, 6470 candidates had been approved, with an additional 1121 awaiting review. With only one position available, the competition ratio stood at 6470:1.
The National Civil Service Exam always astounds with its statistics. Registration for this year’s exam began in mid-October and saw an unusually high turnout on the first day. While the age limit for applicants was raised from 35 to 38 years, and fresh postgraduates and doctorate holders were allowed up to the age of 43, the recruitment scale this year marked the first decrease in almost eight years, with the intake reduced to 38,100 individuals, about 1600 fewer than the previous year. The term “No Vacancy in the National Exam” trended online following the announcement.
In prior years, the recruitment for Chinese Communist Party (CCP) civil service exams had shown a consistent increase in numbers, growing from 14,500 individuals in 2019 to 39,700 in 2025. This year’s slight reduction in recruitment marks a departure from this trend.
Although there was a decrease in recruitment numbers compared to the previous year, the number of applicants hit an all-time high, highlighting a significant gap between supply and demand that drew public attention.
In 2023, nearly 2.6 million individuals passed the qualification review for the National Exam; this number surpassed 3 million in 2024 and reached 3.416 million in 2025. The current year saw over 3.7 million applicants pass this stage.
According to data from the CCP National Civil Service Administration, 3.718 million individuals passed the qualification review conducted by employing units, with a ratio of approximately 98 approved applicants to one available position.
While the record-breaking competition for civil service positions captures headlines, the issue of the massive and continuing growth of China’s financially supported personnel has once again become a focal point of public attention.
Citing a paper released by the China Economic Research Center of Peking University, Chinese media reported an estimated overall increase in China’s financially supported personnel, reaching around 68.46 million individuals by 2020 based on “intermediate estimates.”
From 2004 to 2020, financially supported personnel grew from 52.12 million to 68.46 million individuals. The proportion of financially supported in-service personnel as a percentage of the total employed population rose from 5.04% in 2004 to 5.54% in 2020, indicating a growing preference for employment within the system.
The current retirement system in China exhibits stark disparities: retired “system-insiders” receive pensions around 6-7000 RMB, while those from private sector enterprises receive an average of 3000 RMB, with basic pension standards for farmers dropping as low as 143 RMB.
As the size of financially supported personnel in China continues to expand, the arrival of an aging society has led to an increasing number of retirees receiving substantial pensions, posing challenges to the social security system and public finances.
Chinese issues expert Wang He noted that with the intensifying aging population, the rising number of retirees from within the system receiving relatively generous pensions puts immense pressure on both the social security system and public finances, exacerbating dissatisfaction over disparities in pension benefits.
Wang He analyzed that China’s retirement system relies on a pay-as-you-go model, where pensions for retirees depend on contributions from the working population. Amid unfavorable economic conditions, accelerated population aging, and a declining workforce, the expanding scale of financial support and significant discrepancies between pensions inside and outside the system will present significant challenges to China’s pension system in the future.