Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in India
India: Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) was 16.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in India, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in India is 16.1%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and down 18.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in India peaked at 20.7% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 10.8%, in 1995.
India ranks 40th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 10.9% | — |
| 1992 | 10.9% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 10.9% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 10.8% | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 10.8% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 10.9% | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 11.2% | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 11.5% | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 12.0% | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 11.8% | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 12.3% | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 12.6% | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 13.2% | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 13.9% | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 14.5% | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 14.7% | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 15.5% | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 16.0% | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 16.9% | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 17.7% | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 19.3% | +8.6% |
| 2012 | 20.7% | +7.7% |
| 2013 | 20.5% | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 20.4% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 19.9% | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 19.8% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 19.5% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 19.2% | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 19.4% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 16.5% | -14.6% |
| 2021 | 16.3% | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 16.2% | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 16.0% | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 15.9% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 16.1% | +1.3% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 16.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.5%, 1.4× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 16.1% is below the median for South Asia, which is 16.9%, 96% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.1% | 10.8% | 12.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 14.1% | 11.8% | 16.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.6% | 17.7% | 20.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.2% | 15.9% | 16.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
More work & labour data for India
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.5076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.5076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.5078 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.12 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.47 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 876,613 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 782,365 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 743,542 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 761,710 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 1.51 million 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in India?
- Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in India was 16.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment in industry, female (% of female employment) recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 20.7% in 2012.
- What is the lowest employment in industry, female (% of female employment) recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.8% in 1995.
- How does India rank for employment in industry, female (% of female employment)?
- India ranks 40th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment in industry, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment is defined as persons of working age who were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangement. The industry sector consists of mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, and public utilities (electricity, gas, and water), in accordance with divisions 2-5 (ISIC 2) or categories C-F (ISIC 3) or categories B-F (ISIC 4).