Employment in services, female (% of female employment) in India
India: Employment in services, female (% of female employment) was 24.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in services, 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 services, female (% of female employment) in India is 24.0%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and down 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in services, female (% of female employment) in India peaked at 29.7% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 12.3%, in 1991.
That places India 177th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in services, female (% of female employment) in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 12.3% | — |
| 1992 | 12.4% | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 12.5% | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 12.7% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 13.0% | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 13.2% | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 13.3% | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 13.6% | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 13.9% | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 14.1% | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 14.5% | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 15.0% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 15.5% | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 16.1% | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 16.6% | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 16.8% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 16.9% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 16.8% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 16.9% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 16.9% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 18.2% | +7.5% |
| 2012 | 19.6% | +7.5% |
| 2013 | 21.0% | +7.4% |
| 2014 | 22.6% | +7.7% |
| 2015 | 24.4% | +7.9% |
| 2016 | 26.1% | +7.0% |
| 2017 | 27.9% | +6.7% |
| 2018 | 29.7% | +6.6% |
| 2019 | 28.2% | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 25.4% | -10.1% |
| 2021 | 24.4% | -3.8% |
| 2022 | 24.6% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 22.5% | -8.9% |
| 2024 | 23.6% | +4.9% |
| 2025 | 24.0% | +2.0% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 24.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 50.6%, 47% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 24.0% is below the median for South Asia, which is 42.3%, 57% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.0% | 12.3% | 13.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 15.9% | 14.1% | 16.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.5% | 16.9% | 29.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.1% | 22.5% | 25.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
- 174 Lao People's Democratic Republic 25.9% compare
- 175 Uganda 25.6% compare
- 176 Malawi 24.2% compare
- 178 Madagascar 22.4% compare
- 179 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 21.8% compare
- 180 Central African Republic 19.4% compare
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 services, female (% of female employment) in India?
- Employment in services, female (% of female employment) in India was 24.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment in services, female (% of female employment) recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 29.7% in 2018.
- What is the lowest employment in services, female (% of female employment) recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.3% in 1991.
- How does India rank for employment in services, female (% of female employment)?
- India ranks 177th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment in services, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. 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 services, 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 services sector consists of wholesale and retail trade and restaurants and hotels; transport, storage, and communications; financing, insurance, real estate, and business services; and community, social, and personal services, in accordance with divisions 6-9 (ISIC 2) or categories G-Q (ISIC 3) or categories G-U (ISIC 4).