Employment in services (% of total employment) in India
India: Employment in services (% of total employment) was 32.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in services (% of total employment) in India, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, employment in services (% of total employment) in India stood at 32.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in services (% of total employment) in India peaked at 34.1% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 22.3%, in 1991.
India ranks 171st of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in services (% of total employment) in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 22.3% | — |
| 1992 | 22.4% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 22.6% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 22.8% | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 23.0% | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 23.2% | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 23.4% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 23.6% | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 23.8% | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 24.1% | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 24.4% | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 24.7% | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 25.1% | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 25.6% | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 26.0% | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 26.2% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 26.3% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 26.4% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 26.5% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 26.6% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 27.4% | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 28.2% | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 29.0% | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 29.8% | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 30.8% | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 31.6% | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 32.5% | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 33.3% | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 34.1% | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 31.6% | -7.3% |
| 2021 | 31.5% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 31.0% | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 31.5% | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 32.3% | +2.6% |
| 2025 | 32.6% | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 23.0% | 22.3% | 23.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 25.5% | 24.1% | 26.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.3% | 26.6% | 34.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.7% | 31.0% | 32.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
- 168 Zimbabwe 34.2% compare
- 169 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 33.5% compare
- 170 Ethiopia 33.4% compare
- 172 Eritrea 31.8% compare
- 173 Burkina Faso 31.6% compare
- 174 Afghanistan 29.5% 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 (% of total employment) in India?
- Employment in services (% of total employment) in India was 32.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment in services (% of total employment) recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 34.1% in 2019.
- What is the lowest employment in services (% of total employment) recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.3% in 1991.
- How does India rank for employment in services (% of total employment)?
- India ranks 171st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment in services (% of total employment) rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.8%. 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 services (% of total 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).