Employment in services (% of total employment) in South Asia
South Asia: Employment in services (% of total employment) was 33.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in services (% of total employment) in South Asia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in services (% of total employment) in South Asia is 33.4%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and up 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in services (% of total employment) in South Asia peaked at 35.0% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 21.7%, in 1991.
South Asia ranks 43rd of 47 groups 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 South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 21.7% | — |
| 1992 | 22.0% | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 22.4% | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 22.7% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 23.1% | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 23.5% | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 23.6% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 23.7% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 23.8% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 24.0% | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 24.6% | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 25.2% | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 25.9% | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 26.4% | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 26.9% | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 27.2% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 27.3% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 27.4% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 27.6% | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 27.8% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 28.5% | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 29.3% | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 30.0% | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 30.8% | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 31.8% | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 32.6% | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 33.6% | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 34.4% | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 35.0% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 32.8% | -6.4% |
| 2021 | 32.6% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 32.2% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 32.4% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 33.2% | +2.2% |
| 2025 | 33.4% | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.9% | 21.7% | 23.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 26.3% | 24.0% | 27.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.4% | 27.8% | 35.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.8% | 32.2% | 33.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 40 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 74.4% compare
- 41 Dominican Republic 74.0% compare
- 42 Japan 74.0% compare
- 43 South Africa 73.8% compare
- 44 Kuwait 73.5% compare
- 45 Uruguay 73.2% compare
- 46 Greece 73.0% compare
More work & labour data for South Asia
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 45.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 19.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 33.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 35.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 55.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 59.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 33.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 42.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in services (% of total employment) in South Asia?
- Employment in services (% of total employment) in South Asia was 33.4% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 35.0% in 2019.
- What is the lowest employment in services (% of total employment) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.7% in 1991.
- How does South Asia rank for employment in services (% of total employment)?
- South Asia ranks 43rd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment in services (% of total employment) rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Asia 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).