Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in South Asia
South Asia: Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) was 53.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in South Asia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
South Asia recorded 53.2% for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in 2025.
That represents a change of up 8.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in South Asia peaked at 55.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 48.2%, in 2020.
South Asia ranks 41st of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 53.4% | — |
| 1992 | 53.4% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 53.4% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 53.5% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 53.8% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 54.1% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 54.4% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 54.7% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 54.9% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 55.2% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 55.0% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 54.8% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 54.7% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 54.6% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 54.5% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 53.8% | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 53.0% | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 52.3% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 51.5% | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 51.0% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 50.4% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 49.8% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 49.6% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 49.4% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 49.3% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 49.1% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 49.2% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 49.1% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 49.5% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 48.2% | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 49.8% | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 51.5% | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 52.7% | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 53.3% | +1.1% |
| 2025 | 53.2% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 54.0% | 53.4% | 54.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 54.0% | 51.5% | 55.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.6% | 49.1% | 51.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.4% | 48.2% | 53.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 38 Mali 65.1% compare
- 39 Netherlands 64.6% compare
- 40 Kazakhstan 64.5% compare
- 41 South Sudan 64.3% compare
- 42 Angola 64.2% compare
- 43 Australia 63.8% compare
- 44 Kenya 63.7% 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, total (%) 33.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 19.6% (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 to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in South Asia?
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in South Asia was 53.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 55.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.2% in 2020.
- How does South Asia rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%)?
- South Asia ranks 41st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed.