Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in South Asia
South Asia: Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) was 52.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in South Asia, 1994–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in South Asia is 52.8%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.7% on the previous year and up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in South Asia peaked at 57.7% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 44.0%, in 2018.
That places South Asia 26th out of 31 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 56.7% | — |
| 2000 | 57.1% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 57.7% | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 53.4% | -7.5% |
| 2012 | 51.7% | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 44.0% | -14.8% |
| 2019 | 46.2% | +5.0% |
| 2020 | 46.5% | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 47.9% | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 50.7% | +5.9% |
| 2023 | 53.9% | +6.2% |
| 2024 | 53.7% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 52.8% | -1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 56.7% | 56.7% | 56.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 57.4% | 57.1% | 57.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 48.8% | 44.0% | 53.4% | 4 |
| 2020s | 50.9% | 46.5% | 53.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
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, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.4% (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, 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 52.8% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 57.7% in 2005.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.0% in 2018.
- How does South Asia rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%)?
- South Asia ranks 26th out of 31 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 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national 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.