Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in South Asia
South Asia: Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) was 28.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in South Asia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in South Asia is 28.0%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in South Asia peaked at 39.3% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 23.6%, in 2020.
South Asia ranks 40th 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, ages 15-24, total (%) in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 37.4% | — |
| 1992 | 37.4% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 37.3% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 37.4% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 37.7% | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 38.1% | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 38.4% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 38.8% | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 39.0% | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 39.3% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 38.7% | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 38.1% | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 37.5% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 36.8% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 36.2% | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 34.9% | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 33.5% | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 32.1% | -4.2% |
| 2009 | 30.7% | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 29.6% | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 28.6% | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 27.5% | -3.8% |
| 2013 | 27.0% | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 26.3% | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 25.5% | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 24.8% | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 24.4% | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 24.0% | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 24.4% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 23.6% | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 25.2% | +6.5% |
| 2022 | 26.7% | +6.3% |
| 2023 | 28.0% | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 28.1% | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 28.0% | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 37.9% | 37.3% | 39.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 35.8% | 30.7% | 39.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.2% | 24.0% | 29.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.6% | 23.6% | 28.1% | 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, 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, ages 15-24, total (%) in South Asia?
- Employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) in South Asia was 28.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 39.3% in 2000.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.6% in 2020.
- How does South Asia rank for employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%)?
- South Asia ranks 40th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, ages 15-24, total (%) rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.7%. 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, ages 15-24, 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.