Employment rate in India
India: Employment rate was 53.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment rate in India, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment rate in India is 53.3%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in India peaked at 55.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 47.5%, in 2020.
That places India 128th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment rate in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 53.5% | — |
| 1992 | 53.6% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 53.6% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 53.7% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 54.0% | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 54.3% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 54.6% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 54.9% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 55.2% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 55.5% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 55.4% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 55.2% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 55.1% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 54.9% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 54.8% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 53.9% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 53.1% | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 52.2% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 51.4% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 50.6% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 50.0% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 49.4% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 49.3% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 49.1% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 49.0% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 48.8% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 48.7% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 48.5% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 48.9% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 47.5% | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 49.2% | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 51.0% | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 52.4% | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 53.3% | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 53.3% | -0.0% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 53.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 54.4%, 98% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 53.3% is below the median for South Asia, which is 54.9%, 97% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 54.1% | 53.5% | 55.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 54.1% | 51.4% | 55.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.2% | 48.5% | 50.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.1% | 47.5% | 53.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
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 rate in India?
- Employment rate in India was 53.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 55.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.5% in 2020.
- How does India rank for employment rate?
- India ranks 128th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.