Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in India
India: Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 was 32.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in India, 1994–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in India stood at 32.5%.
The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and up 24.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in India peaked at 35.6% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 19.1%, in 2018.
India ranks 151st of 172 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 30.3% | — |
| 2000 | 30.0% | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 35.6% | +19.0% |
| 2010 | 27.8% | -22.0% |
| 2012 | 26.2% | -5.7% |
| 2018 | 19.1% | -27.0% |
| 2019 | 22.6% | +17.9% |
| 2020 | 24.4% | +8.1% |
| 2021 | 25.6% | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 27.0% | +5.4% |
| 2023 | 33.7% | +24.8% |
| 2024 | 33.0% | -2.0% |
| 2025 | 32.5% | -1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.3% | 30.3% | 30.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 32.8% | 30.0% | 35.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 23.9% | 19.1% | 27.8% | 4 |
| 2020s | 29.4% | 24.4% | 33.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
- 148 Puerto Rico 33.3% compare
- 149 Marshall Islands 33.1% compare
- 150 South Africa 32.6% compare
- 152 Tuvalu 32.3% compare
- 153 Saudi Arabia 32.2% compare
- 154 Guyana 32.2% compare
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 female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in India?
- Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in India was 32.5% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 35.6% in 2005.
- What is the lowest female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.1% in 2018.
- How does India rank for female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024?
- India ranks 151st out of 172 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are employed. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.