Female labor force participation rate in India
India: Female labor force participation rate was 32.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
32.4%
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
163rd
of 186 countries
All-time high
34.9%
in 2005
All-time low
26.0%
in 2020
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Female labor force participation rate in India, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, female labor force participation rate in India stood at 32.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 22.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in India peaked at 34.9% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 26.0%, in 2020.
India ranks 163rd of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 30.3% | — |
| 1991 | 30.4% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 30.5% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 30.6% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 30.7% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 31.3% | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 31.9% | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 32.5% | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 33.2% | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 33.8% | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 34.4% | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 34.5% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 34.6% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 34.7% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 34.8% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 34.9% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 33.5% | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 32.2% | -3.9% |
| 2008 | 30.9% | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 29.6% | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 28.4% | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 27.6% | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 26.8% | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 26.7% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 26.6% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 26.6% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 26.6% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 26.6% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 26.6% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 26.5% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 26.0% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 27.7% | +6.6% |
| 2022 | 29.3% | +5.9% |
| 2023 | 31.0% | +5.6% |
| 2024 | 32.4% | +4.6% |
| 2025 | 32.4% | +0.0% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 32.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49.7%, 65% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 32.4% is below the median for South Asia, which is 35.5%, 91% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 31.5% | 30.3% | 33.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 33.4% | 29.6% | 34.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.9% | 26.5% | 28.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.8% | 26.0% | 32.4% | 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 female labor force participation rate in India?
- Female labor force participation rate in India was 32.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 34.9% in 2005.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.0% in 2020.
- How does India rank for female labor force participation rate?
- India ranks 163rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.0%. 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 Female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the female working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).