Female labor force participation rates in India
India: Female labor force participation rates was 32.42 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
32.42
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
163rd
of 186 countries
All-time high
34.85
in 2005
All-time low
26
in 2020
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Female labor force participation rates in India, 1990–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, female labor force participation rates in India stood at 32.42.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 22.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rates in India peaked at 34.85 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 26, 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 rates in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 30.26 | — |
| 1991 | 30.36 | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 30.48 | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 30.59 | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 30.74 | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 31.33 | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 31.93 | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 32.54 | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 33.16 | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 33.77 | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 34.4 | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 34.48 | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 34.57 | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 34.66 | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 34.75 | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 34.85 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 33.5 | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 32.18 | -3.9% |
| 2008 | 30.89 | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 29.64 | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 28.43 | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 27.58 | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 26.76 | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 26.67 | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 26.61 | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 26.58 | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 26.57 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 26.58 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 26.57 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 26.54 | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 26 | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 27.72 | +6.6% |
| 2022 | 29.35 | +5.9% |
| 2023 | 30.98 | +5.6% |
| 2024 | 32.41 | +4.6% |
| 2025 | 32.42 | +0.0% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 32.42 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49.67, 65% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 32.42 is below the median for South Asia, which is 35.54, 91% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 31.52 | 30.26 | 33.77 | 10 |
| 2000s | 33.39 | 29.64 | 34.85 | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.89 | 26.54 | 28.43 | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.82 | 26 | 32.42 | 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 rates in India?
- Female labor force participation rates in India was 32.42 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rates recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 34.85 in 2005.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rates recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 26 in 2020.
- How does India rank for female labor force participation rates?
- India ranks 163rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rates 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).