Female labor force participation rate in India
India: Female labor force participation rate was 32.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
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.
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
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 59.1% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 41.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 34.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 31.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 45.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 15.9% (2025)
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.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).