Fertility rate versus female labor force participation rate in India

India: Fertility rate versus female labor force participation rate was 34.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)
34.0%
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
174th
of 194 countries
All-time high
42.9%
in 1961
All-time low
18.7%
in 1971
Years of data
18
1961–2025

Fertility rate versus female labor force participation rate in India, 1961–2025

0102030401961199320251961: 42.9 %1971: 18.7 %1981: 32.9 %1991: 33.7 %1994: 30.8 %2000: 30.7 %2001: 37.7 %2005: 37.1 %2010: 28.9 %2012: 27.3 %2018: 20.7 %2019: 24 %2020: 26.2 %2021: 27 %2022: 28.3 %2023: 35.1 %2024: 34.4 %2025: 34 %

Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for fertility rate versus female labor force participation rate in India is 34.0%, measured in 2025.

That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and up 24.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, fertility rate versus female labor force participation rate in India peaked at 42.9% in 1961 and was at its lowest, 18.7%, in 1971.

That places India 174th out of 194 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 42.9% 42.9% 42.9% 1
1970s 18.7% 18.7% 18.7% 1
1980s 32.9% 32.9% 32.9% 1
1990s 32.3% 30.8% 33.7% 2
2000s 35.2% 30.7% 37.7% 3
2010s 25.2% 20.7% 28.9% 4
2020s 30.8% 26.2% 35.1% 6

Countries ranked near India

  1. 171 Saudi Arabia 35.2% compare
  2. 172 Tuvalu 35.2% compare
  3. 173 Nauru 34.4% compare
  4. 175 Samoa 31.4% compare
  5. 176 Senegal 31.0% compare
  6. 177 Mauritania 29.8% compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More work & labour data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is fertility rate versus female labor force participation rate in India?
Fertility rate versus female labor force participation rate in India was 34.0% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest fertility rate versus female labor force participation rate recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 42.9% in 1961.
What is the lowest fertility rate versus female labor force participation rate recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 18.7% in 1971.
How does India rank for fertility rate versus female labor force participation rate?
India ranks 174th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
Is fertility rate versus female labor force participation rate rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is up 24.8%. 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 Fertility rate versus female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Fertility rate versus female labor force participation rate
Unit
%
Source
Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
194 places, 4,756 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Share of the female working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.