Fertility and female labor force participation in India
India: Fertility and female labor force participation was 34.01 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Fertility and female labor force participation in India, 1961–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fertility and female labor force participation in India is 34.01, 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 and female labor force participation in India peaked at 42.9 in 1961 and was at its lowest, 18.66, 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.
Fertility and female labor force participation in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 42.9 | — |
| 1971 | 18.66 | -56.5% |
| 1981 | 32.87 | +76.2% |
| 1991 | 33.71 | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 30.85 | -8.5% |
| 2000 | 30.69 | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 37.71 | +22.9% |
| 2005 | 37.12 | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 28.9 | -22.2% |
| 2012 | 27.25 | -5.7% |
| 2018 | 20.75 | -23.9% |
| 2019 | 24.04 | +15.9% |
| 2020 | 26.17 | +8.9% |
| 2021 | 27.04 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 28.26 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | 35.08 | +24.1% |
| 2024 | 34.39 | -2.0% |
| 2025 | 34.01 | -1.1% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 34.01 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47.65, 71% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- India's 34.01 is below the median for South Asia, which is 36.21, 94% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fertility and female labor force participation in India changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +76.2% | 18.66 | 32.87 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 42.9 | 42.9 | 42.9 | 1 |
| 1970s | 18.66 | 18.66 | 18.66 | 1 |
| 1980s | 32.87 | 32.87 | 32.87 | 1 |
| 1990s | 32.28 | 30.85 | 33.71 | 2 |
| 2000s | 35.18 | 30.69 | 37.71 | 3 |
| 2010s | 25.23 | 20.75 | 28.9 | 4 |
| 2020s | 30.83 | 26.17 | 35.08 | 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 fertility and female labor force participation in India?
- Fertility and female labor force participation in India was 34.01 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fertility and female labor force participation recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 42.9 in 1961.
- What is the lowest fertility and female labor force participation recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.66 in 1971.
- How does India rank for fertility and female labor force participation?
- India ranks 174th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is fertility and female labor force participation 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Fertility and female labor force participation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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