Labor force participation rate by age in India
India: Labor force participation rate by age was 31.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in India, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, labor force participation rate by age in India stood at 31.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% on the previous year and down 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in India peaked at 49.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 28.6%, in 2020.
India ranks 134th of 188 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.1% | 46.3% | 48.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 44.6% | 38.2% | 49.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.6% | 29.3% | 36.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.8% | 28.6% | 31.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
- 131 Senegal 31.6% compare
- 132 Ghana 31.4% compare
- 133 Kyrgyzstan 31.4% compare
- 135 Saudi Arabia 31.2% compare
- 136 Sierra Leone 31.0% compare
- 137 Cape Verde 30.9% compare
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+) 55.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 41.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 32.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 59.1% (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in India?
- Labor force participation rate by age in India was 31.2% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 49.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.6% in 2020.
- How does India rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- India ranks 134th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).