Labor force participation rate by age in India
India: Labor force participation rate by age was 31.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
31.2%
Change on year
up 2.5%
World rank
134th
of 188 countries
All-time high
49.0%
in 2000
All-time low
28.6%
in 2020
Years of data
35
1990–2024
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.
Labor force participation rate by age in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 46.5% | — |
| 1991 | 46.5% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 46.4% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 46.4% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 46.3% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 46.8% | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 47.2% | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 47.7% | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 48.1% | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 48.6% | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 49.0% | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 48.3% | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 47.5% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 46.7% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 45.9% | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 45.1% | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 43.4% | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 41.6% | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 39.9% | -4.2% |
| 2009 | 38.2% | -4.3% |
| 2010 | 36.5% | -4.4% |
| 2011 | 35.2% | -3.5% |
| 2012 | 33.9% | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 33.5% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 32.9% | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 32.2% | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 31.6% | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 30.8% | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 30.1% | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 29.3% | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 28.6% | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 28.9% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 29.6% | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 30.4% | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 31.2% | +2.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 31.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.6%, 90% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 31.2% is above the median for South Asia, which is 31.0%, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
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
- 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 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).