Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in India
India: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 34.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in India, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
India recorded 34.9% for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 24.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in India peaked at 36.7% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 27.8%, in 2020.
That places India 165th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 31.7% | — |
| 1991 | 31.9% | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 32.0% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 32.1% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 32.3% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 32.9% | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 33.6% | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 34.2% | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 34.9% | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 35.6% | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 36.2% | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 36.3% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 36.4% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 36.5% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 36.6% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 36.7% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 35.3% | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 33.9% | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 32.5% | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 31.2% | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 29.9% | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 29.0% | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 28.2% | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 28.1% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 28.1% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 28.1% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 28.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 28.2% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 28.2% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 28.3% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 27.8% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 29.7% | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 31.4% | +6.0% |
| 2023 | 33.2% | +5.7% |
| 2024 | 34.8% | +4.7% |
| 2025 | 34.9% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 33.1% | 31.7% | 35.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 35.2% | 31.2% | 36.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.4% | 28.1% | 29.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.0% | 27.8% | 34.9% | 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 labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in India?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in India was 34.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 36.7% in 2005.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.8% in 2020.
- How does India rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- India ranks 165th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.