Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) in South Asia
South Asia: Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) was 45.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) in South Asia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) in South Asia stood at 45.4%.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) in South Asia peaked at 68.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 44.1%, in 2020.
That places South Asia 38th out of 47 groups 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 for ages 15-24, male (%) in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 66.1% | — |
| 1991 | 66.0% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 65.9% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 65.7% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 65.6% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 65.9% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 66.4% | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 66.8% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 67.3% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 67.7% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 68.0% | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 67.1% | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 66.0% | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 65.0% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 64.0% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 62.9% | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 61.1% | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 59.1% | -3.4% |
| 2008 | 57.0% | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 54.9% | -3.7% |
| 2010 | 52.7% | -3.9% |
| 2011 | 51.2% | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 49.7% | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 49.1% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 48.5% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 47.8% | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 47.1% | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 46.5% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 45.7% | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 44.8% | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 44.1% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 44.2% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 44.7% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 45.3% | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 45.4% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 45.4% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 66.3% | 65.6% | 67.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 62.5% | 54.9% | 68.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.3% | 44.8% | 52.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.8% | 44.1% | 45.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More work & labour data for South Asia
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 19.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 33.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 35.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 55.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 59.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 33.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 42.6% (2025)
- Wage and salaried workers, total (% of total employment) 26.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) in South Asia?
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) in South Asia was 45.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 68.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.1% in 2020.
- How does South Asia rank for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%)?
- South Asia ranks 38th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24 is the proportion of the population ages 15-24 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.