Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) in South Asia
South Asia: Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) was 45.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) in South Asia, 1971–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) in South Asia is 45.8%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 2.2% on the previous year and down 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) in South Asia peaked at 73.9% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 41.8%, in 2018.
South Asia ranks 15th of 22 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 67.6% | — |
| 1981 | 73.9% | +9.3% |
| 1991 | 60.6% | -18.0% |
| 1994 | 65.0% | +7.3% |
| 2000 | 63.8% | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 53.6% | -16.0% |
| 2005 | 63.4% | +18.3% |
| 2010 | 52.9% | -16.6% |
| 2012 | 49.3% | -6.8% |
| 2018 | 41.8% | -15.3% |
| 2019 | 43.1% | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 42.7% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 43.3% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 44.5% | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 45.5% | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 46.9% | +2.9% |
| 2025 | 45.8% | -2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 67.6% | 67.6% | 67.6% | 1 |
| 1980s | 73.9% | 73.9% | 73.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 62.8% | 60.6% | 65.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 60.3% | 53.6% | 63.8% | 3 |
| 2010s | 46.8% | 41.8% | 52.9% | 4 |
| 2020s | 44.8% | 42.7% | 46.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 12 Norway 67.0% compare
- 13 Switzerland 66.6% compare
- 14 Madagascar 66.4% compare
- 15 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 66.2% compare
- 16 Mozambique 66.0% compare
- 17 Paraguay 65.7% compare
- 18 Pakistan 65.7% compare
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, male (%) 45.4% (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)
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 45.8% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 73.9% in 1981.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.8% in 2018.
- How does South Asia rank for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%)?
- South Asia ranks 15th out of 22 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 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) (national 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.