Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in South Asia
South Asia: Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) was 31.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 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, total (%) in South Asia is 31.6%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.1% on the previous year and down 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in South Asia peaked at 53.1% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 26.8%, in 2018.
South Asia ranks 20th of 22 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 43.4% | — |
| 1981 | 53.1% | +22.1% |
| 1991 | 47.6% | -10.3% |
| 1994 | 46.4% | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 46.4% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 42.4% | -8.5% |
| 2005 | 46.3% | +9.2% |
| 2010 | 37.8% | -18.4% |
| 2012 | 34.3% | -9.4% |
| 2018 | 26.8% | -21.8% |
| 2019 | 28.2% | +5.3% |
| 2020 | 28.6% | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 28.4% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 31.5% | +11.0% |
| 2023 | 33.9% | +7.4% |
| 2024 | 34.0% | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 31.6% | -7.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 43.4% | 43.4% | 43.4% | 1 |
| 1980s | 53.1% | 53.1% | 53.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 47.0% | 46.4% | 47.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 45.0% | 42.4% | 46.4% | 3 |
| 2010s | 31.8% | 26.8% | 37.8% | 4 |
| 2020s | 31.3% | 28.4% | 34.0% | 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, 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, total (%) in South Asia?
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in South Asia was 31.6% 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, total (%) recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 53.1% in 1981.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.8% in 2018.
- How does South Asia rank for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%)?
- South Asia ranks 20th out of 22 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.8%. 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, total (%) (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.