Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in India
India: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) was 81.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in India, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in India is 81.7%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in India peaked at 86.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 79.1%, in 2020.
That places India 54th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 86.1% | — |
| 1991 | 86.1% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 86.1% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 86.1% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 86.0% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 86.1% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 86.3% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 86.4% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 86.5% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 86.6% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 86.7% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 86.4% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 86.0% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 85.6% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 85.2% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 84.8% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 84.3% | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 83.7% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 83.2% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 82.7% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 82.2% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 81.7% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 81.3% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 81.2% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 81.1% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 80.9% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 80.6% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 80.4% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 80.2% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 79.9% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 79.1% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 79.5% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 80.2% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 80.9% | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 81.5% | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 81.7% | +0.2% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 81.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 72.6%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 81.7% is above the median for South Asia, which is 76.8%, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 86.2% | 86.0% | 86.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 84.9% | 82.7% | 86.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 80.9% | 79.9% | 82.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 80.5% | 79.1% | 81.7% | 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, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in India?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in India was 81.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 86.7% in 2000.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 79.1% in 2020.
- How does India rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64)?
- India ranks 54th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. 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, male (% of male 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.