Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in South Asia
South Asia: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 77.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in South Asia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
South Asia recorded 77.4% for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in South Asia peaked at 84.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 75.7%, in 2020.
South Asia ranks 2nd of 47 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
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+) in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 83.9% | — |
| 1991 | 83.8% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 83.8% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 83.7% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 83.7% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 83.7% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 83.8% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 83.8% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 83.9% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 84.0% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 84.0% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 83.7% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 83.3% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 83.0% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 82.7% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 82.3% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 81.8% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 81.3% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 80.7% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 80.1% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 79.5% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 79.1% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 78.7% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 78.5% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 78.2% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 77.9% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 77.5% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 77.3% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 76.9% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 76.6% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 75.7% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 76.0% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 76.5% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 77.0% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 77.4% | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 77.4% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 83.8% | 83.7% | 84.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 82.3% | 80.1% | 84.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 78.0% | 76.6% | 79.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 76.7% | 75.7% | 77.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 1 Qatar 95.6% compare
- 2 United Arab Emirates 91.5% compare
- 3 Kuwait 88.6% compare
- 4 Oman 88.1% compare
- 5 Madagascar 88.1% compare
More work & labour data for South Asia
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 33.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 55.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 19.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 45.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 33.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 42.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 59.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 35.5% (2025)
- Wage and salaried workers, total (% of total employment) 26.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in South Asia?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in South Asia was 77.4% 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+) recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 84.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 75.7% in 2020.
- How does South Asia rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- South Asia ranks 2nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. 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, male (% of male population ages 15+) (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 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.