Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in India
India: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 77.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in India, 1961–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
India recorded 77.1% for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in India peaked at 90.2% in 1961 and was at its lowest, 73.9%, in 2018.
That places India 42nd out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 90.2% | — |
| 1971 | 85.6% | -5.2% |
| 1981 | 86.8% | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 80.4% | -7.4% |
| 1994 | 84.1% | +4.6% |
| 2000 | 82.8% | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 78.4% | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 82.8% | +5.5% |
| 2010 | 79.6% | -3.8% |
| 2012 | 78.9% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 73.9% | -6.3% |
| 2019 | 74.6% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 74.3% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 75.1% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 76.1% | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 76.4% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 77.5% | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 77.1% | -0.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 77.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 71.7%, 1.1× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- India's 77.1% is above the median for South Asia, which is 75.2%, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 90.2% | 90.2% | 90.2% | 1 |
| 1970s | 85.6% | 85.6% | 85.6% | 1 |
| 1980s | 86.8% | 86.8% | 86.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 82.3% | 80.4% | 84.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 81.3% | 78.4% | 82.8% | 3 |
| 2010s | 76.7% | 73.9% | 79.6% | 4 |
| 2020s | 76.1% | 74.3% | 77.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
- 39 Macau, China 77.8% compare
- 40 Northern Mariana Islands 77.6% compare
- 41 Myanmar 77.5% compare
- 43 Ecuador 77.1% compare
- 44 Viet Nam 77.0% compare
- 45 Afghanistan 77.0% compare
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+) in India?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in India was 77.1% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 90.2% in 1961.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 73.9% in 2018.
- How does India rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- India ranks 42nd out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national 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.