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 77.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in South Asia, 1961–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in South Asia stood at 77.1%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% 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 South Asia peaked at 86.7% in 1961 and was at its lowest, 73.8%, in 2018.
South Asia ranks 3rd of 24 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 86.7% | — |
| 1971 | 85.5% | -1.4% |
| 1981 | 85.9% | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 81.2% | -5.4% |
| 1994 | 84.0% | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 83.2% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 78.2% | -5.9% |
| 2005 | 82.6% | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 79.8% | -3.5% |
| 2012 | 78.8% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 73.8% | -6.3% |
| 2019 | 74.5% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 74.2% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 75.0% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 76.5% | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 76.7% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 77.6% | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 77.1% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 86.7% | 86.7% | 86.7% | 1 |
| 1970s | 85.5% | 85.5% | 85.5% | 1 |
| 1980s | 85.9% | 85.9% | 85.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 82.6% | 81.2% | 84.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 81.3% | 78.2% | 83.2% | 3 |
| 2010s | 76.7% | 73.8% | 79.8% | 4 |
| 2020s | 76.2% | 74.2% | 77.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 1 Qatar 95.5% compare
- 2 United Arab Emirates 91.8% compare
- 3 Tanzania, United Republic of 89.2% compare
- 4 Isle of Man 88.2% compare
- 5 Kuwait 87.9% compare
- 6 Niger 87.3% 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)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 35.5% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 42.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.4% (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)
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 77.1% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 86.7% in 1961.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 73.8% in 2018.
- How does South Asia rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- South Asia ranks 3rd out of 24 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 2.2%. 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, 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.