Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in India
India: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 59.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in India, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
India recorded 59.1% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in 2025.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in India peaked at 62.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 54.4%, in 2020.
That places India 149th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 59.9% | — |
| 1991 | 59.9% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 60.0% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 60.0% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 60.1% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 60.5% | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 60.9% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 61.2% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 61.6% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 62.0% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 62.4% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 62.3% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 62.1% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 62.0% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 61.8% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 61.6% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 60.7% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 59.7% | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 58.8% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 57.8% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 57.0% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 56.3% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 55.7% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 55.6% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 55.5% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 55.4% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 55.3% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 55.2% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 55.1% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 55.0% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 54.4% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 55.5% | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 56.7% | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 57.9% | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 59.0% | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 59.1% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 60.6% | 59.9% | 62.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.9% | 57.8% | 62.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.6% | 55.0% | 57.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.1% | 54.4% | 59.1% | 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, total (% of total population ages) in India?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in India was 59.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 62.4% in 2000.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.4% in 2020.
- How does India rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- India ranks 149th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.7%. 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, total (% of total 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.