Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in India
India: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 55.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in India, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
India recorded 55.7% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in 2025.
The figure is up 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in India peaked at 60.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 51.5%, in 2020.
India ranks 136th of 187 countries on this measure, 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, total (% of total population ages 15+) in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 57.9% | — |
| 1991 | 58.0% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 58.0% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 58.0% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 58.1% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 58.4% | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 58.7% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 59.1% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 59.4% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 59.7% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 60.1% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 59.9% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 59.8% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 59.6% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 59.4% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 59.3% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 58.3% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 57.4% | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 56.5% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 55.6% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 54.8% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 54.1% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 53.5% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 53.4% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 53.2% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 53.0% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 52.9% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 52.7% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 52.5% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 52.3% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 51.5% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 52.5% | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 53.6% | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 54.7% | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 55.6% | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 55.7% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 58.5% | 57.9% | 59.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.6% | 55.6% | 60.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.2% | 52.3% | 54.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.9% | 51.5% | 55.7% | 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, total (% of total population ages 15+) in India?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in India was 55.7% 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 15+) recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 60.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 51.5% in 2020.
- How does India rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- India ranks 136th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.0%. 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, total (% of total population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.