Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in India
India: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 55.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in India, 1961–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in India stood at 55.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in India peaked at 67.3% in 1961 and was at its lowest, 47.6%, in 2018.
India ranks 148th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 67.3% | — |
| 1971 | 53.4% | -20.7% |
| 1981 | 60.8% | +13.8% |
| 1991 | 57.9% | -4.7% |
| 1994 | 58.1% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 57.2% | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 58.7% | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 60.2% | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 54.7% | -9.1% |
| 2012 | 53.4% | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 47.6% | -11.0% |
| 2019 | 49.4% | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 50.5% | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 51.1% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 52.4% | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 55.8% | +6.5% |
| 2024 | 55.8% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 55.3% | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 67.3% | 67.3% | 67.3% | 1 |
| 1970s | 53.4% | 53.4% | 53.4% | 1 |
| 1980s | 60.8% | 60.8% | 60.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 58.0% | 57.9% | 58.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 58.7% | 57.2% | 60.2% | 3 |
| 2010s | 51.3% | 47.6% | 54.7% | 4 |
| 2020s | 53.5% | 50.5% | 55.8% | 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 55.3% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 67.3% in 1961.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.6% in 2018.
- How does India rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- India ranks 148th out of 199 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 3.4%. 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, total (% of total 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.