Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in South Asia
South Asia: 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 South Asia, 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 South Asia stood at 55.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in South Asia peaked at 64.1% in 1961 and was at its lowest, 47.6%, in 2018.
South Asia ranks 28th of 33 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
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 South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 64.1% | — |
| 1971 | 53.7% | -16.3% |
| 1981 | 58.9% | +9.8% |
| 1991 | 60.0% | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 58.1% | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 58.8% | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 58.5% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 60.1% | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 55.1% | -8.3% |
| 2012 | 53.4% | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 47.6% | -10.8% |
| 2019 | 49.4% | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 50.5% | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 51.1% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 53.3% | +4.2% |
| 2023 | 56.2% | +5.4% |
| 2024 | 56.0% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 55.3% | -1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 64.1% | 64.1% | 64.1% | 1 |
| 1970s | 53.7% | 53.7% | 53.7% | 1 |
| 1980s | 58.9% | 58.9% | 58.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 59.0% | 58.1% | 60.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 59.1% | 58.5% | 60.1% | 3 |
| 2010s | 51.4% | 47.6% | 55.1% | 4 |
| 2020s | 53.7% | 50.5% | 56.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 25 Viet Nam 72.4% compare
- 26 Republic of Moldova 72.4% compare
- 27 Macau, China 72.3% compare
- 28 Northern Mariana Islands 72.3% compare
- 29 Paraguay 72.0% compare
- 30 Peru 71.7% compare
- 31 Bahrain 71.6% compare
More work & labour data for South Asia
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 33.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.4% (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, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 59.0% (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in South Asia?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in South Asia 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 64.1% in 1961.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.6% in 2018.
- How does South Asia rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- South Asia ranks 28th out of 33 groups with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. 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, 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.