Labor participation rate in India
India: Labor participation rate was 55.66 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
55.66
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
135th
of 186 countries
All-time high
60.08
in 2000
All-time low
51.55
in 2020
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor participation rate in India, 1990–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor participation rate in India is 55.66, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor participation rate in India peaked at 60.08 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 51.55, in 2020.
That places India 135th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor participation rate in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 57.94 | — |
| 1991 | 57.97 | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 58 | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 58.03 | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 58.06 | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 58.4 | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 58.73 | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 59.07 | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 59.4 | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 59.74 | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 60.08 | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 59.92 | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 59.77 | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 59.61 | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 59.45 | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 59.29 | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 58.34 | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 57.42 | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 56.51 | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 55.63 | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 54.77 | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 54.13 | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 53.51 | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 53.36 | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 53.21 | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 53.03 | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 52.85 | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 52.67 | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 52.48 | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 52.28 | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 51.55 | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 52.52 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 53.59 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 54.7 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 55.64 | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 55.66 | +0.0% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 55.66 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 57.67, 97% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 55.66 is below the median for South Asia, which is 57.23, 97% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 58.53 | 57.94 | 59.74 | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.6 | 55.63 | 60.08 | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.23 | 52.28 | 54.77 | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.94 | 51.55 | 55.66 | 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 participation rate in India?
- Labor participation rate in India was 55.66 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor participation rate recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 60.08 in 2000.
- What is the lowest labor participation rate recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 51.55 in 2020.
- How does India rank for labor participation rate?
- India ranks 135th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor participation rate 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Labor participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).