Labor force participation rate in India
India: Labor force participation rate was 55.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate in India, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in India is 55.7%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in India peaked at 60.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 51.5%, 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.
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
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 55.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 41.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 32.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 59.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 34.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in India?
- Labor force participation rate in India was 55.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 60.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 51.5% in 2020.
- How does India rank for labor force participation rate?
- India ranks 135th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force 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 ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).