Number of strikes and lockouts in India

India: Number of strikes and lockouts was 102 in 2016. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2016)
102
Change on year
down 32.0%
World rank
20th
of 99 countries
All-time high
2,889
in 1970
All-time low
102
in 2016
Years of data
17
1969–2016

Number of strikes and lockouts in India, 1969–2016

01.0k2.0k3.0k1969199220161969: 2.6k1970: 2.9k1971: 2.8k2000: 7712001: 6742002: 5792003: 5522004: 4772005: 4562006: 4302007: 3892008: 4232009: 3912010: 4292014: 2872015: 1502016: 102

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for number of strikes and lockouts in India is 102, measured in 2016. That is the lowest value across all 17 years on record.

That represents a change of down 32.0% on the previous year and down 76.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of strikes and lockouts in India peaked at 2,889 in 1970 and was at its lowest, 102, in 2016.

That places India 20th out of 99 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Number of strikes and lockouts in India, year by year

Annual values for Number of strikes and lockouts in India, 1969 to 2016.
Year Value Change
1969 2,627
1970 2,889 +10.0%
1971 2,752 -4.7%
2000 771 -72.0%
2001 674 -12.6%
2002 579 -14.1%
2003 552 -4.7%
2004 477 -13.6%
2005 456 -4.4%
2006 430 -5.7%
2007 389 -9.5%
2008 423 +8.7%
2009 391 -7.6%
2010 429 +9.7%
2014 287 -33.1%
2015 150 -47.7%
2016 102 -32.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 2,627 2,627 2,627 1
1970s 2,820 2,752 2,889 2
2000s 514.2 389 771 10
2010s 242 102 429 4

Countries ranked near India

  1. 17 South Africa 114 compare
  2. 18 New Zealand 110 compare
  3. 19 Chile 106 compare
  4. 21 Cambodia 95 compare
  5. 22 Denmark 86 compare
  6. 23 Belgium 75 compare
  7. 23 Japan 75 compare

See the full ranking of 99 places →

More work & labour data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of strikes and lockouts in India?
Number of strikes and lockouts in India was 102 in 2016, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest number of strikes and lockouts recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 2,889 in 1970.
What is the lowest number of strikes and lockouts recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 102 in 2016.
How does India rank for number of strikes and lockouts?
India ranks 20th out of 99 countries with data for 2016.
Is number of strikes and lockouts rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is down 76.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this India data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Number of strikes and lockouts. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Number of strikes and lockouts in India. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-strikes-and-lockouts/india/

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About this data

Indicator
Number of strikes and lockouts
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
99 places, 2,354 data points, 1969–2024
Last refreshed

A strike is a temporary work stoppage carried out by one or more groups of workers with a view to enforcing or resisting demands or expressing grievances, or supporting other workers in their demands or grievances. A lockout is a total or partial temporary closure of one or more places of employment, or the hindering of the normal work activities of employees, by one or more employers with a view to enforcing or resisting demands or expressing grievances, or supporting other employers in their demands or grievances. Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the Industrial Relations data (IRdata) database description.