Public sector employment as a share of total employment in India
India: Public sector employment as a share of total employment was 7.8% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in India, 2005–2019
Source: World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
India recorded 7.8% for public sector employment as a share of total employment in 2019.
That represents a change of down 8.8% on the previous year and down 13.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public sector employment as a share of total employment in India peaked at 18.4% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 5.6%, in 2005.
India ranks 67th of 79 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 5.6% | — |
| 2011 | 9.0% | +61.0% |
| 2017 | 18.4% | +104.5% |
| 2018 | 8.5% | -53.6% |
| 2019 | 7.8% | -8.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.6% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 1 |
| 2010s | 10.9% | 7.8% | 18.4% | 4 |
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 public sector employment as a share of total employment in India?
- Public sector employment as a share of total employment in India was 7.8% in 2019, according to World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 18.4% in 2017.
- What is the lowest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.6% in 2005.
- How does India rank for public sector employment as a share of total employment?
- India ranks 67th out of 79 countries with data for 2019.
- Is public sector employment as a share of total employment rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Public sector employment as a share of total employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of all employed people who are paid employees of the public sector, including government, the armed forces, public services, and state-owned enterprises.