SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in India
India: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) was 4.51 in 2025. ▲ Rising
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in India, 2000–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
India recorded 4.51 for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in 2025.
The figure is up 8.0% on the previous year and up 39.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in India peaked at 7.86 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.73, in 2000.
That places India 104th out of 179 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.73 | — |
| 2005 | 3.8 | +39.3% |
| 2010 | 3.12 | -18.1% |
| 2012 | 3.22 | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 7.65 | +137.5% |
| 2019 | 6.51 | -14.9% |
| 2020 | 7.86 | +20.7% |
| 2021 | 6.38 | -18.8% |
| 2022 | 4.82 | -24.4% |
| 2023 | 4.17 | -13.5% |
| 2024 | 4.17 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 4.51 | +8.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.27 | 2.73 | 3.8 | 2 |
| 2010s | 5.12 | 3.12 | 7.65 | 4 |
| 2020s | 5.32 | 4.17 | 7.86 | 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 sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in India?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in India was 4.51 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 7.86 in 2020.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.73 in 2000.
- How does India rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition)?
- India ranks 104th out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.