Share of workers in informal employment in India
India: Share of workers in informal employment was 88.8% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Share of workers in informal employment in India, 2010–2023
Source: International Labour Organization – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
India recorded 88.8% for share of workers in informal employment in 2023.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in informal employment in India peaked at 90.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 87.2%, in 2012.
That places India 6th out of 80 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 88.2% | 87.2% | 88.9% | 4 |
| 2020s | 89.3% | 88.8% | 90.3% | 4 |
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 for ages 15-24, total (%) 31.2% (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, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 45.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 15.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in informal employment in India?
- Share of workers in informal employment in India was 88.8% in 2023, according to International Labour Organization – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in informal employment recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 90.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of workers in informal employment recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 87.2% in 2012.
- How does India rank for share of workers in informal employment?
- India ranks 6th out of 80 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of workers in informal employment rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in informal employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of employed people working in jobs that lack basic social or legal protection and employment benefits. Does not include illegal and illicit activities. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.