Share of workers in informal employment in India
India: Share of workers in informal employment was 88.1% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Share of workers in informal employment in India, 2005–2024
Source: International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
India recorded 88.1% for share of workers in informal employment in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 10 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in informal employment in India peaked at 92.0% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 88.1%, in 2024.
That places India 7th out of 82 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
Share of workers in informal employment in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 92.0% | — |
| 2010 | 90.5% | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 90.0% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 88.5% | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 88.8% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 89.3% | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 88.7% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 88.9% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 88.6% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 88.1% | -0.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 88.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 83.9%, 1.1× the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 92.0% | 92.0% | 92.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 89.4% | 88.5% | 90.5% | 4 |
| 2020s | 88.7% | 88.1% | 89.3% | 5 |
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 share of workers in informal employment in India?
- Share of workers in informal employment in India was 88.1% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in informal employment recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 92.0% in 2005.
- What is the lowest share of workers in informal employment recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 88.1% in 2024.
- How does India rank for share of workers in informal employment?
- India ranks 7th out of 82 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of workers in informal employment rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. 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 minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in informal employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.