Share of workers in vulnerable employment in India
India: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 71.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in India, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of workers in vulnerable employment in India is 71.6%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and down 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in India peaked at 85.9% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 71.6%, in 2025.
India ranks 25th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 85.9% | — |
| 1992 | 85.7% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 85.5% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 85.2% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 85.0% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 84.7% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 84.4% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 84.2% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 84.0% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 83.7% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 83.7% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 83.6% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 83.5% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 83.3% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 83.2% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 82.9% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 82.7% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 82.6% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 82.5% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 82.3% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 81.0% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 79.6% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 79.1% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 78.5% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 77.9% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 77.2% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 76.5% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 75.8% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 75.2% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 75.1% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 74.6% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 74.0% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 72.8% | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 72.1% | -1.0% |
| 2025 | 71.6% | -0.7% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 71.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 59.3%, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 71.6% is above the median for South Asia, which is 63.2%, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 85.0% | 84.0% | 85.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 83.2% | 82.5% | 83.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 78.3% | 75.2% | 82.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 73.3% | 71.6% | 75.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
- 22 Togo 75.0% compare
- 23 Guinea-Bissau 74.9% compare
- 24 Uganda 74.4% compare
- 26 Papua New Guinea 71.2% compare
- 27 Zambia 70.2% compare
- 28 Cote d'Ivoire 69.4% compare
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 vulnerable employment in India?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in India was 71.6% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 85.9% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 71.6% in 2025.
- How does India rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- India ranks 25th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).