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.
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
- 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, total (% of total population ages 15+) 55.7% (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, total (% of total population ages 15-6 59.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 34.9% (2025)
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).