Share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ILO) in India
India: Share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ILO) was 79.94 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ILO) in India, 2012–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ilo) in India is 79.94, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ilo) in India peaked at 82.62 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 79.94, in 2025.
India ranks 6th of 44 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ILO) in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 82.62 | — |
| 2018 | 80.32 | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 80.41 | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 81.77 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 81.53 | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 81.86 | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 81.56 | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 81.23 | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 79.94 | -1.6% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 79.94 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 76.47, 1.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 81.12 | 80.32 | 82.62 | 3 |
| 2020s | 81.32 | 79.94 | 81.86 | 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 share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ilo) in India?
- Share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ilo) in India was 79.94 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ilo) recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 82.62 in 2012.
- What is the lowest share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ilo) recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 79.94 in 2025.
- How does India rank for share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ilo)?
- India ranks 6th out of 44 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ilo) rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Share of employment outside the formal sector (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. This harmonized series for employment outside the formal sector is derived using the same set of criteria across countries to improve comparability. The criteria used are based on employment status, institutional sector, destination of production, bookkeeping, registration, social security contribution, places of work and size. Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the Labour Force Statistics (LFS and STLFS) database description.