Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in India
India: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 4.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in India, 1994–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in India stood at 4.6%.
That represents a change of up 8.4% on the previous year and up 49.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in India peaked at 8.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 1994.
India ranks 97th of 181 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 2.2% | — |
| 2000 | 2.8% | +27.2% |
| 2005 | 3.7% | +30.5% |
| 2010 | 2.9% | -22.5% |
| 2012 | 3.0% | +5.8% |
| 2018 | 7.6% | +150.5% |
| 2019 | 6.7% | -12.9% |
| 2020 | 8.2% | +23.8% |
| 2021 | 6.7% | -18.3% |
| 2022 | 4.9% | -27.1% |
| 2023 | 4.2% | -14.0% |
| 2024 | 4.2% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 4.6% | +8.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 3.3% | 2.8% | 3.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 5.1% | 2.9% | 7.6% | 4 |
| 2020s | 5.5% | 4.2% | 8.2% | 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 unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in India?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in India was 4.6% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 8.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 1994.
- How does India rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- India ranks 97th out of 181 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 49.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.