Unemployment rate in India
India: Unemployment rate was 4.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in India, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate in India stood at 4.2%.
That represents a change of up 1.1% on the previous year and down 44.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in India peaked at 7.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4.2%, in 2023.
India ranks 116th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.6% | 7.5% | 7.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.6% | 7.6% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.5% | 6.5% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.3% | 4.2% | 7.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
- 113 Maldives 4.5% compare
- 114 Democratic Republic of Congo 4.4% compare
- 115 Turkmenistan 4.3% compare
- 117 United States 4.2% compare
- 118 Australia 4.1% compare
- 119 Sri Lanka 4.0% 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 unemployment rate in India?
- Unemployment rate in India was 4.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 7.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.2% in 2023.
- How does India rank for unemployment rate?
- India ranks 116th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 44.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.