Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in India
India: Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) was 17.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
17.5%
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
78th
of 187 countries
All-time high
25.4%
in 2018
All-time low
15.5%
in 2023
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in India, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in India stood at 17.5%.
The figure is up 2.6% on the previous year and down 26.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in India peaked at 25.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 15.5%, in 2023.
That places India 78th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 18.9% | — |
| 1992 | 19.0% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 19.1% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 19.0% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 19.0% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 19.1% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 19.2% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 19.3% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 19.4% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 19.4% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 19.7% | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 20.0% | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 20.1% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 20.3% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 20.4% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 20.7% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 21.0% | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 21.4% | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 21.7% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 22.0% | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 22.3% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 22.8% | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 23.2% | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 23.6% | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 24.0% | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 24.4% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 24.9% | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 25.4% | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 23.2% | -8.7% |
| 2020 | 24.9% | +7.4% |
| 2021 | 19.6% | -21.2% |
| 2022 | 18.7% | -4.6% |
| 2023 | 15.5% | -17.1% |
| 2024 | 17.1% | +10.1% |
| 2025 | 17.5% | +2.6% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 17.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.3%, 1.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 17.5% is below the median for South Asia, which is 18.0%, 98% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.1% | 18.9% | 19.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 20.5% | 19.4% | 21.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.6% | 22.0% | 25.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.9% | 15.5% | 24.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
- 75 South Sudan 17.7% compare
- 76 Slovakia 17.6% compare
- 77 Barbados 17.6% compare
- 79 Equatorial Guinea 17.1% compare
- 80 Dominican Republic 16.9% compare
- 81 Brazil 16.6% 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 unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in India?
- Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in India was 17.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 25.4% in 2018.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.5% in 2023.
- How does India rank for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24)?
- India ranks 78th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.