Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in India
India: Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate was 35.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in India, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
India recorded 35.7% for urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in India peaked at 35.7% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 17.2%, in 1950.
That places India 197th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 17.6% | 17.2% | 17.8% | 10 |
| 1960s | 18.6% | 17.9% | 19.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 21.3% | 19.7% | 23.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 24.5% | 23.5% | 25.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.5% | 25.6% | 27.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 29.0% | 27.6% | 30.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.4% | 30.9% | 33.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.9% | 34.1% | 35.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
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 urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in India?
- Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in India was 35.7% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban population vs. female labor force participation rate recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 35.7% in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population vs. female labor force participation rate recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.2% in 1950.
- How does India rank for urban population vs. female labor force participation rate?
- India ranks 197th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population vs. female labor force participation rate rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.