Which has higher unemployment, total (% of total labor force), India or United States of America?

India, at 4.2% against 4.2% in United States of America as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for India and United States of America?

35 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2025.

Where does this data come from?

ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

India vs United States of America: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force)

India

4.2%

in 2025

United States of America

4.2%

in 2025

India rank

117th

United States of America rank

118th

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) over time

India
United States of America

How they compare

India currently reports 4.2% against 4.2% in United States of America, a difference of 0.0%.

The two have swapped places 4 times across 35 shared years of data; in 1991 it was India ahead.

India ranks 117th and United States of America ranks 118th of 187 countries.

India has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	India	United States of America	Difference	Ahead
1990s	7.6%	5.8%	1.8%	India
2000s	7.6%	5.5%	2.1%	India
2010s	7.5%	6.2%	1.3%	India
2020s	5.3%	4.8%	0.5%	India

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher unemployment, total (% of total labor force), India or United States of America?: India, at 4.2% against 4.2% in United States of America as of 2025.
What is the difference in unemployment, total (% of total labor force) between India and United States of America?: 0.0%, with India ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for India and United States of America?: 35 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2025.
How do India and United States of America rank globally for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?: India ranks 117th and United States of America ranks 118th of 187 countries.
Where does this data come from?: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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India vs United States of America: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force). Statizoid, drawing on ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/unemployment-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-modeled-ilo-estimate/india/united-states/

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<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/compare/unemployment-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-modeled-ilo-estimate/india/united-states/">India vs United States of America: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force)</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 235 places, 8,211 data points, 1991–2025
Last refreshed: 03 September 2026

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.