Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in India
India: Labor force, female (% of total labor force) was 28.3% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force, female in India, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database. Measured in % of total labor force.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, female in India stood at 28.3%.
That represents a change of up 16.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in India peaked at 28.5% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 24.3%, in 2013.
That places India 167th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in India, year by year
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 25.3% | — |
| 1991 | 25.4% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 25.5% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 25.6% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 25.7% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 26.0% | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 26.4% | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 26.7% | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 27.1% | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 27.4% | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 27.8% | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 27.9% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 28.1% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 28.2% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 28.4% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 28.5% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 27.9% | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 27.2% | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 26.6% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 25.9% | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 25.2% | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 24.8% | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 24.3% | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 24.3% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 24.3% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 24.4% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 24.4% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 24.5% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 24.6% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 24.7% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 24.5% | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 25.7% | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 26.6% | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 27.5% | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 28.3% | +2.8% |
| 2025 | 28.3% | -0.0% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 28.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 43.6%, 65% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 28.3% is below the median for South Asia, which is 33.7%, 84% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 26.1% | 25.3% | 27.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 27.7% | 25.9% | 28.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.5% | 24.3% | 25.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.8% | 24.5% | 28.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
More education data for India
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.31 million (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 3.10 million (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 19.37 million (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 18.52 million (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 133.16 million (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 126.12 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -8.85 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0862 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in India?
- Labor force, female in India was 28.3% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 28.5% in 2005.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.3% in 2013.
- How does India rank for labor force, female?
- India ranks 167th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, female (% of total labor force). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Female labor force as a percentage of the total show the extent to which women are active in the labor force. Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.