Labor force, total in India
India: Labor force, total was 617.62 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in India, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
India recorded 617.62 million for labor force, total in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 23.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in India peaked at 617.62 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 307.90 million, in 1990.
India ranks 2nd of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 307.90 million | — |
| 1991 | 315.88 million | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 324.02 million | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 332.34 million | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 340.80 million | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 351.33 million | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 362.33 million | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 373.67 million | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 385.35 million | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 397.35 million | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 409.62 million | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 418.76 million | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 427.83 million | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 436.75 million | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 445.83 million | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 454.83 million | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 457.61 million | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 460.23 million | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 462.54 million | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 464.95 million | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 467.56 million | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 471.89 million | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 476.10 million | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 484.47 million | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 492.68 million | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 500.64 million | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 508.68 million | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 516.71 million | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 524.29 million | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 531.37 million | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 532.53 million | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 550.35 million | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 569.16 million | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 589.49 million | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 608.50 million | +3.2% |
| 2025 | 617.62 million | +1.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 617.62 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.00 million, 123.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 617.62 million is above the median for South Asia, which is 8.31 million, 74.3× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 349.10 million | 307.90 million | 397.35 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 443.89 million | 409.62 million | 464.95 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 497.44 million | 467.56 million | 531.37 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 577.94 million | 532.53 million | 617.62 million | 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, total in India?
- Labor force, total in India was 617.62 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 617.62 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 307.90 million in 1990.
- How does India rank for labor force, total?
- India ranks 2nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.