Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in India
India: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 4.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in India, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in India stood at 4.2%.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and down 44.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in India peaked at 7.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4.2%, in 2023.
That places India 117th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7.6% | — |
| 1992 | 7.6% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 7.7% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 7.6% | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 7.6% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 7.5% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 7.6% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 7.6% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 7.6% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 7.6% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 7.6% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 7.7% | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 7.6% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 7.6% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 7.6% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 7.6% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 7.6% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 7.6% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 7.6% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 7.6% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 7.6% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 7.6% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 7.7% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 7.7% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 7.6% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 7.6% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 7.6% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 7.7% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 6.5% | -14.9% |
| 2020 | 7.9% | +20.7% |
| 2021 | 6.4% | -18.8% |
| 2022 | 4.8% | -24.4% |
| 2023 | 4.2% | -13.5% |
| 2024 | 4.2% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 4.2% | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.6% | 7.5% | 7.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.6% | 7.6% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.5% | 6.5% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.3% | 4.2% | 7.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
- 114 Maldives 4.5% compare
- 115 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 4.4% compare
- 116 Turkmenistan 4.3% compare
- 118 United States of America 4.2% compare
- 119 Australia 4.1% compare
- 120 Sri Lanka 4.0% compare
More education data for India
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 126.12 million (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -8.85 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in India?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in India was 4.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 7.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.2% in 2023.
- How does India rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- India ranks 117th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 44.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.