Employment-to-population ratio — all countries

Employment-to-population ratio — South Asia

Employment-to-population ratio in South Asia in 2025 — 53.25%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 0.16 pp.

2025 53.25% −0.02 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 55.19%2000
Period minimum 48.17%2020

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Employment-to-population ratio — South Asia, 1991–2025485052545619911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 53.41%1992: 53.41%1993: 53.44%1994: 53.53%1995: 53.79%1996: 54.1%1997: 54.36%1998: 54.69%1999: 54.95%2000: 55.19%2001: 55.04%2002: 54.84%2003: 54.72%2004: 54.6%2005: 54.51%2006: 53.8%2007: 53.04%2008: 52.27%2009: 51.53%2010: 50.96%2011: 50.39%2012: 49.81%2013: 49.6%2014: 49.44%2015: 49.3%2016: 49.14%2017: 49.2%2018: 49.06%2019: 49.47%2020: 48.17%2021: 49.75%2022: 51.48%2023: 52.67%2024: 53.27%2025: 53.25%
Change over the period: −0.16 pp Annual average: 0 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Asia

South Asia 53.25%
World 58.06%
Employment-to-population ratio — South Asia, by year South Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 53.25 −0.02 pp
2024 53.27 +0.6 pp
2023 52.67 +1.19 pp
2022 51.48 +1.73 pp
2021 49.75 +1.58 pp
2020 48.17 −1.3 pp
2019 49.47 +0.41 pp
2018 49.06 −0.15 pp
2017 49.2 +0.07 pp
2016 49.14 −0.17 pp
2015 49.3 −0.14 pp
2014 49.44 −0.16 pp
2013 49.6 −0.21 pp
2012 49.81 −0.58 pp
2011 50.39 −0.57 pp
2010 50.96 −0.57 pp
2009 51.53 −0.74 pp
2008 52.27 −0.77 pp
2007 53.04 −0.76 pp
2006 53.8 −0.71 pp
2005 54.51 −0.1 pp
2004 54.6 −0.12 pp
2003 54.72 −0.12 pp
2002 54.84 −0.19 pp
2001 55.04 −0.16 pp
2000 55.19 +0.25 pp
1999 54.95 +0.25 pp
1998 54.69 +0.33 pp
1997 54.36 +0.26 pp
1996 54.1 +0.31 pp
1995 53.79 +0.26 pp
1994 53.53 +0.09 pp
1993 53.44 +0.03 pp
1992 53.41 +0 pp
1991 53.41

About the indicator

The ratio of the employed to the population aged 15 and over. Unlike the unemployment rate it does not depend on whether a person is looking for work, so it captures the actual involvement of the population in the economy better. Employment and unemployment together give the full picture: low unemployment alongside low employment means mass withdrawal from the labor force.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.