Labor force participation rate — all countries

Labor force participation rate — South Asia

Labor force participation rate in South Asia in 2025 — 55.61%. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 1.97 pp.

2025 55.61% +0.01 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 59.46%2000
Period minimum 52.15%2020

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Labor force participation rate — South Asia, 1990–2025525456586019901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 57.58%1991: 57.58%1992: 57.58%1993: 57.62%1994: 57.67%1995: 57.93%1996: 58.24%1997: 58.55%1998: 58.91%1999: 59.19%2000: 59.46%2001: 59.33%2002: 59.19%2003: 59.05%2004: 58.91%2005: 58.77%2006: 57.95%2007: 57.16%2008: 56.38%2009: 55.63%2010: 54.89%2011: 54.29%2012: 53.69%2013: 53.51%2014: 53.33%2015: 53.17%2016: 52.98%2017: 53.05%2018: 52.91%2019: 52.8%2020: 52.15%2021: 53.11%2022: 54.11%2023: 54.96%2024: 55.6%2025: 55.61%
Change over the period: −1.97 pp Annual average: -0.06 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

South Asia 55.61%
World 60.98%
Labor force participation rate — South Asia, by year South Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 55.61 +0.01 pp
2024 55.6 +0.64 pp
2023 54.96 +0.84 pp
2022 54.11 +1 pp
2021 53.11 +0.97 pp
2020 52.15 −0.65 pp
2019 52.8 −0.11 pp
2018 52.91 −0.14 pp
2017 53.05 +0.07 pp
2016 52.98 −0.19 pp
2015 53.17 −0.16 pp
2014 53.33 −0.18 pp
2013 53.51 −0.18 pp
2012 53.69 −0.59 pp
2011 54.29 −0.6 pp
2010 54.89 −0.74 pp
2009 55.63 −0.76 pp
2008 56.38 −0.77 pp
2007 57.16 −0.79 pp
2006 57.95 −0.82 pp
2005 58.77 −0.14 pp
2004 58.91 −0.14 pp
2003 59.05 −0.14 pp
2002 59.19 −0.14 pp
2001 59.33 −0.13 pp
2000 59.46 +0.27 pp
1999 59.19 +0.28 pp
1998 58.91 +0.37 pp
1997 58.55 +0.3 pp
1996 58.24 +0.31 pp
1995 57.93 +0.26 pp
1994 57.67 +0.05 pp
1993 57.62 +0.04 pp
1992 57.58 −0 pp
1991 57.58 −0 pp
1990 57.58

About the indicator

The share of the population aged 15 and over that belongs to the labor force. It shows how fully a country uses its labor potential. The decline in advanced countries comes from an aging population and longer years of schooling, while low values in developing ones usually come from limited participation by women.

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