Labor force, female in India
India: Labor force, female was 174.86 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, female in India, 1990–2025
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
Analysis
India recorded 174.86 million for labor force, female in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 43.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in India peaked at 174.86 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 77.99 million, in 1990.
India ranks 2nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 91.40 million | 77.99 million | 109.03 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 122.68 million | 113.83 million | 129.85 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 122.09 million | 115.73 million | 131.05 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 155.43 million | 130.50 million | 174.86 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
More gender data for India
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 10.96 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 11.71 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 10.92 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 11.70 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 10.89 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 11.70 million (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 10.88 million (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 11.71 million (2025)
- Age population, age 04, female, interpolated 10.89 million (2025)
- Age population, age 04, male, interpolated 11.75 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in India?
- Labor force, female in India was 174.86 million in 2025, according to World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 174.86 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 77.99 million in 1990.
- How does India rank for labor force, female?
- India ranks 2nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division, published as part of Labor force, female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Female labor force comprises women 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.