Labor force with basic education in India
India: Labor force with basic education was 55.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force with basic education in India, 1994–2024
Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of total working-age population with basic education.
Analysis
In 2024, labor force with basic education in India stood at 55.9%.
The figure is up 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force with basic education in India peaked at 59.1% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 48.5%, in 2018.
India ranks 47th of 123 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 56.5% | 56.5% | 56.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 57.4% | 55.8% | 59.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 51.7% | 48.5% | 55.3% | 4 |
| 2020s | 53.5% | 51.0% | 55.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
More work & labour data for India
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 41.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 32.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 59.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 34.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 31.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 15.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 45.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 55.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force with basic education in India?
- Labor force with basic education in India was 55.9% in 2024, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force with basic education recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 59.1% in 2005.
- What is the lowest labor force with basic education recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.5% in 2018.
- How does India rank for labor force with basic education?
- India ranks 47th out of 123 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force with basic education rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population with basic education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The ratio of the labor force with basic education to the working-age population with basic education. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).