Labor force with basic education in South Asia
South Asia: Labor force with basic education was 56.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force with basic education in South Asia, 1994–2024
Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of total working-age population with basic education.
Analysis
South Asia recorded 56.2% for labor force with basic education in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and up 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force with basic education in South Asia peaked at 59.1% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 48.6%, in 2018.
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 | 51.9% | 48.6% | 56.1% | 4 |
| 2020s | 53.8% | 51.1% | 56.3% | 5 |
More work & labour data for South Asia
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 33.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 42.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 33.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 59.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 35.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 19.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 45.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 55.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force with basic education in South Asia?
- Labor force with basic education in South Asia was 56.2% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 59.1% in 2005.
- What is the lowest labor force with basic education recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.6% in 2018.
- Is labor force with basic education rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia 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).