India Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
India's unemployment rate was 4.22% in 2025, ranked 70th globally. This represents a 14.6% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
India's unemployment rate stood at 4.22% in 2025, a decline of +0.72pp from 2024. The IMF projects 4.94% by 2025. India ranked 70th globally.
India's unemployment rate has experienced significant fluctuations over the past three and a half decades, with the latest reading standing at 4.22%, ranking 70th globally. The unemployment rate has declined from its all-time peak of 7.86% in 2020 to an all-time trough of 4.17% in 2023, indicating a notable improvement in the labor market. Compared to its peer countries, India's unemployment rate is slightly lower than the United States' 4.20% and Turkmenistan's 4.27%. The unemployment rate has shown a downward trend since 2023, which is an encouraging sign for India's economic growth. However, the trajectory of this trend may be disrupted by future economic shocks, particularly if the Indian government's labor market policies fail to address the needs of its rapidly growing workforce.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | 4.94% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | 4.94% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | 4.94% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | 4.94% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | 4.94% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | 4.94% | - | - |
| 2025 | 4.22% | −0.72pp | #70 |
| 2024 | 4.17% | −0.77pp | #73 |
| 2023 | 4.17% | −1.13pp | #79 |
| 2022 | 4.82% | −2.54pp | #85 |
| 2021 | 6.38% | −2.28pp | #103 |
| 2020 | 7.86% | +0.38pp | #118 |
| 2019 | 6.51% | −2.39pp | #117 |
| 2018 | 7.65% | +0.03pp | #125 |
| 2017 | 7.63% | +0.02pp | #120 |
| 2016 | 7.61% | −0.02pp | #115 |
| 2015 | 7.63% | −0.03pp | #117 |
| 2014 | 7.66% | −0.02pp | #114 |
| 2013 | 7.68% | +0.03pp | #112 |
| 2012 | 7.65% | +0.04pp | #108 |
| 2011 | 7.61% | −0.02pp | #110 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
India matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2010. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
India's unemployment rate was 4.22% in 2025. Ranked 70th globally. This represents a 14.6% decrease from the previous year.
India's unemployment rate peaked at 7.86% in 2020.
The lowest unemployment rate in India was 4.17% in 2023.
India ranks 70th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
India's unemployment rate is projected to reach 4.94% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The unemployment rate of India in 2025 was 4.22%. This ranks 70th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_india_unemployment-rate,
title = {India Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/india/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}