Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
Women in India - statistics & facts
From caregivers to daily wage-earners and leadership positions, women in India, like their global counterparts are breaking the glass ceiling to redefine the roles designated to them by the patriarchal society. Home to one of the world’s youngest populations, India’s goal to become the third-largest economy by 2030 would necessitate the active participation of women in the workforce, who constitute more than 48 percent of the country’s population. India’s female workforce participation was over 32 percent in 2023. The gender gap in India’s workforce which has although consistently narrowed over the years, can be attributed to conservative social norms both in terms of demand (work opportunities), and supply (availability of women for work).
As per government estimates, women across different age groups spend exponentially more hours per day doing unpaid work like household chores or caregiving activities, than their male counterparts. Time-Use survey conducted in 2024 suggests that a female in India spends almost 5 hours doing unpaid domestic services for a household in a day whereas a male spends about 1.4 hours on unpaid domestic work. The value of unpaid labor of women across rural and urban areas in India was estimated to be over 22 trillion Indian rupees.
As the significance of care work gets recognized in multiple SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) goals, the demand for care facilities has soared across the globe but the investment in the care economy has lagged in India. Women’s entry and sustaining in the workforce necessitates greater investments in care infrastructure, policy intervention, and redistribution of care work at home.
Over 39 percent of MSMEs in India are owned by women. The funding share for women-led startups also surged by over 94 percent over last year, a marker of a thriving startup ecosystem that has given opportunities to numerous women entrepreneurs across sectors. The share of women in senior roles and positions has also been on the rise over the years. In rural areas, women's self-help groups (SHGs) have evolved from interest-based groups driven by savings to running profitable enterprises. To empower women in business, the Union Budget for financial year 2026 announced entrepreneurship term loans of up to 20 million for the next five years.
At the political level, the Women's Reservation Bill of 2023 which aims to ensure women occupy at least 33 percent of the seats in the state legislative assemblies and lower house of the Parliament was an optimistic move towards representation of women. At the time of the bill’s passage, about 14 percent of Lok Sabha Legislators were women.
To reap the benefits of its tremendous demographic dividend, India needs to harness the potential of its vast female population and bridge the gender gap to form a truly equal society spanning political, social, and economic spectrums.
The value of unpaid work
Despite economic growth, decreased fertility rates, and increased higher education enrollments, women remain largely excluded from the workforce. What is behind this paradox?As per government estimates, women across different age groups spend exponentially more hours per day doing unpaid work like household chores or caregiving activities, than their male counterparts. Time-Use survey conducted in 2024 suggests that a female in India spends almost 5 hours doing unpaid domestic services for a household in a day whereas a male spends about 1.4 hours on unpaid domestic work. The value of unpaid labor of women across rural and urban areas in India was estimated to be over 22 trillion Indian rupees.
As the significance of care work gets recognized in multiple SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) goals, the demand for care facilities has soared across the globe but the investment in the care economy has lagged in India. Women’s entry and sustaining in the workforce necessitates greater investments in care infrastructure, policy intervention, and redistribution of care work at home.
Bridging the gap
Despite many challenges, women's representation and participation in various fields witnessed an increase in recent years. The current business landscape is undergoing a positive shift with an increasing number of women entering the field.Over 39 percent of MSMEs in India are owned by women. The funding share for women-led startups also surged by over 94 percent over last year, a marker of a thriving startup ecosystem that has given opportunities to numerous women entrepreneurs across sectors. The share of women in senior roles and positions has also been on the rise over the years. In rural areas, women's self-help groups (SHGs) have evolved from interest-based groups driven by savings to running profitable enterprises. To empower women in business, the Union Budget for financial year 2026 announced entrepreneurship term loans of up to 20 million for the next five years.
At the political level, the Women's Reservation Bill of 2023 which aims to ensure women occupy at least 33 percent of the seats in the state legislative assemblies and lower house of the Parliament was an optimistic move towards representation of women. At the time of the bill’s passage, about 14 percent of Lok Sabha Legislators were women.
To reap the benefits of its tremendous demographic dividend, India needs to harness the potential of its vast female population and bridge the gender gap to form a truly equal society spanning political, social, and economic spectrums.
