Home / Comparisons / US vs India Unemployment
US vs India Unemployment
India moved above United States in 2009. In 1991 United States stood at roughly 89% of India’s Unemployment; today the figure is about 100%.
| Year | United States | India | India as % of US |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 7.64% | 6.8% | 89% |
| 1970 | 7.64% | 6.8% | 89% |
| 1980 | 7.64% | 6.8% | 89% |
| 1990 | 7.64% | 6.8% | 89% |
| 2000 | 7.59% | 3.99% | 53% |
| 2010 | 7.63% | 9.63% | 126% |
| 2020 | 7.86% | 8.06% | 102% |
| 2025 | 4.22% | 4.2% | 100% |
Frequently asked questions
When did India move above United States in Unemployment?
In 2009. India’s published Unemployment rose above United States’s that year.
How do United States and India compare today?
India is ahead: 4.22% against 4.2% — the trailing economy stands at about 100% of the leader.
Are these Unemployment figures nominal or adjusted?
The series is a share expressed in % of total labor force, exactly as the World Bank publishes it; movements are percentage points, not percent.
Full series
Every published year for both economies, with charts, downloads and citations: