New Delhi, Oct. 17 -- Nearly 3.69 crore registered micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India were women-owned, accounting for around 38 per cent of total registrations, according to an official factsheet released on Thursday.

The women's labour force participation rate (LFPR) among those aged 15 years and above increased from 23.3 per cent in 2017-18 to 40 per cent in 2025. The worker population ratio for women also rose from 22 per cent to 38.8 per cent during the period.

An estimated 20 crore women aged 15 years and above were employed in India in 2025, the factsheet said.

Women also accounted for a significant share of entrepreneurship, with over 1.07 lakh recognised startups having at least one woman director or partner,...