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Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — Afghanistan

Self-employed in Afghanistan in 2025 — 83.4%. Ranked 12 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 12 pp.

2025 83.4% +0 pp vs 2024
World rank 12of 182
Period maximum 95.6%1995
Period minimum 82.3%2021

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — Afghanistan, 1991–20258085909510019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 95.4%1992: 95.5%1993: 95.5%1994: 95.6%1995: 95.6%1996: 95.5%1997: 95.4%1998: 95.2%1999: 95%2000: 94.8%2001: 94.7%2002: 94.5%2003: 94.2%2004: 94%2005: 93.6%2006: 93.3%2007: 92.8%2008: 92.5%2009: 91.3%2010: 90.1%2011: 89.1%2012: 88%2013: 87.1%2014: 86.4%2015: 85.6%2016: 84.9%2017: 83.9%2018: 84%2019: 84%2020: 84.3%2021: 82.3%2022: 82.8%2023: 83.1%2024: 83.4%2025: 83.4%
Change over the period: −12 pp Annual average: -0.35 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Afghanistan

Afghanistan 83.4%
World 46.4%
South Asia 73.1%
Southern Asia computed 70.5%
Low-income countries computed 78.5%
Self-employed — Afghanistan, by year Afghanistan All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 83.4 +0 pp
2024 83.4 +0.2 pp
2023 83.1 +0.4 pp
2022 82.8 +0.5 pp
2021 82.3 −2 pp
2020 84.3 +0.4 pp
2019 84 −0 pp
2018 84 +0.1 pp
2017 83.9 −0.9 pp
2016 84.9 −0.8 pp
2015 85.6 −0.7 pp
2014 86.4 −0.8 pp
2013 87.1 −0.9 pp
2012 88 −1.1 pp
2011 89.1 −1 pp
2010 90.1 −1.2 pp
2009 91.3 −1.1 pp
2008 92.5 −0.4 pp
2007 92.8 −0.4 pp
2006 93.3 −0.3 pp
2005 93.6 −0.3 pp
2004 94 −0.2 pp
2003 94.2 −0.3 pp
2002 94.5 −0.3 pp
2001 94.7 −0 pp
2000 94.8 −0.2 pp
1999 95 −0.2 pp
1998 95.2 −0.2 pp
1997 95.4 −0.2 pp
1996 95.5 −0.1 pp
1995 95.6 +0 pp
1994 95.6 +0.1 pp
1993 95.5 +0 pp
1992 95.5 +0.1 pp
1991 95.4 —

Southern Asia, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

AF Afghanistan 83.4 NP Nepal 78.6 IN India 74.9 BT Bhutan 69.5 BD Bangladesh 61 PK Pakistan 57 IR Iran 42.9 LK Sri Lanka 42.1 MV Maldives 20
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The share of total employment that is self-employed: employers, own-account workers, members of producers cooperatives and contributing family workers. High values in low-income countries reflect not developed entrepreneurship but the absence of wage jobs and informal work in agriculture and small-scale trade.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.

Other indicators for Afghanistan

Labor Vulnerable employment

The share of own-account and contributing family workers — with no contract, insurance or guarantees.

Afghanistan by year Labor Employment-to-population ratio

The share of the population aged 15 and over that actually works.

Afghanistan by year Business New business density

How many new companies are registered per 1,000 people of working age.

Afghanistan by year Labor Employment in agriculture

The share of workers employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing.

Afghanistan by year
All indicators for Afghanistan