Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — Canada

Self-employed in Canada in 2025 — 12.9%. Ranked 150 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 1.8 pp.

2025 12.9% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank 150of 182
Period maximum 17.2%1998
Period minimum 12.9%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — Canada, 1991–20251214161819911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 14.7%1992: 15.1%1993: 15.7%1994: 15.5%1995: 15.7%1996: 16.2%1997: 17.1%1998: 17.2%1999: 17%2000: 16.1%2001: 15.3%2002: 15.2%2003: 15.4%2004: 15.4%2005: 15.6%2006: 15.3%2007: 15.4%2008: 15.4%2009: 15.9%2010: 15.5%2011: 15.3%2012: 15.2%2013: 15.2%2014: 15%2015: 15%2016: 14.9%2017: 14.9%2018: 15.1%2019: 14.8%2020: 15.2%2021: 14%2022: 13.5%2023: 13.2%2024: 13%2025: 12.9%
Change over the period: −1.8 pp Annual average: -0.05 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Canada 12.9%
World 46.4%
High-income countries computed 11%
Self-employed — Canada, by year Canada All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 12.9 −0.1 pp
2024 13 −0.2 pp
2023 13.2 −0.3 pp
2022 13.5 −0.5 pp
2021 14 −1.2 pp
2020 15.2 +0.4 pp
2019 14.8 −0.3 pp
2018 15.1 +0.2 pp
2017 14.9 −0.1 pp
2016 14.9 −0.1 pp
2015 15 +0 pp
2014 15 −0.2 pp
2013 15.2 −0 pp
2012 15.2 −0.1 pp
2011 15.3 −0.2 pp
2010 15.5 −0.4 pp
2009 15.9 +0.5 pp
2008 15.4 +0 pp
2007 15.4 +0.1 pp
2006 15.3 −0.3 pp
2005 15.6 +0.2 pp
2004 15.4 +0 pp
2003 15.4 +0.2 pp
2002 15.2 −0.1 pp
2001 15.3 −0.9 pp
2000 16.1 −0.8 pp
1999 17 −0.2 pp
1998 17.2 +0.1 pp
1997 17.1 +0.9 pp
1996 16.2 +0.5 pp
1995 15.7 +0.1 pp
1994 15.5 −0.2 pp
1993 15.7 +0.6 pp
1992 15.1 +0.4 pp
1991 14.7

Northern America, 2025

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

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.