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Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — Democratic Republic of the Congo

Self-employed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2025 — 85.1%. Ranked 9 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 4.2 pp.

2025 85.1% −0.3 pp vs 2024
World rank 9of 182
Period maximum 86.6%2020
Period minimum 80.8%1991

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1991–2025808284868819911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 80.8%1992: 81.3%1993: 81.9%1994: 82.4%1995: 82.9%1996: 83.1%1997: 83.4%1998: 83.6%1999: 83.8%2000: 84%2001: 84.2%2002: 84.3%2003: 84.3%2004: 84.2%2005: 84%2006: 83.8%2007: 83.6%2008: 83.3%2009: 83.1%2010: 82.9%2011: 82.8%2012: 82.6%2013: 83%2014: 83.3%2015: 83.6%2016: 84%2017: 84.4%2018: 84.8%2019: 85.3%2020: 86.6%2021: 86.1%2022: 85.9%2023: 85.6%2024: 85.3%2025: 85.1%
Change over the period: +4.2 pp Annual average: 0.12 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Democratic Republic of the Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo 85.1%
World 46.4%
Sub-Saharan Africa 77.7%
Middle Africa computed 80.1%
Low-income countries computed 78.5%
Self-employed — Democratic Republic of the Congo, by year Democratic Republic of the Congo All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 85.1 −0.3 pp
2024 85.3 −0.3 pp
2023 85.6 −0.3 pp
2022 85.9 −0.3 pp
2021 86.1 −0.4 pp
2020 86.6 +1.3 pp
2019 85.3 +0.5 pp
2018 84.8 +0.4 pp
2017 84.4 +0.4 pp
2016 84 +0.4 pp
2015 83.6 +0.3 pp
2014 83.3 +0.3 pp
2013 83 +0.3 pp
2012 82.6 −0.1 pp
2011 82.8 −0.2 pp
2010 82.9 −0.2 pp
2009 83.1 −0.2 pp
2008 83.3 −0.3 pp
2007 83.6 −0.2 pp
2006 83.8 −0.2 pp
2005 84 −0.2 pp
2004 84.2 −0.1 pp
2003 84.3 +0 pp
2002 84.3 +0.1 pp
2001 84.2 +0.1 pp
2000 84 +0.2 pp
1999 83.8 +0.2 pp
1998 83.6 +0.2 pp
1997 83.4 +0.4 pp
1996 83.1 +0.2 pp
1995 82.9 +0.4 pp
1994 82.4 +0.6 pp
1993 81.9 +0.6 pp
1992 81.3 +0.4 pp
1991 80.8 —

Middle Africa, 2025

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

TD Chad 91.6 CF Central African Republic 85.4 CD Democratic Republic of the Congo 85.1 CG Republic of the Congo 76.8 AO Angola 75.9 CM Cameroon 69.3 ST Sao Tome and Principe 44 GA Gabon 32.4 GQ Equatorial Guinea 27.5
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 the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Labor Vulnerable employment

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

Democratic Republic of the Congo by year Labor Employment-to-population ratio

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

Democratic Republic of the Congo by year Business New business density

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

Democratic Republic of the Congo by year Labor Employment in agriculture

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

Democratic Republic of the Congo by year
All indicators for the Democratic Republic of the Congo