Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — Denmark

Self-employed in Denmark in 2025 — 7.9%. Ranked 169 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 2.9 pp.

2025 7.9% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank 169of 182
Period maximum 10.8%1991
Period minimum 7.9%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — Denmark, 1991–2025789101119911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 10.8%1992: 10.7%1993: 10.8%1994: 9.9%1995: 9.5%1996: 9.3%1997: 9.4%1998: 9.7%1999: 9.3%2000: 9.2%2001: 8.9%2002: 8.9%2003: 9.2%2004: 8.8%2005: 8.9%2006: 9.1%2007: 9%2008: 9.2%2009: 9.7%2010: 9.2%2011: 9.1%2012: 9.3%2013: 9.1%2014: 9%2015: 8.9%2016: 8.8%2017: 8.3%2018: 8.1%2019: 8.3%2020: 8.5%2021: 8.8%2022: 8.3%2023: 8.2%2024: 8%2025: 7.9%
Change over the period: −2.9 pp Annual average: -0.09 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Denmark 7.9%
World 46.4%
Northern Europe computed 12%
High-income countries computed 11%
Self-employed — Denmark, by year Denmark All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 7.9 −0.1 pp
2024 8 −0.1 pp
2023 8.2 −0.1 pp
2022 8.3 −0.6 pp
2021 8.8 +0.3 pp
2020 8.5 +0.2 pp
2019 8.3 +0.2 pp
2018 8.1 −0.2 pp
2017 8.3 −0.4 pp
2016 8.8 −0.1 pp
2015 8.9 −0.1 pp
2014 9 −0.2 pp
2013 9.1 −0.1 pp
2012 9.3 +0.2 pp
2011 9.1 −0 pp
2010 9.2 −0.5 pp
2009 9.7 +0.5 pp
2008 9.2 +0.2 pp
2007 9 −0 pp
2006 9.1 +0.1 pp
2005 8.9 +0.1 pp
2004 8.8 −0.4 pp
2003 9.2 +0.3 pp
2002 8.9 +0 pp
2001 8.9 −0.3 pp
2000 9.2 −0.1 pp
1999 9.3 −0.4 pp
1998 9.7 +0.3 pp
1997 9.4 +0.1 pp
1996 9.3 −0.2 pp
1995 9.5 −0.3 pp
1994 9.9 −0.9 pp
1993 10.8 +0 pp
1992 10.7 −0.1 pp
1991 10.8

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.