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Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — Eritrea

Self-employed in Eritrea in 2025 — 52.4%. Ranked 54 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 3.6 pp.

2025 52.4% −0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank 54of 182
Period maximum 56%1991
Period minimum 52.4%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — Eritrea, 1991–2025525354555619911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 56%1992: 56%1993: 55.8%1994: 55.4%1995: 55%1996: 54.7%1997: 54.3%1998: 54.1%1999: 53.9%2000: 53.9%2001: 53.7%2002: 53.6%2003: 53.6%2004: 53.6%2005: 53.6%2006: 53.6%2007: 53.5%2008: 53.6%2009: 53.7%2010: 53.7%2011: 53.6%2012: 53.5%2013: 53.6%2014: 53.2%2015: 53.2%2016: 53.1%2017: 53.2%2018: 53.1%2019: 52.9%2020: 53.6%2021: 53.1%2022: 53%2023: 52.8%2024: 52.6%2025: 52.4%
Change over the period: −3.6 pp Annual average: -0.11 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Eritrea 52.4%
World 46.4%
Sub-Saharan Africa 77.7%
Eastern Africa computed 78.1%
Low-income countries computed 78.5%
Self-employed — Eritrea, by year Eritrea All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 52.4 −0.2 pp
2024 52.6 −0.2 pp
2023 52.8 −0.2 pp
2022 53 −0.2 pp
2021 53.1 −0.4 pp
2020 53.6 +0.7 pp
2019 52.9 −0.2 pp
2018 53.1 −0.1 pp
2017 53.2 +0.1 pp
2016 53.1 −0.1 pp
2015 53.2 +0 pp
2014 53.2 −0.4 pp
2013 53.6 +0.1 pp
2012 53.5 −0.1 pp
2011 53.6 −0.1 pp
2010 53.7 −0 pp
2009 53.7 +0.1 pp
2008 53.6 +0.1 pp
2007 53.5 −0.1 pp
2006 53.6 +0 pp
2005 53.6 −0.1 pp
2004 53.6 +0 pp
2003 53.6 +0 pp
2002 53.6 −0.1 pp
2001 53.7 −0.2 pp
2000 53.9 −0 pp
1999 53.9 −0.2 pp
1998 54.1 −0.2 pp
1997 54.3 −0.4 pp
1996 54.7 −0.3 pp
1995 55 −0.3 pp
1994 55.4 −0.4 pp
1993 55.8 −0.2 pp
1992 56 −0 pp
1991 56 —

Eastern Africa, 2025

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

MG Madagascar 88.3 TZ Tanzania 85.3 MZ Mozambique 85.3 BI Burundi 84.9 ET Ethiopia 84.3 UG Uganda 80.5 ZM Zambia 71.7 ZW Zimbabwe 70.8 KE Kenya 64.8 MW Malawi 61.3 KM Comoros 57.9 ER Eritrea 52.4 SO Somalia 52.2 DJ Djibouti 51.1 RW Rwanda 40.4 MU Mauritius 17.8
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 Eritrea

Labor Vulnerable employment

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

Eritrea by year Labor Employment-to-population ratio

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

Eritrea by year Labor Employment in agriculture

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

Eritrea by year
All indicators for Eritrea