Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — Estonia

Self-employed in Estonia in 2025 — 12.1%. Ranked 156 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 0.6 pp.

2025 12.1% −0 pp vs 2024
World rank 156of 182
Period maximum 15.1%1993
Period minimum 11.5%1991

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — Estonia, 1991–202511121314151619911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 11.5%1992: 13.2%1993: 15.1%1994: 15.1%1995: 14.4%1996: 14.7%1997: 14.4%1998: 13.9%1999: 13.9%2000: 13.4%2001: 13.3%2002: 13%2003: 13.1%2004: 13.2%2005: 12.6%2006: 12.2%2007: 12%2008: 11.7%2009: 12.1%2010: 12.3%2011: 12.4%2012: 12.5%2013: 12.5%2014: 12.4%2015: 12.3%2016: 12.3%2017: 12.4%2018: 12.2%2019: 12.1%2020: 12.1%2021: 12%2022: 11.7%2023: 11.9%2024: 12.1%2025: 12.1%
Change over the period: +0.6 pp Annual average: 0.02 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Estonia 12.1%
World 46.4%
Northern Europe computed 12%
High-income countries computed 11%
Self-employed — Estonia, by year Estonia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 12.1 −0 pp
2024 12.1 +0.1 pp
2023 11.9 +0.2 pp
2022 11.7 −0.3 pp
2021 12 −0.1 pp
2020 12.1 +0.1 pp
2019 12.1 −0.1 pp
2018 12.2 −0.2 pp
2017 12.4 +0.1 pp
2016 12.3 −0 pp
2015 12.3 −0.1 pp
2014 12.4 −0.1 pp
2013 12.5 −0 pp
2012 12.5 +0.1 pp
2011 12.4 +0.1 pp
2010 12.3 +0.2 pp
2009 12.1 +0.4 pp
2008 11.7 −0.3 pp
2007 12 −0.2 pp
2006 12.2 −0.3 pp
2005 12.6 −0.6 pp
2004 13.2 +0.1 pp
2003 13.1 +0.1 pp
2002 13 −0.3 pp
2001 13.3 −0.1 pp
2000 13.4 −0.5 pp
1999 13.9 +0 pp
1998 13.9 −0.5 pp
1997 14.4 −0.3 pp
1996 14.7 +0.3 pp
1995 14.4 −0.6 pp
1994 15.1 −0.1 pp
1993 15.1 +2 pp
1992 13.2 +1.7 pp
1991 11.5

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.